Baked Apple Donuts with Maple Glaze: Your New Favorite Fall Treat (Just 196 Calories!)
Welcome to the season of cozy comforts and delightful aromas! These Baked Apple Donuts with Maple Glaze are truly exceptional – a moist, perfectly spiced apple donut dipped in the most irresistible maple glaze you’ll ever taste. And the best part? Each one is only 196 calories, making them a fantastic lighter option for breakfast or an afternoon treat. Get ready to fall in love with these easy-to-make, healthier donuts!
I’ve been eagerly anticipating the moment I could finally share this incredible recipe with you. Some recipes just hit different, becoming an instant, undeniable hit in your household, making you want to bake them repeatedly. These donuts created that exact frenzy for me and my family.
The moment these warm, fragrant donuts emerged from the oven, my boys were completely captivated. They raved about them incessantly, and honestly, all twelve donuts vanished within about 30 minutes, if not less! The resounding success led to immediate pleas for another batch. Just recently, my oldest son spotted these photos on my computer and exclaimed, “Mom, you absolutely *have* to make those again. They were so unbelievably good.” When a recipe gets that kind of endorsement from picky eaters, you know you’ve got a genuine winner!
Why Baked Donuts Are a Game-Changer
While traditional fried donuts have their undeniable charm, baked donuts offer a lighter, often healthier alternative without sacrificing flavor or texture. Baking eliminates the need for excess oil, resulting in a treat that feels less indulgent but is just as satisfying. These apple donuts are wonderfully moist and tender, a testament to how delicious baked goods can be. They’re also much simpler and less messy to prepare at home, making them perfect for a weekend breakfast or a cozy fall afternoon project.
The Perfect Harmony of Apple and Maple
When autumn arrives, the flavors of apple, warm spices, and rich maple syrup truly shine. These baked donuts capture the essence of fall in every bite. The natural sweetness and subtle tartness of the apple, combined with a fragrant blend of apple pie spices, create a comforting base. The star of the show, however, is the smooth, luscious maple glaze. Made with real maple syrup, it adds a touch of sophisticated sweetness and that quintessential fall flavor that makes these donuts absolutely irresistible. It’s this combination that makes them the epitome of a seasonal delight.
Inspired by the Mystery Dish Challenge
This recipe was also born from a fun and creative monthly challenge called the “Mystery Dish.” Each month, a different blogger hosts and selects a unique set of seasonal ingredients that participants must incorporate into a new recipe. This month, Marcie from Flavor the Moments curated a fantastic list that truly sparked my culinary imagination. I adored the challenge of getting creative with these diverse ingredients, especially those that evoke the crisp, vibrant spirit of autumn.
The chosen ingredients for this month’s Mystery Dish were:
- Pork
- Fennel
- Kabocha Squash
- Hard Apple Cider
- Heavy Cream
- Orange
- Farro
- Hazelnuts
- Quince
- Thyme
- Maple Syrup
- Brussels Sprouts
While many of these ingredients lend themselves beautifully to savory dishes – and indeed, I even whipped up a delicious brussels sprouts recipe from this list – the presence of apple, orange, maple syrup, and heavy cream immediately got my dessert-oriented brain working. The warm, comforting essence of baked apple donuts with a rich maple glaze felt like the perfect seasonal expression of these ingredients. I can’t emphasize enough how moist, flavorful, and utterly delicious these donuts turned out!
Tips for Perfectly Baked Apple Donuts Every Time
Achieving bakery-quality baked donuts at home is simpler than you might think! Here are a few tips to ensure your Apple Donuts with Maple Glaze come out perfectly:
- Donut Pans are Key: Invest in good quality non-stick donut pans. Greasing them thoroughly, even if they’re non-stick, is essential for easy release.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your eggs and applesauce are at room temperature. This helps them incorporate more evenly into the batter, leading to a smoother consistency and better rise.
- Don’t Overmix: Mix the wet and dry ingredients just until combined. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough donuts. A few small lumps are fine!
- Filling the Pans: The easiest way to fill donut cavities is by transferring the batter to a piping bag (or a zip-top bag with a corner snipped off). This allows for a clean and even fill. Alternatively, carefully spooning the batter in works too.
- Cooling is Crucial: Allow the donuts to cool for a few minutes in the pan before gently removing them to a wire rack. This prevents them from breaking. Make sure they are completely cool before glazing; otherwise, the glaze will melt and run off.
- Glaze Consistency: Adjust the heavy cream or milk in the glaze gradually until you reach your desired consistency. You want it thick enough to coat the donut without being too runny.
- Storage: While these donuts are best enjoyed fresh, any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days.
Baked Apple Donuts with Maple Glaze
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Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp. Truvia Baking Blend OR 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 cup applesauce room temperature
- 4 Tbsp. orange juice
- 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 cups white whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp. apple pie spice
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/4 cup coconut oil melted
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 1/2 Tbsp. real maple syrup
- 1/8 tsp. salt
- 2-3 Tbsp. heavy cream or milk but might not need as much, maybe 1-2 Tbsp.
- 1/4 tsp. maple flavoring
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350º F. Grease 2 (6 donut) pans and set aside.
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In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, Truvia, and applesauce. Lightly mix.
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Then add orange juice, vanilla, flour, apple pie spice, salt, and baking powder. Blend until mostly combined and then add the coconut oil.
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Scoop batter into donut pans and place in preheated oven. Bake for 15-18 minutes, until cooked through and golden. Let rest for a few minutes in the pan and then lightly peel donuts out. Set aside to cool.
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Meanwhile, mix together powdered sugar, maple syrup, salt, cream and maple flavoring in a small bowl until creamy, glaze-like consistency. When donuts are cooled, dip the tops into the glaze and place on a cooling rack until set.
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Devour! Store leftovers (if you have any) in an airtight container.
Nutrition
I truly hope you’ll give these Baked Apple Donuts with Maple Glaze a try. They’re not just a delicious treat; they’re a celebration of fall flavors that are sure to become a cherished part of your seasonal baking traditions. They’re perfect for sharing, whether with your family at breakfast or as a thoughtful gift for teachers and neighbors. I’m already planning to make another batch very soon!
More Creative Dishes from the Mystery Dish Challenge
Curious to see what other bloggers created with this month’s Mystery Dish ingredients? Check out these fantastic recipes:
- Baked French Toast Casserole by I Want Crazy
- Hazelnut Maple-Glazed Cinnamon Rolls by I Dig Pinterest
- Hazelnut Macarons with Pumpkin Maple Filling by Baking a Moment
- Honey-Thyme Roasted Pork Tenderloin from The Pajama Chef
- Italian Sausage and Ravioli Skillet by Simply Gloria
- Kabocha Squash Curry with Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Farro by Chez CateyLou
- Maple Glazed Fennel and Brussels Sprouts by The Well Floured Kitchen
- Pear Hazelnut Bread with Orange Maple Glaze by Blahnik Baker
- Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Apples, Bacon, and Hazelnuts by Flavor the Moments
- Shaved Brussels Sprouts Harvest Salad with a Hard Apple Cider Vinaigrette by Joyful Healthy Eats
- {Vegan} Orange Hazelnut Maple Cinnamon Rolls by Sweet Tooth Life
- Chocolate Orange Hazelnut Truffles by Culinary Couture
Looking for more yummy breakfast ideas? Try these too:
Healthy Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies
Whole Wheat Blueberry Scones
Baked Biscuit Donuts with Straberry Glaze