Vegan Apple Cider Donuts

Try these moist, cakey, and aromatic vegan apple cider donuts for dessert tonight! They’re ready in under an hour, baked (not fried), and don’t require a mixer. This treat will bring all the warming, cozy autumn flavors straight to your kitchen. The real secret is in the concentrated apple cider reduction!

❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe

• Easy to make: We understand the importance of simplicity! This recipe is very forgiving, making it great for beginner bakers. And since it’s baked instead of fried, you’ll have less mess to clean up.
• Fall flavors: Rich apple cider, combined with warming cinnamon, captures the essence of fall in every bite!
• Perfect texture: These donuts strike the perfect balance of soft, tender, and moist. Each bite feels like you’re eating fresh donuts from a bakery.
• Quick: You can enjoy these vegan apple cider donuts in about 40 minutes. No rolling pin, donut cutter, or deep fryer is required!

If you love vegan apple cider donuts, you should really check out our vegan apple crisp, vegan apple pie, vegan apple crumble, and vegan apple cake.

🍩 Cozy vegan apple cider donuts

As soon as the fall season arrives, we instantly become obsessed with infusing warm, cozy flavors into all of our recipes.

Enter vegan apple cider donuts.

This recipe will fill your house with incredible autumn aromas, thanks to ground cinnamon and concentrated apple cider reduction (they give the donuts life)!

Instead of traditional fried donuts, we wanted to make these ones extra moist, tender, and cakey, so we opted to bake them (similar to our blueberry donuts). Not only is preparation easier, but cleanup is a breeze without hot oil splattered all over the place!

Once the donuts are baked, brush them with a coat of vegan butter and cover them with cinnamon sugar for the cherry on top *chef’s kiss.* With a professional bakery-level taste, we won’t be surprised if this becomes your new fall-favorite recipe!

🛒 Ingredients & substitutions

• Apple cider: If possible, source fresh apple cider from local orchards during the fall or make your own. You can really taste the difference! If it’s unavailable, apple juice can be reduced, but you’ll miss out on some of the deeper flavors. Try reducing the apple juice with whole cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg.
• All-purpose flour: Gives the donuts structure while maintaining a tender texture. For a gluten-free option, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, like from Bob’s Red Mill.
• Leavening agents: We use both baking powder and soda to give the donuts their rise. Ensure they’re fresh for the best results.
• Cinnamon: Adds a warm, sweet, and subtly spicy note. You can also use apple pie spice or a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom.
• Salt: Enhances all the sweet flavors. Stick with a fine-grained option.
• Vegetable oil: Keeps the donuts moist. You can also use melted coconut oil or vegan butter, but we find vegetable oil works best here.
• Applesauce: Acts as an egg substitute and adds moisture. Ensure it’s unsweetened or adjust the sugar accordingly.
• Vegan buttermilk: Reacts with the baking soda and creates a tender donut texture. For more information on how to make your own, visit our vegan buttermilk post.
• Sweeteners: We use both cane sugar and brown sugar to sweeten the donuts, add more moisture, and create a rich and complex flavor profile. Coconut sugar will also work in place of brown sugar.
• Vanilla extract: Imparts a sweet aroma and flavor. Use pure vanilla extract for the best results.
• Coating: The best part about these vegan apple cider donuts is arguably the coating. You’ll need melted vegan butter (or coconut oil), more cane sugar, and more cinnamon.

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

📝 How to make vegan apple cider donuts

Step 1: Reduce the apple cider

Before you start the donuts, you’ll need to simmer the apple cider to reduce it by just over half. This trick intensifies the apple spice flavor, resulting in much more flavorful donuts (to create an even more intense flavor, make some apple cinnamon cider)!

It also reduces the liquid, meaning more flavor without an overly moist and mushy donut texture. For an even quicker prep time on the day of, reduce the apple cider the night before and let it cool in the fridge overnight.

Step 2: Mix the batter

Sift together the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Sifting helps aerate the mix, making for fluffier donuts. In another bowl, mix the cooled cider with the other wet ingredients.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet mix, but be gentle and avoid overmixing. This can lead to tough donuts, so stir just until combined.

Step 3: Pipe the batter

For uniform and neat donuts, we suggest using a piping bag or a freezer bag with the corner cut off. But if you’re in a pinch, you can use a spoon. Don’t overfill the donut cavities — half-full gives them room to expand.

Note: Remember to grease your donut pan. This ensures a smooth release post-baking. 

Step 4: Bake the donuts

Pop your vegan apple cider donuts in the oven and let the magic happen! You’ll know they’re done when they spring back to a gentle touch.

Let them cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then invert the donuts onto a wire rack to finish cooling.

Step 5: Add the coating

After they’ve cooled for a few more minutes, brush each donut with melted vegan butter and generously coat it with cinnamon sugar.

The melted butter not only adds a rich flavor but also helps the coating stick — don’t skip it! Once they’re coated, enjoy your vegan apple cider donuts immediately. Happy eating!

If you have questions about these vegan apple cider donuts, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!

🌡️ Storage & reheating

Make sure your vegan apple cider donuts stay fresh by following these simple storage and reheating suggestions:

• Room temperature: You can store your donuts in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days. Keep them sealed to prevent them from drying out.
• Freezer: For longer storage, place the donuts in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze them initially, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag. They’ll stay fresh for up to 2 months this way.
• Reheating: Thaw frozen donuts on the countertop for 30 minutes before you’re ready to eat them. Additionally, you can warm your vegan apple cider donuts in a preheated oven at 300F for about 5 minutes.
• Prep ahead: The apple cider can be reduced ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to a week. Having this ready will speed up your baking process!

♻️ Variations

• Glazed: Replace the cinnamon-sugar coating with a vegan apple cider glaze.
• Berries: Add a handful of fresh berries to the batter for a fruity twist.
• Nuts: Mix crushed pecans or walnuts into the batter to add a crunchy element.
• Chocolate chips: Stir in vegan chocolate chips for bursts of sweetness.
• Maple: Drizzle the baked donuts with maple syrup for an added layer of sweetness.
• Apple pie spice: Incorporate apple pie spice in place of cinnamon for even more intense fall flavors.

If you’re looking for more holiday-inspired treats, try our vegan pumpkin bread, vegan pumpkin cookies, vegan sweet potato pie, and vegan pumpkin pie!

🧑‍🍳 Top tips

• Use fresh cider: Fresh apple cider can significantly enhance the flavor profile. We suggest making your own or buying a high-quality option from a local market.
• Room temperature ingredients: Ensure the wet ingredients are all cooled (or warmed) to room temperature before mixing.
• Check leavening agents: Double-check the expiry date of your baking soda and baking powder to guarantee a proper rise of the donuts.
• Sift the flour: Always sift the dry ingredients to ensure a lighter, fluffier donut.
• Avoid overmixing: Mix the batter until it’s just combined to keep your donuts tender and fluffy.
• Use a piping bag: Using a piping bag ensures uniform and neatly filled donuts. If you don’t have a piping bag, a freezer bag with the corner removed is the next best option.
• Monitor the oven: Oven temperatures can vary, so keep an eye out during the last few minutes to prevent over-baking.
• Quick cooling: Allow the donuts to cool on a wire rack to prevent them from becoming soggy at the bottom.

💬 FAQ

🍴 More vegan dessert recipes

If you’ve enjoyed these vegan apple cider donuts, check out some more egg and dairy-free treats like these:

• Pumpkin Banana Muffins: Tender, moist, and pumpkin-infused muffins. 
• Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies: Chewy cookies with bursts of sweet raisins.
• Blueberry Donuts: Fruit-forward donuts with a sweet lemon glaze. 
• Vegan Snickerdoodles: Soft, tender, and delicately spiced cookies.
• Vegan Cinnamon Rolls: Made with 9 ingredients and ready in 90 minutes!