
Tender gluten free apple cider donuts odor like the perfect donuts on the apple orchard, with loads of cinnamon and freshly floor nutmeg and wealthy, flavorful apple cider baked proper into the batter.

This straightforward gluten free apple cider donuts recipe is the treatment for what ails you while you go to the apple orchard—however cannot purchase their sweet-smelling baked items!

Why you may love these gluten free apple cider donuts
Each fall throughout my gluten free son’s younger life, we might go apple choosing. And each fall, the odor of apple cider donuts would hold within the air and had the ability to make my gluten free son and me downright depressing.
So we did the one factor that makes any sense at all: deliver our personal gluten free apple cider donuts. And decide up some extra apple cider whereas we’re on the orchard, so we will make extra donuts once we get residence!
For an entire batch of those baked apple cider donuts, you solely want 6 fluid ounces of cider. In fact, you should use apple juice if you do not have cider, however wealthy, spiced cider provides these donuts the true taste of every part that is frying on the orchard that we won’t have!

Methods to get a cinnamon sugar combination to stay to your donuts
Once I first posted this recipe in 2012, you’ll be able to see from the feedback that some readers had bother getting the cinnamon sugar topping to stay to the donuts. I discover that the best approach to get the topping to stay is to toss the donuts within the cinnamon sugar once they’re nonetheless sizzling sufficient from the oven that you would be able to barely contact them.
If that is simply not comfy for you, bear in mind to press the donut within the cinnamon sugar combination on all sides reasonably firmly when the donuts are as heat as potential. I are likely to flip them over a number of instances within the topping combination till they’re well-covered, after which not deal with them once more till they’re fully cooled.
Should you overlook to work shortly after baking, otherwise you’re simply not in a position to work with the donuts whereas they’re sizzling, you’ll be able to brush the donuts very frivolously with melted butter earlier than urgent them into the cinnamon sugar. Some simple syrup would additionally work.

A number of phrases about baked donut pans
All baking pans and tins are typically not created equal. They differ in measurement, form, shade, and materials.
These variations have an effect on baking in loads of methods. However many of the variations aren’t that vital, and also you because the prepare dinner are normally in a position to sense for what kind of changes you have to make on your specific pans.
Donut pans differ in all the identical methods, however their form is much more vital. Should you’re making a fried gluten free donut, you are not utilizing a pan to form them. However should you’re making baked donuts like these apple cider donuts, they tackle the form of the pan itself.

The form of your donut pan wells
For correctly formed donuts, you need your pan to have a distinguished raised heart that reaches almost as excessive as the edges of the donut. In any other case, because the donuts rise within the oven, the outlet will shut on prime, leaving solely a divot beneath.
To fight a donut pan that has a brief raised heart, you’ll be able to nonetheless protect a donut-with-a-hole form. Simply fill every nicely about 2/3 of the way in which, or about as excessive as the middle is raised.
My favourite donut pans for baked donuts are these 6-cavity nonstick donut pans by Wilton (affiliate hyperlink—be happy to buy round!). It is the pan you see within the pictures.
It has the proper form and measurement, and regardless that it is considerably darkish in shade, it would not bake the donuts too shortly (which darkish pans have a tedency to do). I exploit this pan in all the baked gluten free donuts recipes right here on the weblog.

Gluten free Apple Cider Donuts: Ingredient Substitutions
I have never tried making these donuts with something apart from the components specified within the recipe, which I like to recommend you additionally comply with faithfully. Nonetheless, in case you could have further dietary restrictions, listed below are my strategies for making these donuts with out different widespread allergens:
Methods to make gluten free dairy free apple cider donuts
The one dairy in these gluten free apple cider donuts is from the unsalted butter. It can probably be simply changed with Earth Steadiness buttery sticks, though I have never tried that. Earth Steadiness tends to be reasonably salty, although, so I would remove the salt as an ingredient within the donuts, although.
Methods to make gluten free egg free apple cider donuts
There are two eggs on this recipe, and they’re accountable for lots of the construction and texture of those mushy, tender donuts. You may attempt changing them every with a “chia egg” (1 tablespoon floor white chia seeds + 1 tablespoon lukewarm water, combined and allowed to gel).
Methods to make sugar-free gluten free apple cider donuts
If you would like to attempt to make these donuts with a sugar different, you’ll be able to attempt changing the granulated sugar with Swerve model granulated sugar alternative or Lankato monkfruit granulated sweetener.
Take note of the feel and viscosity of the batter, although, as these different sweeteners have a tendency to soak up plenty of moisture. You might want so as to add some extra cider.
FAQs
Is cider gluten free?
Sure! Apple cider is gluten free as a result of it is the identical as apple juice, besides cider is unfiltered so it accommodates pulp. Cider is usually unpasteurized, too, so it will not keep contemporary for almost so long as apple juice.
Take into account that cider constituted of apples or one other fruit isn’t the identical factor as “laborious cider,” which is constituted of apple juice that has been fermented with yeast. Onerous cider is often gluten free, until the yeast is made with a gluten-containing yeast, very similar to beer.
Are you able to make gluten free apple cider donuts with out apple cider?
Sure! If you cannot discover apple cider, you can also make these donuts with apple juice.
There may be, nonetheless, a distinction between the 2. Technically, apple cider is uncooked apple juice that hasn’t been filtered to take away pulp (source).
For the donuts within the pictures and video on this publish, I used chilly pressed spiced apple cider from the refrigerated part at Dealer Joe’s. Prior to now, I’ve made them with uncooked apple cider from the orchard, and likewise with plain apple juice. The extra flavorful and fragrant the cider, the extra the donuts, too.
Can I make these baked donuts with no donut pan?
You can also make this baked good with no donut pan, maybe as muffins, however you’ll be able to’t make this recipe right into a donut form with no donut pan.
Can I fry the batter on this recipe?
No! This batter solely makes baked donuts, not fried. This batter wouldn’t maintain its form in any respect throughout frying.
And bear in mind, if you cannot deliver a batch of those donuts with you to the orchard, you can also make them contemporary as quickly as you get residence!
Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts
Tender gluten free apple cider donuts odor like the perfect donuts on the apple orchard, with loads of cinnamon and freshly floor nutmeg and wealthy, flavorful apple cider baked proper into the batter.
Yield: 12 donuts
Forestall your display screen from going darkish
Substances
For the donuts
- 1 ½ cups (210 g) all function gluten free flour mix (I used Higher Batter; please click on via for acceptable blends)
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum (omit in case your mix already accommodates it)
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon floor cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons (84 g) unsalted butter at room temperature
- 2 (100 g (weighed out of shell)) eggs at room temperature, crushed
- ¾ cup (6 fluid ounces) apple cider
For the topping
- ⅓ cup (67 g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon floor cinnamon
Directions
-
Preheat your oven to 325°F. Grease 2 standard-size 6 nicely donut pans and set them apart.
-
In a big bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cream of tartar, 1 teaspoon floor cinnamon, nutmeg, and three/4 cup granulated sugar, and whisk to mix nicely.
-
Create a nicely within the heart of the flour combination, and add the butter, eggs, and cider, and blend to mix. The batter will probably be very mushy.
-
Switch the batter to a piping bag fitted with a plain tip or to a squeeze bottle.
-
Squeeze the batter into the ready doughnut wells till they’re every about 3/4 of the way in which full. Shake the pan backwards and forwards horizontally till the batter is in an excellent layer in every nicely.
-
Place the pan within the heart of the preheated oven and bake till the tops of the donuts spring again when pressed gently (about 12 minutes). The underside will probably be browned, however the tops will nonetheless be comparatively pale.
-
Take away the pan from the oven and permit the donuts to chill for about 3 minutes, or till they’re not sizzling to the contact.
-
Whereas the donuts cool barely, place the cinnamon sugar topping components right into a small bowl.
-
Gently take away the marginally cooled (however nonetheless heat) donuts from the doughnut pan along with your fingertips and switch them round within the cinnamon sugar till they’re well-coated on all sides.
-
Place the completed donuts on a clear sheet of parchment paper. Serve instantly, or no less than inside a day or two saved uncovered at room temperature.
-
Freeze any remaining leftovers in a sealed, freezer-safe container.
Notes
Initially revealed on the weblog in 2012. In 2018, photos principally new, video new, recipe tweaked solely barely. In 2023, further textual content assets added.
Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts
Tender gluten free apple cider donuts odor like the perfect donuts on the apple orchard, with loads of cinnamon and freshly floor nutmeg and wealthy, flavorful apple cider baked proper into the batter.
Yield: 12 donuts
Forestall your display screen from going darkish
Substances
For the donuts
- 1 ½ cups (210 g) all function gluten free flour mix (I used Higher Batter; please click on via for acceptable blends)
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum (omit in case your mix already accommodates it)
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon floor cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons (84 g) unsalted butter at room temperature
- 2 (100 g (weighed out of shell)) eggs at room temperature, crushed
- ¾ cup (6 fluid ounces) apple cider
For the topping
- ⅓ cup (67 g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon floor cinnamon
Directions
-
Preheat your oven to 325°F. Grease 2 standard-size 6 nicely donut pans and set them apart.
-
In a big bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cream of tartar, 1 teaspoon floor cinnamon, nutmeg, and three/4 cup granulated sugar, and whisk to mix nicely.
-
Create a nicely within the heart of the flour combination, and add the butter, eggs, and cider, and blend to mix. The batter will probably be very mushy.
-
Switch the batter to a piping bag fitted with a plain tip or to a squeeze bottle.
-
Squeeze the batter into the ready doughnut wells till they’re every about 3/4 of the way in which full. Shake the pan backwards and forwards horizontally till the batter is in an excellent layer in every nicely.
-
Place the pan within the heart of the preheated oven and bake till the tops of the donuts spring again when pressed gently (about 12 minutes). The underside will probably be browned, however the tops will nonetheless be comparatively pale.
-
Take away the pan from the oven and permit the donuts to chill for about 3 minutes, or till they’re not sizzling to the contact.
-
Whereas the donuts cool barely, place the cinnamon sugar topping components right into a small bowl.
-
Gently take away the marginally cooled (however nonetheless heat) donuts from the doughnut pan along with your fingertips and switch them round within the cinnamon sugar till they’re well-coated on all sides.
-
Place the completed donuts on a clear sheet of parchment paper. Serve instantly, or no less than inside a day or two saved uncovered at room temperature.
-
Freeze any remaining leftovers in a sealed, freezer-safe container.
Notes
Initially revealed on the weblog in 2012. In 2018, photos principally new, video new, recipe tweaked solely barely. In 2023, further textual content assets added.