This Applesauce Donut Recipe is low in fat and big in flavor. Treat yourself to these easy doughnuts for breakfast!
What makes these applesauce donuts healthy?
Donuts are not generally considered a healthy breakfast. They are really a dessert in my mind and the fact that most are high in sugar, high in fat and fried makes them a pretty indulgent dessert. Don’t get me wrong I love donuts. A Krispy Kreme opened 3 blocks from me and it takes a lot of will power for me to not stop every time I pass and the fresh donut neon sign is on. But let me show you why this recipe is different and about as healthy as you can get for donuts.
These donuts are baked and not fried.
These donuts use applesauce to help replace the use of oil or butter in the batter.
The recipe works well with all purpose flour, spelt flour (gluten free), or whole wheat flour. The apple sauce helps add a lot of moisture so it works well with hearty flours.
You can make them without the glaze and they still have great flavor and a little sweetness.
Why I love these apple donuts?
Come fall I love to use as much apple and pumpkin as possible. They really just help me get in the fall mood and make me want to break out my sweaters and cook some delicious cozy dishes and treats. These donuts are no exception. They are one of my fall favorites for weekend breakfasts. These donuts are easy to make despite the longer looking ingredients list. Another fun fact is you can also use this recipe to make apple pancakes. It is not perfect but I had extra batter and my little kids gobbled them up. If you love extra fall flavors you can swap the cinnamon with pumpkin pie spice.
What to serve with applesauce donuts?
Coffee! Of course coffee is perfect with donuts, but if you want to have something a little more interesting and fitting with the fall apple and cinnamon flavors check out this list of my favorite pumpkin drinks. Or for simplicity hop over to your grocery store and grab some pumpkin coffee creamer to pour in your coffee and make what I call a lazy man’s pumpkin spice latte.
Do you need a donut pan to make donuts?
Yes, you will need to get a donut pan for this recipe. If you don’t already have a donut pan, visit Amazon to see the one I used. I like that this one comes as a two-pack so you can make 12 at a time, which is what this recipe yields. If you only have one you can always cut the recipe in half or cook in two batches.
This Applesauce Donut Recipe is low in fat and big in flavor. Treat yourself to these easy doughnuts for breakfast!
Total Time:25 minutes
Yield:12 1x
Ingredients
UnitsScale
1 egg
1cup milk
1/2cup unsweetened applesauce
2/3cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2cups all purpose flour (I used spelt)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Cinnamon Applesauce Glaze
1cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons unsweetened applesauce
4 teaspoons water (added one at a time as detailed in instructions)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray donut pan(s) with cooking spray.
Whisk together egg, milk, applesauce, sugar, and vanilla. Add flour, baking powder, 1 tsp. cinnamon, and salt. Whisk until smooth.
Spoon batter into prepared baking pan. Each donut opening should be filled almost to the top. Bake in preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. (If you only have one donut pan, you will need to repeat this step when the first six are done.)
Allow donuts to cool in pan for a few minutes, and then transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment, wax paper, or a silicone mat. (This lining will help in the next step.)
When donuts have cooled completely, whisk together powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, applesauce, and ONE teaspoon water. If mixture is too dry to mix in all the sugar, continue adding water ONE teaspoon at a time just until a thick glaze forms. (If you make the glaze too thin, it will just soak into the donuts.)
Dip the top of each donut into the glaze, and twist back and forth a couple times to get a good coating. Lift the donut straight up and let the excess drip off, then place the donuts glaze-side up on the lined baking sheet. Allow to rest about 15 minutes to let the glaze set before serving. Best eaten within a few hours.
Notes
Adapted from Ina Garten’s Cinnamon Baked Doughnuts.
I know this recipe looks long, but it really is easy! I just wanted the instructions to be clear and detailed so they would be easy to follow.
Have you been to a wedding or party lately with one of those photo booths? They usually have costume pieces and props so you can take fun pictures to commemorate the occasion. Here’s an example from a wedding Matt and I attended a couple years ago:
Sometimes taking food photos for my blog reminds me of those photo booths. Instead of just taking a picture of the food I want to show you, I try to gussy it up with props and stuff to make it prettier. Do you think I really stack linens and use garnishes and have ingredients and kitchen tools lying around while I cook and eat? No way! I am very simple when it comes to food. I just want it to taste good, and I don’t care that much about how it looks on the plate. I try my best to make my dishes look good for you here, but it’s against my nature to get too fancy.
For these tasty applesauce donuts, I didn’t have time to even make my usual lame attempt at getting fancy. I made them on Sunday morning and glazed half of them for us to eat right away. By the time I got a chance to glaze and photograph the rest, it was 4:30 in the afternoon. I had to make a casserole to deliver and take pictures of these tasty donuts in a hurry, so that’s why there aren’t any cute napkins or carefully placed spoonfuls of cinnamon or anything else in these photos. Just donuts!
I hope these little O’s of sweet, cinnamon goodness speak for themselves and you try them soon!
If you love apple cinnamon, you’ll also love these recipes!
Andi Gleeson
Andi Gleeson is a passionate blogger and mom based in San Francisco who focuses on easy and delicious dinner recipes.
32 comments
Deb
2 years ago
These are delicious, easy to make, and not to sweet, yummy
Rosie
2 years ago
Indeed they are yummy! Whenever my nieces visit me, they literally eat a donut per minute, haha. Share a image with us, I would love to see hoe they look.
Meal Plans October #1 – Home Well Managed
7 years ago
[…] Glazed Applesauce Donuts […]
Marilyn
8 years ago
Recipe looks great and I can’t wait to try it. Do you think you could substitute pumpkin purée for the applesauce and some pumpkin pie spice to make them pumpkin donuts?
Andi Gleeson
8 years ago
Hi, Marilyn! I do think this would work but can’t guarantee that the consistency will be right since I haven’t tested the recipe with pumpkin. I do have a recipe for pumpkin muffins with caramel glaze, so you might like to try that.
Dede
8 years ago
Great recipe, thank you for sharing! I have been looking forward to making these, and also woke up with a chocolate craving. I added some chocolate chips to your recipe and they are delicious! Thanks again
Andi - The Weary Chef
8 years ago
Chocolate could never be wrong in a donut. Thank you so much, Dede. I’m happy you enjoyed them!!
Jaymi
9 years ago
Have you ever used coconut or almond milk with this recipe?
ariel
9 years ago
how many calories is one donut?
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
Sorry for the delay, Ariel. I haven’t calculated the nutrition in these, but you can do that at myfitnesspal.com. Thank you!
Sarah
9 years ago
Hi,
Do you put the sugar into the batter at the same time as the flour?
Also, when does the apple sauce go into the icing?
Thanks!
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
Sorry for that mistake, Sarah! You should add the sugar with the wet ingredients, and I corrected the recipe. Thanks so much for pointing that out!
Heather / girlichef
10 years ago
I’ve never been to a party with a photo booth – I’ve always loved looking at the pics people take in them, though. Yours are fun! And a big ol YES to these donuts, they look amazing, and applesauce makes them kinda healthy, right? ;)
Andi
10 years ago
The party photo booths are fun! Silly but fun. Yes, applesauce absolutely makes them healthy. (Let’s just ignore the fact that glaze is made out of sugar.) Thank you, Heather!
Meg @ The Housewife in Training Files
10 years ago
So many times I wonder that same thing! Sometimes peoples photos look so natural. But when I do that, it just turns up awkward. But you keep doing your thing..it is working! And these donuts, I want right meow!
Andi
10 years ago
I’m the opposite. When I try too hard to get fancy, I think it looks awkward! I’m clearly a hack when it comes to food photography, but maybe it fits with the weariness ;) Thank you, Meg!
Ashlyn @ Belle of the Kitchen
10 years ago
Simple is always the best, Andi! I always appreciate a photo that is truly all about the FOOD! I have a donut pan, but it’s been awhile since I’ve used it. I’d love to make these applesauce donuts as a way to break it in again!
Andi
10 years ago
Thanks so much, Ashlyn. This was my first time using the donut pan. I bought it a few weeks ago and was all excited, but then it took me a while to actually make the donuts for some reason. Once they popped out of the pan and looked like real, live donuts, I was sure I’d make them again soon :)
Kelley
10 years ago
I feel ya Andi! I don’t have all those fancy napkins and place mats when I eat, but I use them for my photos. Its work, but at least its fun, right? haha! Great recipe friend! Pinned to my donut board so I can try it asap!
Andi
10 years ago
True, I can’t complain about my job! I struggle with the staging though because it’s so not natural for me. Thank you, Kelley :)
Joanie @ ZagLeft
10 years ago
These donuts look absolutely delicious and you certainly don’t need any fancy props to show them off. I know my family would go nuts over them.
Andi
10 years ago
That is sweet of you to say, Joanie. Thank you!
Beth
10 years ago
You know my love for donuts, these would disappear in my house!
Andi
10 years ago
I thought of you several times when I made these, Beth. You are the donut queen! :)
Tonia
10 years ago
I went into a photo booth at the mall with my son recently and we had a good laugh! The donuts look fabulous!
Andi
10 years ago
I bet you guys got some cute pictures! Thanks, Tonia :)
Liz
10 years ago
Thanks Andi. These look so good.
Andi
10 years ago
Thank you, Liz!
Annie @Maebells
10 years ago
I am such a child, I adore applesauce! I could eat it for every meal I think. I love that you used it in the donuts and the glaze! YUM!
Andi
10 years ago
You are cute with your love of applesauce and apples and peanut butter. I think I made these just for you, Annie :)
Jen @ Yummy Healthy Easy
10 years ago
These donuts look absolutely delicious, Andi! They don’t need fancy props or anything. That glaze looks to-die-for. I love using applesauce in baked goods, it makes it lower cal and moist! I bet these are so tasty, pinned! xo!
Andi
10 years ago
Thank you so much, Jen! I love subbing applesauce for butter in baking too.
This simple cranberry syrup recipe is great to use in cocktails, on desserts, and pancakes or in lemonade. Perfect for the holidays and all year round.
I love this recipe because all the ingredients are in units of 1 so it is super easy to remember. When it comes to getting breakfast on the table I need something I can throw together pretty quickly and...
32 comments
These are delicious, easy to make, and not to sweet, yummy
Indeed they are yummy! Whenever my nieces visit me, they literally eat a donut per minute, haha. Share a image with us, I would love to see hoe they look.
[…] Glazed Applesauce Donuts […]
Recipe looks great and I can’t wait to try it. Do you think you could substitute pumpkin purée for the applesauce and some pumpkin pie spice to make them pumpkin donuts?
Hi, Marilyn! I do think this would work but can’t guarantee that the consistency will be right since I haven’t tested the recipe with pumpkin. I do have a recipe for pumpkin muffins with caramel glaze, so you might like to try that.
Great recipe, thank you for sharing! I have been looking forward to making these, and also woke up with a chocolate craving. I added some chocolate chips to your recipe and they are delicious! Thanks again
Chocolate could never be wrong in a donut. Thank you so much, Dede. I’m happy you enjoyed them!!
Have you ever used coconut or almond milk with this recipe?
how many calories is one donut?
Sorry for the delay, Ariel. I haven’t calculated the nutrition in these, but you can do that at myfitnesspal.com. Thank you!
Hi,
Do you put the sugar into the batter at the same time as the flour?
Also, when does the apple sauce go into the icing?
Thanks!
Sorry for that mistake, Sarah! You should add the sugar with the wet ingredients, and I corrected the recipe. Thanks so much for pointing that out!
I’ve never been to a party with a photo booth – I’ve always loved looking at the pics people take in them, though. Yours are fun! And a big ol YES to these donuts, they look amazing, and applesauce makes them kinda healthy, right? ;)
The party photo booths are fun! Silly but fun. Yes, applesauce absolutely makes them healthy. (Let’s just ignore the fact that glaze is made out of sugar.) Thank you, Heather!
So many times I wonder that same thing! Sometimes peoples photos look so natural. But when I do that, it just turns up awkward. But you keep doing your thing..it is working! And these donuts, I want right meow!
I’m the opposite. When I try too hard to get fancy, I think it looks awkward! I’m clearly a hack when it comes to food photography, but maybe it fits with the weariness ;) Thank you, Meg!
Simple is always the best, Andi! I always appreciate a photo that is truly all about the FOOD! I have a donut pan, but it’s been awhile since I’ve used it. I’d love to make these applesauce donuts as a way to break it in again!
Thanks so much, Ashlyn. This was my first time using the donut pan. I bought it a few weeks ago and was all excited, but then it took me a while to actually make the donuts for some reason. Once they popped out of the pan and looked like real, live donuts, I was sure I’d make them again soon :)
I feel ya Andi! I don’t have all those fancy napkins and place mats when I eat, but I use them for my photos. Its work, but at least its fun, right? haha! Great recipe friend! Pinned to my donut board so I can try it asap!
True, I can’t complain about my job! I struggle with the staging though because it’s so not natural for me. Thank you, Kelley :)
These donuts look absolutely delicious and you certainly don’t need any fancy props to show them off. I know my family would go nuts over them.
That is sweet of you to say, Joanie. Thank you!
You know my love for donuts, these would disappear in my house!
I thought of you several times when I made these, Beth. You are the donut queen! :)
I went into a photo booth at the mall with my son recently and we had a good laugh! The donuts look fabulous!
I bet you guys got some cute pictures! Thanks, Tonia :)
Thanks Andi. These look so good.
Thank you, Liz!
I am such a child, I adore applesauce! I could eat it for every meal I think. I love that you used it in the donuts and the glaze! YUM!
You are cute with your love of applesauce and apples and peanut butter. I think I made these just for you, Annie :)
These donuts look absolutely delicious, Andi! They don’t need fancy props or anything. That glaze looks to-die-for. I love using applesauce in baked goods, it makes it lower cal and moist! I bet these are so tasty, pinned! xo!
Thank you so much, Jen! I love subbing applesauce for butter in baking too.