Apple Cinnamon Sugar Donuts (Paleo & Gluten Free)

What’s better than baked apples? Baked apples inside a soft and fluffy donut that’s coated in cinnamon sugar! These homemade Apple Cinnamon Sugar Donuts are sweet, delicious and only take 30 minutes to make! They are gluten free, grain free, dairy free and paleo friendly.

If you’ve been here before, you know that many of my recipes are inspired by recreating the memories and feelings that revolved around the food I enjoyed before my celiac disease diagnosis. This is the first donut recipe on my blog and it’s one I’ve been wanting to add for a while now. Growing up, my dad would wake up early on the weekend and go to the local bakery and bring home a box of donuts.

I remember the joy of waking up to that box on the kitchen table and the delicious taste of the donuts. Thinking about it now gives me all the warm and fuzzy feelings. I can’t wait to make these Apple Cinnamon Sugar Donuts for my kids someday and create the same memories! They aren’t donuts from a bakery, but they are still moist, fluffy and full of flavor! I love having them for breakfast on the weekend, as a mid-day snack or a dessert at the end of the day!

Kitchen Tools Needed to Make Homemade Donuts

To make this recipe, you will need two mixing bowls, a hand mixer, cutting board and knife, a whisk, wooden spoon and two donut pans. You can check out the donut pans I use here. They are inexpensive, good quality and make getting the donuts out of the pan so easy! You can also make bagels with them, it’s what I use to make my Paleo Bagels!

Ingredients:

• Apples
• Cinnamon
• Almond Flour
• Coconut sugar
• Salt
• Baking soda
• Tapioca flour
• Coconut milk
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Coconut oil
• Maple syrup

How to Make Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

Step One: Combine the ingredients

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Dice the apple and set aside. Mix together the cinnamon, almond flour, coconut sugar, salt, baking soda and tapioca flour. In a separate bowl, mix together the coconut milk, eggs and vanilla extract. Melt the coconut oil in the microwave (do not add to wet ingredients or it will harden). Add the wet ingredients and coconut oil to the dry ingredients and mix with a hand mixer. Once combined, add in the diced apples and use a wooden spoon to stir together.

Step Two: Bake

Spray the donut pan with non-stick spray and fill each tin 3/4 full. Use your fingers or a spoon to smooth out the top. Bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Step Three: Cinnamon sugar topping

Let the donuts cool before removing them from the donut pan. Mix together the cinnamon and coconut sugar on a plate. Use your finger or a spoon to lightly spread the maple syrup on top of each donut. Dip the donut into the cinnamon sugar and sprinkle it on the bottom of the donut. Lift the donut out of the cinnamon sugar, shake gently and enjoy! They will last in an air tight container on your kitchen counter for 4 days.

For more desserts, check out these recipes…

• Chocolate Almond Butter Nice Cream
• Paleo Caramel Apple Dessert Bars
• Salted Chocolate & Nut Butter Cookies
• Double Chocolate Cake (Gluten Free & Dairy Free)

My favorite mornings are the ones that start with these Apple Cinnamon Sugar Donuts! Let me know if you make them by tagging me on Instagram @theglutenfreegrasses or by commenting below!

-Kelsey