Baked Apple Pie Spice Applesauce Donuts
This time of year, I always get in the mood to bake more. The weather is cooler, there are less chores to keep up with outside, and taking the weekend mornings a bit slower feels really refreshing. While I also enjoy spending time in the kitchen, sometimes it’s nice to have a recipe that is quick. Since these easy baked apple pie spice applesauce donuts have simple ingredients, they are just the ticket to a quick treat. The best part, from start to finish, this recipe took me 30 minutes, I had minimal dishes, and they are get in my belly, DELICIOUS!
Why You Will Love this Recipe:
-The sweetness from the sugar coating mixed in with the warm spices, and the light and fluffy inside makes these donuts really enjoyable.
-Very little time to complete this recipe
-Basic ingredients on hand, so a long grocery list doesn’t happen
-Tastes amazing on cool fall mornings with a hot cup of coffee
Substitutions and Alternatives to the Baked Apple Pie Spice Applesauce Donuts:
-A second egg would be a great substitution, if you do not have applesauce on hand.
-If you do not have whole milk, regular milk, half and half, or even heavy cream would work.
-A different option to baking them would be to fry them in hot oil in a deep fryer instead, flipping the donuts after a minute or two, or until the donut starts to brown. After, place them on paper towels to help soak up any extra oil.
-If you cannot find apple pie spice, you could make a cinnamon-sugar mixture instead for the coating. You could also replace the apple pie spice for cinnamon in the flour mixture.
-If you do not have a donut pan for baking, use a regular or mini muffin tin instead! The baking time may vary if you bake the this way, so be sure to keep a close eye on your batter.
-A second alternate, if you do not have a donut pan, is to make donut holes using either a donut hole cutter, or carefully rolling the batter into your desired shape.
Ingredients Needed:
-All Purpose Flour. I really like King Arthur flour, but any brand will work.
-Baking Powder
-Apple Pie spice
-Room temperature unsalted butter
-Brown sugar
-White sugar
-Room temperature large egg. Room temperature eggs whip better, helping the batter to rise for a fluffier donut.
-Either unsweetened applesauce or sweetened
-Whole Milk
-Vanilla extract
-Salt
-Nonstick spray
Equipment Needed:
-Electric mixer or hand mixer, or even a whisk if you don’t have a the other two mixers
-Donut pan for baking
-Wire rack
-Mixing bowl
-Pastry brush
How to Make Baked Apple Pie Spice Applesauce Donuts
To start, grab a medium bowl and whisk together the flour, baking powder, apple pie spice and salt. Mix and set the dry ingredients to the side.
In your stand mixer, or in a large bowl, using your whisk, beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. This will take a couple of minutes.
Add the room temperature egg, vanilla, and applesauce. Beat until combined.
Add half the flour mixture into your bowl with the wet ingredients and mix. Next, add the remaining flour, mixing, just until combined. Add the whole milk and mix.
To add the donut batter into the donut pan, you can either add the batter to a piping bag, add the batter into a zip lock bag, and cut the corner, or you can use a spoon. If you use a spoon, spoon up the batter, and using a clean finger, help fill in the donut pan. However it is done, fill the donut pan with the batter, to just below the top of the pan. The donuts will rise while baking, so you don’t want to overfill them. Once your pan is filled, place in a preheated 350 degree oven, and bake for 20 minutes.
How to Coat the Baked Apple Pie Spice Applesauce Donuts
While you are waiting for the donuts to bake, melt one tablespoon of butter in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the white sugar and apple pie spice.
When the donuts are done, take them out, and let cool for only a couple of minutes. I really like eating a warm donut, so I only wait a couple of minutes to handle them in order to finish putting the coating on. Using your pastry brush, brush the melted butter on one side of your donut, and pat the donut into the sugar and apple pie spice mixture, making sure to coat the entire side of the donut. Follow the same steps to complete the other side of the donut. When you are finished, set the donut on a wire rack.
How to Store
For best results, I would make sure the homemade donuts are consumed the same day, which I don’t think will be a problem! We ended up having leftover donuts, and stored them in an airtight container. The next day, they were still good, but a little less dry the following day. Another option to store would be using plastic wrap instead of a container.
Baked Apple Pie Spice Applesauce Donuts
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 c flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp apple pie spice
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 4 tbls butter (room temp)
- 1/3 c brown sugar
- 2 tbls white sugar
- 1 egg room temp
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/3 c applesauce
- 3 tbls whole milk
Coating Ingredients
- 1/2 c white sugar
- 3/4 tsp apple pie spice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°
- In a bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and apple pie spice. Set to the side.
- In your mixing bowl, add the butter and sugars, and beat until combined. This can take a couple of minutes.
- Add the egg, vanilla and applesauce. Mix until combined.
- Add half of the flour mixture and mix. Add the remaining flour mixture, and mix until combined.
- Add the milk and mix.
- Put the donut batter in your donut pan, leaving a little space at the top, as the donuts will rise while baking.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- While your donuts are baking, melt the butter, and mix together the white sugar and apple pie spice.
- After the donuts are done, using your pastry brush, brush the melted butter on one side of the donut, and put in the sugar mixture, coating evenly. Flip the donut over, and repeat.
