Easy and quick air fryer apple cider donuts are one of the best desserts of fall! These donut holes are an old fashioned favorite while also being gluten free and made with simple ingredients. You can make these homemade in under 20 minutes with no yeast and without a donut pan!
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One of my absolute favorite fall desserts are old fashioned apple cider donuts. This recipe originally had the donuts baked in the oven.
But, since I'm a huge fan of air fryer recipes, I figured air fryer apple cider donuts were a must! These are super fun to make in mini hole form also.
If you love this recipe and are looking for more healthy apple desserts, be sure to try this healthier apple pie, apple crisp and apple nachos! And if donuts are you thing give these Krispie Kreme copycat donuts a try!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Even better than Trader Joe's version and you can easily make them homemade with apple cider and a few ingredients you likely have on hand in your pantry.
- Delicious texture and sweet flavor - just like the old-fashioned version from the farmer's market!
- Can be made into mini donut holes or into full sized donuts using a donut pan.
- Gluten-free and can be made vegan and without egg.
- Try our gluten-free apple fritters too!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.
- Maple Syrup: Naturally sweetened with maple syrup, this donut holes have such a delicious fall flavor. Alternatively, you can use coconut sugar, raw honey or sugar.
- Pumpkin Spice: You can also make these with cinnamon sugar if you do not have pumpkin spice.
- Flour: Gluten free baking flour like this measure for measure flour works well in this recipe. I have not tested it with almond flour, whole wheat, coconut or oat flour.
How to Make This Recipe
Below are step-by-step instructions for how to cook this recipe. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cooking time and temperatures.
- Whisk together gluten free flour, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt and pumpkin spice. In another bowl combine melted butter, egg, maple syrup, apple cider and applesauce.
- Slowly fold dry ingredients into wet. Stir until just combined, do not over mix.
- Using a plastic bag, place donut mixture into bag and snip one bottom corner. Fill egg mold ¾ full of donut batter. Smooth tops out with a spoon. Air fry at 375 F for 10-12 minutes. Donuts will be done when a toothpick comes out clean.
- In a shallow dish, combine 4 tablespoon of sugar with 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice. Pour 1-2 tablespoon of melted butter over donuts and shake gently to coat. Place donut into sugar mixture and gently roll until coated.
Expert Tips
- Vegan: To make these vegan and eggless, use ¼ cup applesauce in place of an egg. Also use vegan butter in place of butter.
- Storage: Stored in an air-tight container on your countertop for 2-3 days.
- Freezer: Donuts can be placed in a freezer-proof container and frozen for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Defrost and warm in oven, air fryer or microwave.
Recipe FAQs
My favorite way to make donut holes is by air frying them! I use an egg bites pan (the same one I use for my instant pot egg bites) to air fry them.
Air fryer apple cider donuts may be reheated in the air fryer at 375F for 2-3 minutes or until heated. You can also reheat them in the microwave or in the oven.
Related Recipes
Air Fryer Apple Cider Donuts
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 cup gluten free flour
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 ½ teaspoon pumpkin spice divided use
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup apple cider
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
Instructions
Donut Instructions
- Whisk together gluten free flour, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt and pumpkin spice. In another bowl combine melted butter, egg, maple syrup, apple cider and applesauce.
- Slowly fold dry ingredients into wet. Stir until just combined, do not over mix.
- Using a plastic bag, place donut mixture into bag and snip one bottom corner. Fill egg mold ¾ full with donut batter. Smooth tops out with a spoon. Air fry at 375F for 10-12 minutes. Donuts will be done when a toothpick comes out clean.
Pumpkin Spice + Sugar Topping Instructions
- In a shallow dish, combine 4 tablespoon of sugar with 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice.
- Pour 1-2 tablespoon of melted butter over donuts and shake gently to coat. Place donut into sugar mixture and gently roll until coated.
Notes
- Vegan: To make these vegan and eggless, use ¼ cup applesauce in place of an egg. Also use vegan butter in place of butter.
- Storage: Stored in an air-tight container on your countertop for 2-3 days.
- Freezer: Donuts can be placed in a freezer-proof container and frozen for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Defrost and warm in oven, air fryer or microwave.
Brittany
No idea what I'm doing wrong but this did not work out for me. Even bought the same egg bite mold to use. Had them in my Ninja Foodie at 375 for 10 minutes. Each donut was turning brown on top (almost to the point of being overdone) while every single donut bottom was still wet and I sadly didn't get a single donut out of the mix. It's a bummer because I was really looking forward to these!
Lyndsey Piccolino
Hi Brittany - so sorry these didn't work out! Did you make any modifications to the ingredients?
Amanda
I'm excited to try this recipe! Just wondering a couple things first. 1-what temp was the air fryer? Second questions is if its a full size donut pan will it still be about 10-12 min?
Lyndsey Piccolino
Hi Amanda! It's 375F. Sorry about that, I've updated the recipe card. I haven't used a full-sized donut pan in the air fryer so I am not sure about the time! You may want to check them sooner only because they are more spread out in a full size donut pan so I'm wondering if they will actually cook faster? Let me know how it goes!
Jordan
I bought an egg bite pan just to make this recipe and oh my goodness, was it worth it. These are dangerously delicious. I added some very finely chopped apple to mine and a pinch of almond extract because I love the flavors of apple and almond together.
Lyndsey
Thanks for your review Jordan! I'm so glad you enjoyed them.
Robert Stenzel
This recipe was truly incredible. I have so many food allergies buying donuts is just impossible, and my mom had sent me an egg bite mold right before I figured out I was reacting to eggs. I am very excited to find another use for it. I used my own cup for cup GF flour that has ultratex and psyllium husk in it because I can't do gums or potato starch. I also subbed out the butter for a palm/coconut oil shortening and used a flax egg (1 Tbsp flax meal to 3 Tbsp water). I did learn the hard way that the melted shortening and cold liquid ingredients from the fridge did not play well together and the shortening re-solidified., Warming the mixture up gently and then chilling the finished batter in the fridge for about 20 minutes fixed that issue and they came out * chefs kiss * Thank you for sharing!
Lyndsey
Thank you so much for your kind words Robert! I'm glad you loved the recipe!
Silvia
Wow, they came out great Lyndsay!
mommafitpgh@gmail.com
My daughter has been asking for them on repeat!!! I tried to freeze them for later and she keeps asking for them 🙂 . A hit for sure!!!