Paleo Apple Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes (AIP)
These paleo & AIP apple donut holes are a simple and delicious fall treat! They’re paleo, egg free, AIP, and are made in the oven.
There’s nothing quite like a warm, cakey donut! Really though, who doesn’t like donuts? When I first went gluten-free, finding a good GF donut was one of my very first priorities. It was surprisingly easy to find a good GF donut, but it was much harder to find one that was egg free, grain free, potato starch free, refined sugar-free and canola oil free. That’s the kind of thing that you just have to make at home. But who wants to go through the trouble of frying donuts? This recipe is the perfect answer to all of those problems!
These apple donut holes are totally grain free, paleo, and AIP, and they’re not fried or made with yeast! They’re made using just one mixing bowl, and one pan in the oven… that’s it. It’s almost dangerous how easy and delicious these are. As long as you have the ingredients and 5 minutes to spare to mix them together, it’ll only take 15 minutes in the oven to have hot, fresh donut holes. That’s what’s up.
The Ingredients You Need for the Paleo Apple Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes
Tigernut flour, tapioca starch, and coconut flour
This is the flour mix that I’ve found to work best for these AIP donut holes. The only substitute I think could work would be arrowroot starch in place of tapioca. Other than that, I don’t have any known substitutes for these flours.
Applesauce
This adds the apple flavor as well as some added sweetness.
Maple syrup
Because of the applesauce, you don’t need as much sweetener in the base of these donut holes.
Palm shortening
This gives the donut holes the cakey texture that you see in the photos. I have not tried coconut oil in place of the shortening.
Gelatin
I use vital proteins gelatin to help bind these donut holes further.
Coconut sugar & cinnamon
Roll the donut holes in a cinnamon sugar mixture for that signature donut flavor!
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PrintPaleo Apple Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes (AIP)
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6-7 donut holes 1x
Description
These paleo & AIP apple donut holes are a simple and delicious fall treat! They’re paleo, egg free, AIP, and are made in the oven.
Ingredients
For the cinnamon sugar coating
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
For the donut holes
- 1/3 cup tigernut flour
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
- 1/4 cup tapioca starch
- 1 tbsp gelatin (I use Vital Proteins. Do not sub collagen)
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup palm shortening
- 1/4 cup applesauce (unsweetened)
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
- Prepare the coating by combining the coconut sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Combine the flours, gelatin, cinnamon, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl.
- Stir in the palm shortening, applesauce, and maple syrup.
- Roll the dough into donut holes (you’ll have 6-7) and place on the parchment paper. Bake for 15 minutes or until browned.
- While the donut holes are still warm, sprinkle them with the cinnamon sugar and carefully coat them. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
All nutritional information are estimations and will vary.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 15
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 donut hole
- Calories: 203
- Fat: 9.2g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1.9g
- Protein: 2.6g
AIP
Low Carb
Paleo
Whole30
Step 4 should read add shortening, applesauce, and maple syrup, correct?
Was wondering the same Jamie. Recipe needs to be edited.
These are so good ! They taste like gf snickerdoodles ❤️
★★★★★
Thank you so much Melinda!!
These sound amazing. I’m new to AIP baking – is tapioca flour the same as tapioca starch?
It is 🙂
If they turned out too dry – do I need more palm shortening?
Everyone loves these!
★★★★★
Can I skip the gelatin?
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Super yummy! Definitely tastes the best when it’s fresh out of the oven. My non-AIP hubby even loves them.
★★★★★
First time baking with any of these flours….my kind of flattened a bit and seemed doughy….any suggestions or is that how they should be?
If they flattened out too much it may be your oven temperature! I find that can cause a lot of variances as well as putting them on a baking sheet that was sitting on a hot oven. I would maybe turn the temperature down a bit and just watching them to adjust the cooking time.
How are you suppose to make the gelatin? Or do you just sprinkle it with the flour? In other recipes you do the water process and I suppose to do that with this recipe?
It goes in dry 🙂
Yum! These were a big hit with children and adults alike! My husband saved one to have with his morning coffee. Will definitely make again, ina bigger batch. Thanks Michelle!
★★★★
I made these because I needed something to dip into the leftover caramel sauce from your apple pie bar recipe. I love the delicate texture of these that really taste like “regular” donut hole, and that they are not too sweet. I made a double batch and got 20 of them. Really easy and tasty. Thanks!
★★★★★
These are the best! They’re so good and easy to make!
★★★★★
Thank you so much, Shalayne!
When you roll these out, are you rolling into balls or into flat circles that rise?
You’ll roll them into balls 🙂 there’s no rise on these.
Made these and they are simply delicious! Everyone loves it. Next time I will triple the recipe so the kids can have it in their lunch for a special treat.
★★★★★
Thank you, Jana!! So glad it was a hit 🙂
Can’t do Gelatin. Can I use an egg or flex egg
The gelatin actually goes in dry, so adding something like a flax egg or regular egg may be a little too much liquid. Let me know if you try it though!
These are so good – I eat way too many every time.
I made them last night for my community group because 2 of us are on AIP and another is GF. Everyone else loved them too.
Please update if you find a substitute for the coconut flour and sugar! My daughter is gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, AND coconut free. These would ALMOST be perfect for her. ☺️
These are so good! I do not do coconut so I used sweet potato flour instead. Thank you for saving me from those GF donuts at the store. Will never crave those again now that I can make these! 🙂
★★★★★
I can’t believe I was able to eat something so darn good! I replaced palm shortening with coconut oil and tapioca starch with arrowroot and it worked perfectly!
★★★★★
yay, so glad!!
These are amazing and so easy to make!!! I’ve been missing “sweets” since starting AIP and this satisfied my sweet tooth!
Also, I didn’t have palm shortening so used coconut oil and they turned out wonderfully! (Although I cant compare it to the original recipe)
★★★★★
So glad the recipe hit the spot!
I’ve made many of your recipes with success but these donut holes, wow! They turned out perfect. My family went & got donuts this AM. I was feeling left out so while they were gone I made these. They were done by the time the family got back & we all had donut holes together! What a treat, thank you!!
★★★★★
Yay! Thank you so much, Jen! So glad you could enjoy a treat too 🙂
Can these be frozen? Best way to reheat?
I haven’t tried, but I would defrost in the fridge and try to reheat for a minute or so in the oven.
For the gelatin, do you use vital proteins beef gelatin?
I do!
I don’t have palm shortening on hand, would I be able to substitute with lard? Would it still be aip then?
I can’t get palm shortening in this country. Would coconut oil work or any other substitute?
I have not tried coconut oil in place of the shortening!
Has anyone tried making these as donuts instead of donut holes? We love the donut holes but miss donuts!
★★★★★
They may not hold as well if they’re bigger, but let me know if you try it!
Yes Ashley I use a donut pan and they come out fabulous.
Can you use regular unflavored gelatin like what you find in the pudding aisle?
You can!
These are super yummy! I made them with cassava flour instead of tigernut flour and coconut oil to replace the palm shortening and they turned out good. Thank you!
YAY! So glad you liked them!
Do the extras need to be stored in the fridge?
Yes!
Mine puffed up and flattened out (more like a puffy cookie than a donut hole), but the flavor and texture were great! You wouldn’t know they’re AIP. This recipe’s a keeper, for sure!
★★★★★
thank you!!