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These apple cider donuts are the perfect fall dessert! They’re grain-free, egg-free, dairy-free, paleo, and AIP-friendly.

A plate of apple cider donuts

Everyone goes wild for pumpkin in the fall, but apple cider needs some love too! Apple cider donuts are a classic, and I needed them here on my site as well. These are everything I was craving and more, and I know you’re going to love them too. They’re paleo, AIP and are made with a perfect maple glaze.

Why You’ll love these Apple Cider Donuts

  • They’re straightforward to make. No donut maker, no stand mixer, just bowls, and a donut pan!
  • They taste like the real deal. Especially with the added glaze that really ties it all together!

The Ingredients for the Apple Cider Donuts

  • Tigernut Flour, Coconut Flour, and Tapioca Starch. This is the grain-free flour blend that I pretty much always use for donuts. I haven’t tried any other flours to sub the coconut flour and tigernut flour, but you can use arrowroot instead of tapioca.
  • Gelatin Powder. This acts as a binder, and collagen will not swap 1:1. The next closest swap would be ground flaxseed.
  • Baking Powder. I like to use this Legit Bread baking powder.
  • Apple Sauce and Apple Cider. You can also use apple juice instead of apple cider.
  • Coconut Sugar.  

For the glaze

  • For an AIP glaze. 
    • Coconut butter
    • Coconut oil
    • Apple cider
    • Maple syrup
  • For a regular, maple glaze. 

Tools for Making the Apple Cider Donuts

  • Mini donut pan. I love making mini donuts with this recipe! You can try to use a regular donut pan as well, you may just have to bake them a few minutes longer.

How to make Apple Cider Donuts

  • Reduce the apple cider in a pot by half.
  • Combine the wet ingredients in a bowl and set aside. 

The ingredients for apple cider donuts in a bowl

  • Combine the dough. Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl and add to the bowl with the wet ingredients. Fold the batter until a dough forms.
  • Add to the pan. Add the dough to a piping bag and pipe it into the mini donut pan, pressing any of the uneven batter down with your fingers.

Apple cider donuts in the donut pan

  • Bake. Transfer to the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes or until fully baked through. Allow to cool slightly before carefully flipping onto a cooling rack.
  • Top with your desired glaze and enjoy!

A baking sheet with apple cider donuts

How do you store these donuts?

Store them in the fridge for 2-3 days, or freeze for up to a month.

Can you make this recipe coconut free?

I haven’t been able to replicate the same results without coconut flour.

Can you make it with an egg instead of gelatin?

I don’t recommend this as it will add too much moisture. You can use ground flax instead.

Does it need the glaze?

I think the glaze really takes it to the next level, but they’re still yummy without it too.

Can you make full-sized donuts?

You can, though you may need to bake them for a few extra minutes.

Stacked apple cider donuts with a bite out of one

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Apple Cider Donuts {AIP}

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Michelle
  • Prep Time: 20
  • Cook Time: 20
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 8-9 mini donuts 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

These apple cider donuts are the perfect fall dessert! They’re grain-free, egg-free, dairy-free, paleo, and AIP-friendly.


Ingredients

Units Scale

For an AIP glaze

  • 3 tbsp coconut butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp apple cider

For the maple glaze (use above for AIP)

 


Instructions

For the donuts

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and grease a mini donut pan and set aside.
  2. Add the apple cider to a pot and simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes, until the apple cider has reduced by half.
  3. Add the apple cider to a bowl along with the apple sauce, coconut oil, and coconut sugar. Stir to combine.
  4. Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl and add to the bowl with the wet ingredients. Fold the batter until a dough forms.
  5. Add the dough to a piping bag and pipe it into the mini donut pan, pressing any of the uneven batter down with your fingers.
  6. Transfer to the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes or until fully baked through. Allow to cool slightly before carefully flipping onto a cooling rack.

For the glaze

  1. Combine all of the ingredients for the desired glaze in a bowl and stir until fully combined. Dip the donuts in the glaze with the rounded side down. Pick up the donuts and allow the excess glaze to drip off. Allow the glaze to set in the fridge for 15-20 minutes before enjoying it!

Notes

All nutritional information are estimations and will vary. Estimations do not include optional ingredients.


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 donut
  • Calories: 231
  • Fat: 17.8g
  • Carbohydrates: 17.8g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 2g