Warm, fragrant, and just sweet enough, these baked apple donuts capture the essence of early fall. They’re soft, cake-like, topped with cinnamon sugar, caramel and apples.
INGREDIENTS
(makes 12)
for the donuts
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 ½ teaspoons apple pie spice
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ cup applesauce, unsweetened
¾ cup milk
¼ cup olive oil
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
for the toppings
4 Tablespoons butter, unsalted, melted
½ cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon apple pie spice
1 apple, diced (Honeycrisp or Gala)
store-bought or homemade caramel sauce (see note)
METHOD
Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease two 6-cavity donut pans. In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, apple pie spice and salt. In another bowl mix applesauce, milk, olive oil, and vanilla until smooth. Combine wet and dry ingredients, stir until just combined, don’t overmix! Spoon or pipe batter (can use Ziploc bag with corner snipped) into each cavity, filling almost to the top of each. Bake 10–12 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven, let cool slightly. In the meantime, prepare melted butter in one dish, and pie spice and sugar mixture in another. Dip each donut into melted butter then in sugar mixture until well coated. When ready to serve, top with warm caramel and diced apples.
Tips: Check your favorite local retailer or Amazon for donut baking tins. Make your own quick caramel by heating ½ cup brown sugar, 2 Tablespoons butter, and 2 Tablespoons heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until smooth and glossy.
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