Cool fall mornings were made for coffee and apple donuts. These Apple Cider Donut Holes are soft inside with a crunchy cinnamon and sugar coating. Be sure to make a few batches of this baked donut recipe because they disappear quickly!
I was dreaming of cooler days last week, so I bought some apples and apple cider and got to work in the kitchen giving these glazed cinnamon donuts a twist.
Our kids love the Munchkin's from Dunkin Donuts, so I knew apple cider donut holes would be a hit! These mini donuts definitely stole our hearts this fall. They will be on repeat every week.
Why these are so delicious
It's all about the apples. These balls of joy are loaded with applesauce, apple cider, and shredded apples. Combine that amazing apple flavor with the right spices, and you have a winner.
Three times the apple goodness makes these donut hole muffins the perfect thing to enjoy on fall mornings. Just add a pitcher of iced apple cider or a hot pumpkin latte, and you will be all set.
Ingredients needed
Making these apple donut holes is easy. With basic pantry ingredients and a few other things, you can whip them up in no time.
- Butter - We like to use unsalted butter in our baking, so we can control the salt.
- Brown Sugar - Sweetens the donuts.
- Sour Cream - Provides moisture and keeps baked goods soft.
- Spices - Cinnamon, nutmeg, and star anise give it a warm rich fall flavor.
- Applesauce - Adds more apple flavor to the batter.
- Apple Cider - Reduce the apple cider down to get the best flavor.
- Apples - Use a food processor to shred the apple slices into small pieces, so they bake into the donuts easier.
- Flour - All purpose flour is used in most of our recipes. Read our tutorial on how to measure flour, so your baked goods always turn out.
What apples can be used for baking?
The best apples for baking hold their shape in different baked goods. Some of our favorites that hold up to heat and that taste great are Gala, Jonagold, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, and Braeburn.
How to make Apple Cider Donut Holes
A batch of these baked donut holes can be ready to munch on in less than an hour. No frying required!
- Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and creamy.
- Add the sour cream, applesauce, and vanilla and beat the mixture again.
- Stir together the dry ingredients and add them with the apple cider to the batter.
- Shred the apples in a food processor and stir into the batter gently.
- Spoon the batter into a mini muffin pan that was sprayed with nonstick spray. Do not fill them more than half full.
- Bake and cool for a few minutes in the pan; remove and let cool completely.
- Dip the donuts in melted butter and then roll in cinnamon sugar. Let set.
How to Store
These baked donut holes are best served the day they are made. If you want to prepare them a day before, wait to roll them in the butter and cinnamon sugar. Do that just before you eat them for the best taste.
Keep the donuts in a loosely sealed container at room temperature for 1-2 days.
If you want to freeze the donuts, freeze them plain in a large ziplock bag for 1-2 months. Thaw and then roll in butter and cinnamon sugar before serving.
Common Questions
How are baked donuts different than fried donuts?
Now just in case you were wondering, baked donuts do not taste the same as fried doughnuts. But the melted butter and cinnamon sugar coating definitely add a sweet flavor that you will fall in love with.
Do I have to peel the apples first?
Not at all. You can shred the apple slices with the peels on them. Once they bake, you will not even know they are there.
Can I make these into mini donuts instead of donut holes?
Absolutely. Simply use a mini donut pan to bake these sweet little apple bites in.
What if I have extra apples?
If you have extra apples after baking mini apple donuts, go ahead and make these candy apple nachos for a fun after school snack! Your kids will go crazy for them!
More apple breakfast recipes
- Cinnamon Apple Baked Oatmeal
- Spiced Apple Waffles
- Apple Praline Donuts
- Caramel Apple Scones
- Homemade Apple Cider Donuts
- Toffee Apple Bread
- Apple Cranberry Coffee Cake recipe
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Recipe
Apple Cider Donut Holes Recipe
These Apple Cider Donut Holes are soft inside and have a crunchy cinnamon sugar coating. Make a few batches of this baked donut recipe for breakfast this fall and watch them disappear.
Ingredients
For the Donut Holes
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ⅔ cup packed brown sugar
- ⅔ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon table salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground star anise
- ⅓ cup apple cider
- 1 cup shredded apples
For the Cinnamon Sugar coating
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup cinnamon sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a few mini muffin tins with non-stick baking spray.
- Beat the butter and sugar until creamy. Add the sour cream, applesauce, and vanilla and beat again.
- Stir together the salt, baking powder, baking soda, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and star anise. Slowly add the dry ingredients and the apple cider to the butter mixture.
- Stir in the shredded apples gently.
- Spoon the batter into 48 sprayed mini muffin cavities. Do not fill more than half full. Bake for 9-10 minutes.
- Remove and let cool in the pan for 1-2 minutes, and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Stir together the sugar and cinnamon. Roll each donut hole in butter and then in the sugar mixture. Let set. Store in a sealed container.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 48 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 77Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 71mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 0gSugar: 3gProtein: 1g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
*The post for Apple Donut Holes was first published on October 17, 2016. The photos and post were updated and republished August 25, 2020.
Janet
Delicious!!!! I made them as instructed! The only change I made was I used Anise Extract (this is what I had at home) vs ground star anise. It was soooo good! Thank you so much !
Jocelyn
I am so excited to hear that you enjoyed the donuts!!!
Lesley
I just made these for my kids they turned out great .
Nancy
They came out awesome. I did not use the star anise and they tasted great.
Wendy Cookson
Would I be able to use apple juice instead of the apple cider?
Jocelyn
That should work just fine too. I hope you enjoy the donut holes.
Kimberly Brancato Quigley
They came out delicious! I baked them for 4-5 minutes on one side, and then flipped them and another 2-3 minutes! And they were round just like donut holes!
Kim
Question - Would I be able to cook these using a cake pop maker?
Jocelyn
I think that would work just fine. But since I haven't made this recipe in a cake pop maker, I'm unsure of the time to tell you for baking! Keep me posted if you try this recipe that way.
Karen
Ok - I have a question - if you are spooning the batter into mini muffin pans how are they getting to be round instead of the shape of the muffin pan?
Jocelyn
When you first pull them out of the muffin pan, they are going to look slightly like a muffin, but after rolling them in the butter and sugar they take on the look of a donut hole. It's actually quite fun how that works!
Laura
Made these last night; they were incredible! I left out the star anise since I didn't have any and it didn't matter. I made them way too big as I also don't have mini muffin tins, just scooped them onto a baking sheet. Most people would eat 3-4 of the donut holes anyway, so mine was just combined into one big one! They held their shape without the muffin tins, and were so soft!
Brittney
Just a quick question about the star anise and sour cream. I have neither, the sour cream I can get but I am not sure about star anise. I have never even had it. Is it a must in the recipe or could I maybe sub in a bit of fall flavor with nutmeg?
Jocelyn
Most grocery stores carry the ground star anise with all the other spices. You could substitute ground cloves if you want though...or leave it out all together.
Brittney Aldridge
Thank you for the information! I will look for some.
Linda
Love these recipes super easy and taste please continue to share my email is freespirit3038@gmail.com
Like using the can biscuits please share any others you may have like this very cool
Poonam
Amazing. Excited to try it.
Question: star anise - is that the same as anise seeds? apple cider - is that just apple cider or is it apple cider vinegar?
Jocelyn
You will want to use the ground star anise, not the seeds for this recipe. And that is apple cider, not vinegar! I hope you enjoy the donuts.
Karly
Now these look dangerous! As in one for breakfast could turn into one dozen for breakfast reallll quick. 😉 Still, cannot WAIT to try them!
Nicole Taggart
missing fall in New England now since i'm in FL now. I this is bringing it back to me now
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats
Doughnut holes mean I can eat a lot more right? These sound perfect for a lazy weekend breakfast!
Heather Kinnaird
these would vanish in my house too, we cannot ever pass up a doughnut. LOVE that cinnamon and sugar topping
aimee @shugarysweets
Oh my word I LOVE THESE!! My kids would devour these little donut holes.
Julie Evink
I have a TON of apples waiting to be used and my family would forever love me if I made them a big batch of these!
Lindsay
I made these for my kids after school snack today!!! They loved them!!! I made them with homemade apple sauce, homemade apple cider and apples we picked at the orchard!!! We will be making these again for sure!!!
Maureen Blackburn
Just love apple anything but these will be on my to-bakes short list. I especially love that they are baked-not fried!!!!! Thank you!!!!
Medha
These donut holes look incredible! I love the cinnamon sugar on these- apple donuts are just the epitome of fall 🙂