Vegan Apple Cider Donuts
Soft, fluffy, and bursting with cozy fall flavor—these Vegan Apple Cider Donuts are a must-bake this season. Rolled in cinnamon sugar and made with simple ingredients, they’re the perfect fall treat for the whole family.
Cozy Fall Baking at Its Best
When the leaves start changing and you can smell apple cider in the air, nothing says fall quite like apple cider donuts. If you love these, you’ll also want to try other fall favorites like Pumpkin Muffins, Apple Crisp, and Vegan Banana Bread. They all pair beautifully with a cup of tea, coffee, or—of course—warm apple cider.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make these soft and fluffy donuts:
Apple Cider – Adds a sweet apple flavor that makes these donuts stand out.
Soy Milk – Keeps the donuts moist while adding richness. Any non-dairy milk will work.
Applesauce – A natural egg replacer that adds moisture and light sweetness.
Vanilla Extract – Rounds out the flavor with warmth.
Flour – The base of the donuts. All-purpose flour works best here.
Brown Sugar – Adds a deep, caramel-like sweetness.
Baking Powder & Baking Soda – Help the donuts rise and stay fluffy.
Cinnamon & Nutmeg – The warm spices that give these donuts their classic fall flavor.
Salt – Balances the sweetness.
For the topping:
Granulated Sugar, Cinnamon, & Nutmeg – Create that classic sugary coating.
Vegan Butter – Helps the topping stick and adds richness.
How to Make Vegan Apple Cider Donuts
*Note that these instructions can be printed below
1. Preheat your oven to 350℉ and grease your donut pan.
2. Mix wet ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the apple cider, soy milk, applesauce, and vanilla.
3. Mix dry ingredients: Add flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir until combined.
4. Fill the pan: Spoon the batter into the donut pan, about ¼ cup per donut.
5. Bake: 10–13 minutes, or until the donuts are slightly firm to the touch and bounce back when pressed.
6. Make topping: While donuts bake, mix together sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl. Melt vegan butter separately.
7. Coat donuts: Once cool enough to touch, dip each donut into the melted butter, then roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
8. Enjoy!
Bakers Expert Tips
- Use fresh apple cider (not apple juice) for the best flavor.
- Don’t overmix the batter—just stir until combined.
- Let donuts cool slightly before coating; too hot and the sugar will melt, too cold and it won’t stick well.
- For easy cleanup, place parchment paper under your coating station.
- Double the recipe if serving a crowd—they disappear fast!
How to Serve
These donuts are best enjoyed fresh and warm with a mug of hot apple cider, coffee, or tea. They also make a perfect addition to a fall brunch spread alongside Vegan Pancakes or Vegan Hot Chocolate.
For a festive touch, serve them dusted with extra cinnamon sugar and a drizzle of vegan caramel sauce.
How to Store
Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for 1–2 days.
Fridge: Keep up to 4 days in a sealed container. Warm briefly in the microwave or let come to room temp before serving.
Freezer: Freeze individually, then store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature or microwave in 20–30 second intervals.
FAQ’s for Apple Cider Donuts
- Don’t I have to reduce the apple cider?
- No, not for this recipe. To make this recipe as simple as possible, and still delicious, there’s no extra steps to make it complicated. These donuts are so easy a child could make them, with supervision, of course!
- How will I know when they are done in the oven?
- You will know they’re done in the oven when they are slightly firm, or when you press into one gently, it bounces back and doesn’t sink in.
- Do the topping ingredients make a grainy sugary topping or a glaze topping?
- The topping is meant to be a grainy sugary topping. Glazed toppings usually use powdered sugar, not granulated sugar.
Make it Kid Friendly
These donuts are already kid-approved, but to make them extra fun:
- Let kids help dip donuts in butter and sugar (messy but worth it!).
- Turn them into mini donuts that are perfect for little hands.
- Add festive sprinkles to the sugar mixture for a fun fall twist.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Vegan Pumpkin Donuts
- Vegan Apple Crisp
- Vegan Banana Bread
- Turmeric Latte
- Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Vegan Pumpkin Pancakes
Apple Cider Donuts
Shawna ClapperIngredients
- ½ cup Apple Cider
- ¼ cup Soy Milk
- 2 tablespoon Applesauce
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 ½ cups Flour
- ½ cup Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon Nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
Topping
- ½ cup Granulated Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
- Pinch of Nutmeg
- ¼ cup Butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350℉ and grease your donut pan.
- Add all of the wet ingredients to a bowl and stir together.
- Add all of the dry ingredients to the bowl and mix well with the wet ingredients.
- Spoon the batter into your donut pan, about ¼ cup per donut, and then bake for 10-13 minutes, or until slightly firm to the touch.
- Mix together the granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl while the donuts bake, then set aside.
- Melt the butter.
- Once the donuts are cool enough to touch, dip both sides of a donut in the melted butter and then dip both sides into the cinnamon and sugar mixture to cover the donut completely in the cinnamon and sugar. Repeat this step for all donuts, then enjoy!
