Make gluten-free apple cider donuts at home in just a few simple steps. No need to let the batter rise, roll out the dough or purchase a donut pan. We use a cookie scoop to drop batter into hot oil making delicious doughnut holes that can be glazed or sugar-coated.
Fun for kids to create, apple cider donuts are full of flavor making a tasty after school snack, breakfast meal or evening treat that can be enjoyed hot or cold.
For more delicious gluten-free recipes that kids love, check out Air Fryer Baked Apples (Gluten-Free), Banana Spring Rolls, Kid-Friendly Meatloaf, and Homemade Low-Sodium Ramen Noodles.
Apple cider donuts are the ultimate fall treat and this gluten free version exceeds all expectations. Using a combination of gluten free all purpose flour and xanthan gum, these donut bites turn out fluffy and moist every time.
We can’t wait for you and your family to taste these delicious donuts so let’s get baking!
Start things off by gathering the equipment and ingredients then follow the step by step instructions. If preferred, use the printable recipe card below for directions.
Equipment
- large sauce pan
- candy thermometer
- medium-sized mixing bowl
- large mixing bowl
- spoon
- cookie scoop or 2 spoons
- cookie sheet lined with rack
- plate lined with paper toweling
- small bowl
- measuring cups and spoons
- slotted spoon
- 2 forks
Ingredients
- oil for deep frying
- 3 1/2 cup all purpose gluten free flour such as Bob’s Red Mill
- 2 teaspoons xanthan gum
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda check for gluten free
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup apple cider, plus 2 tablespoons
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 cup powdered sugar optional
- 1/2 cup sugar optional
- 1 teaspoon apple pie seasoning optional
How To Make
Fill a sauce pan 2-3 inches full of oil such as canola oil. Place the candy thermometer into the pan then heat the oil over medium high heat at 375°F.
Mix the dry ingredients together
In a medium sized bowl, combine the gluten free flour, xanthan gum, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Pro Tip: If using an all-purpose gluten-free flour other than Bob’s Red Mill, check the ingredient label for xanthan gum. If included in the flour, omit as an ingredient in this recipe.
Mix the wet ingredients together
In a large bowl combine the sugar, egg, apple cider, milk, and vanilla. Stir well.
Ingredient Swap: Apple juice can be used in place of apple cider.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients stirring until almost combined. Then, blend in the melted butter.
Mix It Up: Add grated apple to the donut batter for even more apple flavor.
Drop balls of batter into oil
Using a small cookie scoop or 2 spoons, carefully drop balls of batter into the hot oil. Cook for 2-3 minutes, moving the dough around occasionally.
Remove from oil using a slotted spoon and place onto a paper towel lined plate to soak up any excess oil.
Coat donuts with apple cider glaze or sugar topping
Let your kids choose between apple cider glaze, sugar topping or a combination! For the glaze, place a donut hole into the bowl with the glaze and roll it around with two forks. For the sugar topping, roll the donut hole in around with your hands in the bowl.
Place the donuts onto a baking sheet with rack to dry.
Apple Cider Glaze
In a small bowl combine powdered sugar and 2-3 tablespoons of apple cider or apple juice.
Sugar Toppings
In a small bowl combine sugar and apple pie spice. Turn into a cinnamon sugar donut by swapping the apple pie spice with cinnamon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally apple cider is gluten free; however, double check the ingredient label before purchasing.
Store in the refrigerator for 3 days or in the freezer up to 1 month. This is a great recipe to meal prep and freeze for kids to easily microwave or pop into a toaster oven when ready to eat.
While we have not made these dairy free, you could try swapping the milk with almond milk and replacing the butter with a vegan butter to make a gluten and dairy free version.
Other Fun Fall Recipes
- Pumpkin Empanadas
- Easy Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
- Maple Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash
- Brussels Sprout Apple Salad
- Apple Butter and Caramel Poke Cake
- Healthy Apple Muffins
- Gluten-Free Apple Cake
- Gluten Free Cookie Cake
- Gluten Free Graham Cracker Recipe
- Air Fryer Baked Apples (Gluten-Free)
Kids Cooking
If you have a young chef at home excited to expand their cooking or baking skills, you’ll have to check out Rainbow Popsicles, Sheet Pan Pizza, Frozen Cheesecake Bites, Dirt Pudding Cups, How To Cut A Bell Pepper and Knife Safety For Kids.
If you enjoyed these recipes make sure to leave a comment and a star rating below! Then follow me on social media and tag #createkidsclub if you make the recipe. I love seeing what you come up with!
CCK Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Gluten-Free Apple Cider Donuts
Equipment
- large sauce pan
- candy thermometer
- medium-sized mixing bowl
- large mixing bowl
- spoon
- cookie scoop or 2 spoons
- cookie sheet lined with rack
- plate lined with paper toweling
- small bowl
- measuring cups and spoons
- slotted spoon
- 2 forks
Ingredients
- oil for deep frying
- 3 1/2 cup all purpose gluten free flour such as Bob's Red Mill
- 2 teaspoons xanthan gum
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda ✅
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup apple cider, plus 2 tablespoons
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ✅
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 cup powdered sugar optional
- 1/2 cup sugar optional
- 1 teaspoon apple pie seasoning ✅optional
Instructions
- ⭐️Heat oil for frying. Fill a sauce pan 2-3 inches full of oil. Place the candy thermometer into the pan. Heat oil over medium high heat to 375°F.
- Mix the dry ingredients together. In a medium sized bowl, combine the gluten free flour, xanthan gum, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Mix the wet ingredients together. In a large bowl combine the sugar, egg, apple cider, milk, and vanilla. Stir well.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients stirring until almost combined. Blend in the melted butter.
- ⭐️Drop balls of batter into oil. Using a small cookie scoop or 2 spoons, carefully drop balls of batter into the hot oil. Cook for 2-3 minutes, moving the dough around occasionally. Remove from oil using a slotted spoon and place onto a paper towel lined plate.
- Coat donuts with apple cider glaze or sugar topping. Place a donut hole into the bowl with the glaze and roll it around with two forks. Place donut into the sugar and roll around with your hands. Place onto a baking sheet with rack to dry. Enjoy hot or cold.
Apple Cider Glaze or Sugar Toppings
- Combine apple cider glaze ingredients. In a small bowl combine the powdered sugar and 2-3 tablespoons of apple cider.
- Combine sugar topping ingredients. In a small bowl combine the sugar and the apple pie spice.
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