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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast

    Gluten Free Apple Cider Doughnuts

    Published: Jul 12, 2019 Modified: Sep 15, 2020 by Karen Kelly This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    Make these Gluten Free Apple Cider Doughnuts for a sweet, after school fall treat. Your family will love you for it. They are light, fluffy and full of fall apple cider flavor. You'll never know they are gluten-free!

    Gluten Free Apple Cider Doughnuts for a sweet, gluten free treat

    Hope you guys had a great weekend.  I spent a lovely weekend with my mom having a yard sale and trying to get rid of some of her clutter.  It was semi-successful but are yard sales ever worth the effort?  They are so much work.  Let's just say getting rid of clutter was worth the effort but not much money was earned!

    My past experiences with yard sales have not been good.  When I was a kid I remember selling my favorite homemade Barbie clothes for next to nothing. What was I thinking?  I had the sweetest neighbor who made them for me and they were amazing.  I'm talking ball gowns and faux mink coats for Barbies.  I so wish I had those for my daughter now.

    As an adult, we a family yard sale a few years ago and my boys decided they were done with Pokemon and sold all their cards.

    Can you imagine?  Needless to say, Pokemon Go has brought back a love for Pokemon all around and they long for those cards.  Oh, the yard sale remorse!

     Gluten Free Apple Cider Doughnuts on a rack with a sweet glaze

    Not sure these Gluten-Free Apple Cider Doughnuts make up for the loss of Barbie clothes but they are pretty darn tasty.  Trust me when I say you will never know they are gluten-free.  Gluten Free Doughnuts (Krispy Kreme Copycat) has been by far, my most popular recipe on the blog so I try to revisit it now and then and put a spin on it. These babies are perfect for fall and full of apple cider and maple flavor.

    Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour is the only way to go here.  I am a huge fan of all of his products and this particular flour has changed my gluten free baking.  It is the closest taste you can get to regular flour and it's full of good for you ingredients. Do not substitute.

    These Gluten Free Apple Cider Doughnuts are...

    • light
    • fluffy
    • sweet
    • gluten free

    Gluten Free Apple Cider Doughnuts on a cooling rack with glaze

    I used Wilton Donut Pans for these but you can also make mini donuts with the Babycakes Mini Donut Maker.  Either way, your kids will love you for it. There is something extra special about donuts at home.  Make them for breakfast or put them in lunchboxes for dessert.  Just be careful having them around the house, because they are dangerously good.

    Gluten Free Apple Cider Doughnuts

    Make these Gluten-Free Apple Cider Doughnuts for a sweet, after school fall treat. Your family will love you for it. They are light, fluffy and full of fall apple cider flavor. You'll never know they are gluten-free!
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 231kcal
    Author: Karen Kelly

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ cups Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Baking Flour
    • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
    • 1½ teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ⅔ cup sugar
    • 8 tablespoon unsalted butter melted and cooled
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 2 eggs whites separated
    • 1 cup apple cider
    • For icing:
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 2 tablespoon pure maple syrup
    • 1 tablespoon milk

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350º.
    • Spray your donut pan with cooking spray.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the first seven dry ingredients, flour through sugar.
    • In another small bowl whisk together the melted and cooled butter, vanilla, egg yolks, and apple cider. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients and pour in. Mix gently.
    • In a separate small bowl whisk the two egg whites for about a minute or two with a fork. You are just trying to get them a bit thicker so they add some fluffiness to the doughnuts.
    • Add egg whites to mixture and stir just until mixed.
    • Transfer mixture to a Ziploc bag and cut the corner tip off. This makes it easy to pipe into the donut pan.
    • Fill each well ½ full without covering the middle section. If you do, your doughnuts won't have a hole.
    • Cook for about 8-10 minutes.
    • Allow to cool completely before glazing.
    • For the icing simply mix the powdered sugar and the maple syrup. Add milk a little bit at a time to get the desired consistency. More milk will make icing runny so don't add too much at one time.
    • Dip doughnuts in icing and place on a rack to drip dry. Top with sprinkles before the icing sets.
    • If you are using a donut pan, preheat oven to 350° and bake for 8-10 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 231kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 88mg | Potassium: 110mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 275IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 0.8mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @seasonal_cravings or tag #seasonal_cravings and I will repost on my stories.
    Gluten Free Apple Cider Doughnuts
    « Baked Teriyaki Salmon
    100 Gluten Free Lunch Ideas for Kids »

    About Karen Kelly

    Hi, I'm Karen Kelly a certified health coach. At Seasonal Cravings, you will find wholesome gluten free recipes and healthy lifestyle tips.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mary Ann @ thebeachhousekitchen

      September 12, 2016 at 11:41 am

      Love, love, love these Karen! Perfect little breakfast treat to welcome fall! Enjoy your week!

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        September 13, 2016 at 5:46 am

        Thanks Mary Ann! You have a great week too.

        Reply
    2. seasonssuppers

      September 12, 2016 at 4:25 pm

      Apple cider doughnuts are just so perfect for this time of year and these look perfect 🙂

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        September 13, 2016 at 5:45 am

        Thanks Jennifer!

        Reply
    3. Erin

      September 12, 2016 at 9:11 pm

      I just got a donut pan this week! I'm excited to start using it. These may be the first thing I make.

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        September 13, 2016 at 5:45 am

        Awesome Erin! Hope you like them!

        Reply
    4. Tori

      September 13, 2016 at 5:33 am

      These look fabulous, girl! Love them!

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        September 13, 2016 at 5:45 am

        Thanks Tori!

        Reply
    5. rebecca | DisplacedHousewife

      September 13, 2016 at 8:41 am

      Oh these look delicious!!!!

      Reply
    6. Karly

      September 13, 2016 at 9:39 am

      Okay, these look amazing!!! I am totally obsessed with apple cider donuts, and I love love love that you've added a glaze here. My family is going to go crazy over these... if I can keep myself from eating them all! 🙂

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        September 13, 2016 at 12:40 pm

        Thanks Karly!

        Reply
    7. Cathy

      September 14, 2016 at 9:36 am

      cider donuts are everything for the fall. when i was growing up we made a trip to a place called the cider mill for apple cider, candy apples and the best donuts ever. these remind me so much of those. love!!

      Reply
    8. Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop

      September 14, 2016 at 9:24 pm

      I love these doughnuts! They are so pretty and a little apple cider just makes them perfect for fall!

      Reply
    9. annie@ciaochowbambina

      September 14, 2016 at 11:57 pm

      Ahhh! What I wouldn't do to have my Barbie case, filled with all the gorgeous clothes I had for her.... I feel for you! These doughnuts are just perfect! I'm so ready for autumn, for recipes just like this!!

      Reply
    10. chilliesandlime123@hotmail.com

      September 15, 2016 at 4:36 am

      yummm those doughnuts looks delicious.

      Reply
    11. Caroline

      September 15, 2016 at 10:08 am

      I feel your pain, Karen! I've done the yard sale thing too, and have totally regretted some things I've sold. Like…my Mom's KitchenAid mixer! I think I sold it for like $20! Gahhhh! This was a long time ago…and haven't done another one since.

      This doughnut recipe could not come at a better time! We just went apple picking this weekend and bought some cider doughnuts from the orchard. They were amazing, but kind of greasy and heavy. I may break out my doughnut pans today…I've got some cider in the fridge!

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        September 16, 2016 at 10:00 pm

        Oh no, so sorry about the KitchenAid mixer. That's a heartbreaker!

        Reply
    12. Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners

      September 15, 2016 at 11:57 am

      Oh my gosh, Karen, I need to move next door to you! It's been so long since I've had a doughnut. These look amazing and you may have convinced me to try my hand at these because the flavours are too amazing to resist! If I have a fail, could you Fed-Ex me some? lol

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        September 16, 2016 at 10:00 pm

        Yes, of course, I will FedEx whenever your heart desires!

        Reply
    13. Dawn @ Girl Heart Food

      September 16, 2016 at 7:33 am

      It's always nice to clear up clutter and I find that you really have to be in the mood for it. I feel the same way about some of the stuff that I have donated or gotten rid of over the years, wishing that I had kept it. I even had a little poem book of my own poems from when I was younger and threw that out! I don't know what I was thinking!
      Now, onto these delicious doughnuts! I really have to get a doughnut pan and jump on that doughnut train. I love that you kept the icing thin. That's perfect in my books! Such a great flavour for Fall 🙂

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        September 16, 2016 at 10:01 pm

        Oh no, your own poems? That's so sad!

        Reply
    14. Lorena

      September 21, 2016 at 2:24 pm

      Karen!!! The photography for these doughnuts is EXTRAORDINARY!!!! Clap, clap, clap. The photos are beautiful to look at and I feel like giving my screen a bite!!!!

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        September 22, 2016 at 8:55 am

        Thanks Lorena! That means a lot coming from you.

        Reply
    15. Green Valley Kitchen

      September 26, 2016 at 11:21 am

      I've never held a yard sale, Karen - but they are pretty popular here - my friend made a ton of money doing a group one with some friends. I've also never made donuts - but you've inspired me - these look delicious!

      Reply
    16. Megan - The Emotional Baker

      September 27, 2016 at 8:30 pm

      These donuts look amazing!! I'll have to try some this fall - the perfect treat after a yard sale 😉

      Reply
    17. Jessica @ Citrus Blossom Bliss

      September 28, 2016 at 10:42 am

      We love apple cider donuts in the fall 🙂 every year we go apple picking at a nearby orchard and stop to get fresh fried apple cider donuts - bonus if they're still hot and bathed in cinnamon sugar. These look like a lovely alternative for having at home when you don't feel like wading through the crowds at the orchard 🙂

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        September 29, 2016 at 9:59 am

        What a nice tradition! Thanks Jessica!

        Reply
    18. Julia

      September 28, 2016 at 12:08 pm

      Ahhhh it's so nice to de-clutter! You're inspiring me to do the same...I have so many random things/clothes/books I don't use any more and could use a refresher 😉

      These doughnuts are amaaaaazing!! I love cider doughnuts and now definitely need to make them at home. Bravo!

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        September 29, 2016 at 9:59 am

        Thanks Julia. I'll never get all my de-cluttering done!

        Reply
    19. Erin

      September 28, 2016 at 10:59 pm

      I have a question - I have an egg allergy and usually use an Egg Replacer for baked goods. How would that work with this recipe?

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        September 29, 2016 at 9:58 am

        Hi Erin, Unfortunately, I don't have experience with egg replacer. It should work fine but may give it a different texture. Let me know how it works!

        Reply
    20. Phi @ The Sweetphi Blog

      October 11, 2016 at 8:51 am

      YUM! These doughnuts sound so amazing. Can you believe I've never made doughnuts at home? That totally needs to change after seeing this recipe 🙂

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        October 11, 2016 at 5:55 pm

        No, I can't believe it! Get on it girl!

        Reply
    21. Queenie

      October 11, 2016 at 10:44 pm

      Can I make this without a donut pan?

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        October 12, 2016 at 6:40 am

        Sorry but I don't think that would work. It's a very runny batter. I guess you could try a mini muffin pan but not sure how that would turn out?? Thanks!

        Reply
    22. Nalia Herrington

      October 19, 2016 at 11:01 pm

      5 stars
      Hi there! I made the donuts and in the icing ingredient list it says maple syrup. In the instructions you don't say when to add the maple syrup. It just says the sugar and milk. Please clarify for a first time homemade donut lady! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        October 20, 2016 at 6:59 am

        Thanks for catching that for me Nalia! I've adjusted the recipe. Hope you like them.

        Reply
    23. Angelia D

      November 30, 2016 at 9:36 pm

      I made the donuts tonight. They taste yummy! I used a silicone pan which seemed fine. They are very fluffy and moist. I did have to cook them for twice as long. Any other tips for using a silicone pan?

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        December 01, 2016 at 6:17 am

        I haven't tried them in a silicone pan but thanks for letting me know how it went. Glad they worked for you!

        Reply
    24. Kelly

      September 30, 2017 at 3:07 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for this delicious recipe! My daughter has recently gone GF and I'm trying to find delicious recipes she can enjoy and this one did it! How do you store these doughnuts and for how long do they stay stable? Thanks again!

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        October 02, 2017 at 10:25 am

        Yay, I'm so happy she liked them! Mine usually don't last long but I'll bet you can store them in a plastic container on the counter for a few days. Sometimes they absorb some of the icing so watch for that. Thanks for commenting!

        Reply
    25. Nancy

      November 19, 2017 at 1:01 pm

      Karen! Thank you! These donuts are excellent! I've been buying cider donuts from a good local GF bakery aat $2 a pop. These are so much better in flavor. I"d love to experiment as to how to get them more crispy like a a typical fried donut (without the frying on my end). Any ideas? Here's to a beautiful remaining full!

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        November 22, 2017 at 3:13 pm

        I'm so glad to hear it Nancy. I'm not sure how to make them crispier without dropping them in oil but I'll give it some thought. I'm always experimenting with donut recipes so maybe I'll come up with something. Thanks for your comment!

        Reply
    26. CJ

      November 22, 2017 at 2:27 pm

      5 stars
      Can I substitute apple cider with apple juice?

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        November 22, 2017 at 3:11 pm

        Yes that should work fine. The apple taste might not be as strong but it will still be good.

        Reply
    27. CJ Janicke

      November 25, 2017 at 3:34 pm

      5 stars
      Amazing recipe! My family loved them!

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        November 27, 2017 at 12:57 pm

        Thanks so much for letting me know CJ! I'm glad your family enjoyed them!

        Reply
    28. Ashley

      September 18, 2018 at 9:08 pm

      5 stars
      These came out amazing! Thanks so much for the recipe! I made them with the King Arthur GF 1:1 flour. A big hit at our house!

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        September 20, 2018 at 1:45 pm

        So glad to hear it! Thanks for coming back to let me know - and I've never tried it with King Arthur. Will have to buy some of that flour.

        Reply
    29. Maria

      October 01, 2018 at 7:36 pm

      5 stars
      These came out amazing — potentially my favorite dessert recipe I’ve made in the six years I’ve been gluten free. I don’t normally love the flour brand you suggested, but I followed the recipe exactly (flour included) and it worked perfectly. Unlike most gluten free desserts, which can be dry and crumbly, these were moist and had the consistency of a great sponge cake. They’re especially fall-like when coated in cinnamon and sugar. Even my non-gluten free friends loved them.

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        October 02, 2018 at 6:03 am

        Thanks so much Maria for your glowing review. I really appreciate you taking the time to come back and let me know.

        Reply
    30. Deanna Peters

      October 01, 2018 at 9:50 pm

      2 stars
      I agree with everyone above in that the picture looks great. I made these tonight but in silicone pan as another lady did and yes time was doubled. These don’t taste like doughnuts though, rather a cake or muffin shaped like a doughnut. They are tasty but in my opinion they are not like yeast baked or fried gluten free doughnuts.

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        October 02, 2018 at 6:02 am

        That is correct, these are more of a cakelike donut bc they are not fried and do not contain yeast.

        Reply
        • Deanna

          October 03, 2018 at 8:14 pm

          4 stars
          However I will say... my daughter (who has Celiacs and whom I actually made them for) was finally home and tried them and said they are the closest thing to a real doughnut she has had in a very long time so- without having the deep fry mess in a kitchen and being super easy to make- we love this recipe and will be making again most definitely. I’ve put a few in the freezer to see how they hold up but something tells me I should have left those ones unglazed! Thank you for this recipe- my daughters craving has been satisfied!

          Reply
    31. Vivian

      October 11, 2018 at 9:26 pm

      Can I prepare the batter and refrigerate the night before baking? And how long will they store for? They look delicious and can’t wait to try them!! Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        October 12, 2018 at 10:25 am

        Hi Vivian, I've never tried storing the batter overnight and not sure that would work out. As far as storage goes, once they are iced they will keep for about two days. If you don't ice them, maybe a week. Good luck!

        Reply
    32. Laura Rychcik

      October 14, 2018 at 5:11 pm

      4 stars
      Just made these for my 2 boys ages 7 and 10, both with celiac. I wanted the crispy outside so I ended up frying them by using a large spoon and dropping globs of the batter onto the oil. I topped with cinnamon sugar instead of the glaze. They love them!! Thank you for the recipe.

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        October 16, 2018 at 5:44 am

        Thanks so much for letting me know! Glad they liked them.

        Reply
    33. Barbara Niezgodski

      October 30, 2018 at 1:40 pm

      5 stars
      My husband recently made these donuts and they were wonderful. Had guests that day and they all loved them.
      Such a nice treat. Used a new donut pan he received as a gift from Pampered Chef. Worked well.

      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        October 30, 2018 at 1:42 pm

        Thanks for letting me know Barbara. And what a nice husband to make donuts for you!

        Reply
    34. Katie

      October 22, 2019 at 1:25 pm

      I was wondering if you could substitute coconut oil for the butter, my son has a dairy allergy?

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        October 22, 2019 at 2:36 pm

        Hi Katie, I haven't tried that in this recipe but have used coconut oil as a sub for butter in others - I think it should work fine. Good luck. Let me know if it works!

        Reply
        • Katie

          October 27, 2019 at 5:36 pm

          I used a vegan butter 😊 the flavor is amazing. A little more oily but I think I will play with it and it will work. Great recipe and flavor! Thank you.

          Reply
    35. Amy

      October 31, 2020 at 5:16 pm

      5 stars
      We loved these! They were easy to make and delicious!

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        November 02, 2020 at 5:35 am

        Thanks so much for letting us know!

        Reply
    36. Jill E .

      November 07, 2020 at 9:15 am

      One cup of vinegar is WAY too much.. We could barely eat them.

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        November 07, 2020 at 9:21 am

        Hi Jill

        There is no vinegar in here. It’s apple cider, not apple cider vinegar. No wonder you could barely eat them. Hope you can try them again.

        Reply
    37. Shelley Hachman

      November 24, 2020 at 7:38 pm

      These were great! I made them last week, and doing them again today. I added chopped Granny Smiths, Chinese Five Spice and today I'm going to put in some sour cream. I'm also going to try lowering the temp on the oven on the first batch to see if they rise a little more.

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        December 03, 2020 at 5:17 pm

        Glad you liked them and love your additions!

        Reply
    38. Lynn

      February 04, 2021 at 11:53 am

      DF as well as GF and wondering if I substitute oil for the butter is it a 1 to 1 ratio? Would ghee work?

      Reply
      • Karen Kelly

        February 04, 2021 at 1:09 pm

        I think oil would work in a one-to-one ratio but I've never tried it. Ghee I'm not sure. Good luck!

        Reply

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    I'm Karen Kelly a food photographer and recipe creator. At Seasonal Cravings you will find quick, gluten free recipes made with seasonal ingredients. Let's get cooking!

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