Donut Muffins

These Donut Muffins are baked with apple cider, apple sauce and rolled in a cinnamon sugar coating. They’re paleo-friendly and make the perfect healthy breakfast or afternoon treat for fall. Gluten-free, refined sugar-free, dairy-free with low carb keto sweetener options.

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Updated September 2020

Baked Donut Muffin recipe

Fall baking is here and we are so excited for all the cozy autumn flavors! Every year we take the kiddos to the apple orchard and along with the bushels of apples that we pick, we always leave with some fresh apple cider and mini apple cider donuts.

Now that we are staying at home more often, these homemade Donut Muffins are just what we all need to get that donut fix. They’re not only easy to make but they’re loaded with warm spices, apple cider and coated in a paleo cinnamon sugar topping.

And if you’re looking for more donut recipes, we also love these Pumpkin Donuts, Keto Donuts, Lemon Donuts and these Chocolate Frosted Donuts

Why we love this easy donut recipe

These baked donut muffins totally scream fall and best of all, they couldn’t be easier to make. They divide perfectly into 24 mini muffins and come out perfectly cute and poppable. Next we dip them in some melted ghee and roll them in an ample amount of cinnamon sugar goodness.

These pillowy cuties are so fun to eat and make the perfect treat to make apples shine this fall.

Using our favorite simple gluten free muffin recipe, the donut batter is mixed together by hand in a matter of minutes so you won’t even have to use your mixer.  You can either bake them in a donut hole pan or use a mini muffin pan to make these adorable baked donut holes.

  

Ingredients you need for Apple Cider Donut Holes:

For the Paleo Donut Holes:

• Eggs – binds the ingredients together and helps the donuts rise. We have not tried using chia eggs or flax eggs to make these apple cider donuts vegan but would love to hear if you do. Be sure to bring your eggs to room temperature.
• Apple cider – you want to cook down the apple cider until it’s reduced
• Maple Syrup: adds natural sweetness and extra moisture. You can sub with another liquid sweetener of your choice such as coconut nectar syrup, Lakanto Sugar-free maple syrup to make Keto Apple Donuts.
• Vanilla extract – adds flavor and makes these healthy apple cider donuts delicious
• Super fine blanched almond flour: our favorite paleo and low carb flour to use in place of all purpose flour
• Coconut flour – another gluten-free flour that helps to provide the right structure. We have not tested with any other flour combination for this bread recipe, but you may try subbing with tapioca flour or arrowroot starch if you don’t have any coconut flour on hand.
• Baking soda – a paleo leavener to help the donuts rise.
• Spices: cinnamon, ground nutmeg and ground cloves

For Cinnamon Sugar Coating:

• Ghee: You’ll need some softened ghee, vegan butter or refined coconut oil.
• Maple sugar OR coconut sugar – both are lower glycemic sweeteners that mimics the taste of granulated sugar and  brown sugar. For low carb apple cider donuts, use Lakanto monk fruit sweetener or a preferred alternative.
• Cinnamon

How to make Donut Muffins

1. PREPARE THE BAKING PAN: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a donut hole pan OR 24-count mini muffin pan with avocado oil spray or coconut oil spray.
2. MIX THE WET INGREDIENTS: In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs with a fork then add maple syrup, apple cider and vanilla and whisk together until smooth and combined.
3. ADD THE DRY INGREDIENTS: Stir in the almond flour, coconut flour, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice and salt and mix until dough is uniform.
4. FILL DONUT PAN: Use a spoon or fill a ziplock bag with the dough with the corner cut off to drop or pipe a tablespoon of batter into each each hole.
5. BAKE in preheated oven for 11-14 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the donut holes comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.
6. MAKE THE CINNAMON SUGAR TOPPING: Meanwhile melt ghee in a heat-safe bowl in the microwave in 10 second increments or over a double boiler, until just melted. Remove from heat. In a separate bowl, mix together the maple sugar and cinnamon until well combined.
7. ROLL INTO CINNAMON COATING: Take each donut hole and dunk it into the melted ghee until fully coated. Then dip into the cinnamon and sugar mixture, making sure to coat well. Repeat until all of the donut holes are coated, then serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Variations

• Craving some chocolate? Add some dairy-free chocolate chips
• Swap out the vanilla extract with maple extract and add some chopped walnuts
• You can add an optional dollop of homemade caramel sauce is added to the center for the best surprise

Storage and Freezer Tips

The great thing about these gluten free donut muffins is that you can make them ahead and freeze them to enjoy throughout the week. Allow the apple cider donut holes to cool completely then put them in an airtight freezer bag and freeze for up to three months.

Thaw them on the counter for 2-3 hours or overnight in the refrigerator, then bring the muffins to room temperature or warm them up in the microwave.

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5 from 23 votes

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Donut Muffins

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

13 mins

Total Time

40 mins

 

These Donut Muffins are baked with apple cider, apple sauce and rolled in a cinnamon sugar coating. They're paleo-friendly and make the perfect healthy breakfast or afternoon treat for fall. Gluten-free, refined sugar-free, dairy-free with low carb keto sweetener options.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple cider donut holes, apple cider donuts, donut holes, donut muffins, fall dessert ideas, paleo donut holes, paleo donut muffins

Servings: 24 donuts

Calories: 54 kcal

Author: Kelly

Ingredients

For the Donut Muffins

• 2 large eggs
• 1/3 cup apple cider
• 3 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cup superfine blanched almond flour
• 2 tablespoons coconut flour
• 2/3 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt

For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating

• 6 tablespoons ghee OR sub with vegan butter or refined coconut oil
• 2 tablespoon maple sugar OR coconut sugar
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly coat a 24-count mini muffin pan OR dontu hole pan with avocado oil spray or coconut oil spray.

2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs with a fork then add maple syrup, apple cider and vanilla and whisk together until smooth and combined. Stir in the almond flour, coconut flour, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice and salt and mix until dough is uniform.
3. Use a spoon or fill a ziplock bag with the dough with the corner cut off to drop or pipe a tablespoon of batter into each each hole.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 11-14 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the donut holes comes out clean.

5. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes.

6. Meanwhile melt ghee in a heat-safe bowl in the microwave in 10 second increments or over a double boiler, until just melted. Remove from heat. In a separate bowl, mix together the maple sugar and cinnamon until well combined.

7. Take each donut hole and dunk it into the melted ghee until fully coated. Then dip into the cinnamon and sugar mixture, making sure to coat well. Repeat until all of the donut holes are coated, then serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Nutrition Facts

Donut Muffins

Amount Per Serving (1 donut)

Calories 54 Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Fat 4g6%

Carbohydrates 4g1%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 2g4%

* Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy using the WPRM recipe calculator. It is best to make your own calculations to ensure accuracy. We expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.