Vegan + Gluten-Free Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Skip the trip to the farm stand and make these vegan and gluten free baked apple cider donuts at home. These cake-like donuts are delightfully moist, perfectly spiced, and taste like a warm hug with every bite. Ready in under 45 minutes, these will be your new favorite fall treat.
Equipment
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 donut pan
Ingredients
- ½ cups apple cider
- 1 flax egg 1 tbsp of ground flax + 3 tbsp water
- ½ cup vegan buttermilk ½ cup plant mix + ½ tbsp apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice)
- 1 ¾ GF flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 tbsp brown sugar packed
- 3 tbsp melted vegan butter
Sugar Coating
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp melted vegan butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees f. Begin by simmering on low to medium heat the apple cider in a sauce pan until it reduces slightly, to ⅓ cup. This usually takes about 15 minutes. To be certain it has simmered enough, measure periodically.
- When the apple cider only had 10 minutes left of simmering, begin making your flax egg and buttermilk. To make the flax egg, combine 1 tbsp of flax with 3 tbsp of water in a small bowl. Mix and let sit until it becomes a jelly like texture. To make the buttermilk, combine ½ cup of vegan buttermilk with ½ tbsp of apple cider vinegar and mix. Let sit until it begins to curdle.
- Once the apple cider is reduced, add it to a large bowl. Add in the brown and white sugar, vanilla extract, buttermilk, melted vegan butter and flax egg. Mix until combined. It will be very gritty.
- Add in the baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and flour into the mixture and mix until a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix or the donuts can become dense.
- Add the mixture into greased donut pans. You can do this by adding the dough into a piping bag or ziplock bag and cutting a hole in the corner to make it resemble a piping bag. Then squeeze the mixture into the donut cavities, filling them to the top. Another way to do this is by greasing a spoon and spooning the mixture into the donut cavities. To smooth out the tops, grease the back of the spoon and smooth it over the top.
- Bake the donuts until they are golden brown, about 10-12 minutes. For best results and to ensure they are fully baked, insert a toothpick into the middle of the donut and remove it. If it is clean when removed, they are baked. If it is not, bake them for 1-2 more minutes, then repeat the toothpick test.
- Make the cinnamon sugar coating by mixing together cinnamon and sugar into a medium sized shallow plate or bowl. The bowl should be large enough to fit on of your donuts in it.
- Once the donuts are done baking, let them cool for 5-10 minutes. Once they are cooled, brush melted vegan butter onto their surface then toss them in the cinnamon sugar mixture until they are fully coated.
Notes
Store these gluten free apple cider donuts in an airtight container or plastic bag in a cool, dry place for up to 3 days. They will still be safe to eat for up to 5 days, but the texture will change slightly, and they can become harder. For best results, eat the donuts in 2-3 days.
You can also freeze the donuts in an air tight container or bag for up to 30 days. Allow them to thaw thoroughly before consuming.
I have not tried freezing the dough.
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