Apple Cider Donuts- gluten-free, top 9 allergen free

We love all things fall including the changing color of the trees and ALL the fall flavors.  Give us all the pumpkin, apple, and cinnamon!  While we adore pumpkin, we think it overshadows the apple in the fall. So we are giving some love to the apple and we know you will love this recipe too. A non-food allergic friend told me recently of a fun day her family had going to a local orchard that has delicious fall treats including apple cider donuts.  If you know us at all, you know we don’t let missing out on food with restrictions stop us from anything. If anything, it just makes us more determined to provide you all with the same recipe, yet safe. There is no need to miss out on your favorite foods because you have food restrictions.  Let us help you live your best free from life and do it right along with your loved ones.  Our goal is always one meal at one table to bring inclusion and delicious food to you and your loved ones.

So, bring on these delectable Apple Cider Donuts. When we polled our social media followers recently, the majority of you said you either prefer to make fried donuts or both fried and baked at home.  The good news is, we have both for you.  This Apple Cider Donut recipe is a fried donut recipe.  It will take you back to before you had food restrictions, these are that good (or we think better ;) ).  There is something about a fried donut that can’t be replaced with a baked donut.  Don’t get me wrong, we love baked donuts too, but fried are just something special.  These fried Apple Cider Donuts are crisp on the outside, fluffy, and tender on the inside with the perfect mix of spice. YUM! Go grab our Rustic Scoop™ Pizza Crust Mix so you can make these ASAP!

Apple Cider Donuts

Ingredients

1 Rustic Scoop™ Pizza Crust Mix 

¼ Cup Sugar of choice

½ teaspoon Nutmeg 

1 Tablespoon Cinnamon 

1 teaspoon Dry active yeast

¾ Cup Apple Sauce

¼ Cup Butter of choice

1 ⅔ - ¾ Cup Warm apple Juice

¼ Cup Maple Syrup 

2 teaspoons White vinegar 

1 teaspoon Vanilla

Cinnamon and Sugar Ingredients

¼ Cup Sugar of choice

1 Tablespoon Cinnamon

Directions 

Prepare your deep fryer, electric skillet, or pan with light tasting oil of choice.  Pour enough oil to be about 1 inch deep or fill your fryer to the required amount.  Turn the temperature to 375° F.  Watch your oil carefully to be sure it doesn’t get too hot.  We use our Thermal Pro thermometer and love it. 

While your oil is heating up, prepare your dough.  Pour your Rustic Scoop™ Pizza Crust Mix and other dry ingredients into a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Mix until well combined.  Next add the butter and applesauce, mix until barely combined.  Now add the rest of the liquid ingredients until well combined.  Start with 1 ⅔ Cups of warm apple juice (warm to the touch but not hot) and if the dough is too thick, add the other 2 Tablespoons.  The dough at first will be pretty liquidy, don’t worry, it will thicken up quickly.  With that, wait about 5 minutes until you decide if the dough needs extra liquid.

While your dough is resting, get out a large silicone baking mat.  Lightly sprinkle your mat with tapioca starch or lightly grease it, both work just fine.  By now your dough should be nice and thick.  Scrape your dough onto your prepared surface and lightly sprinkle the top with tapioca starch.  If you are not using tapioca starch, grease a large piece of parchment paper.  Once the dough is done resting, it should be thick, but not dense, a little sticky, but not really sticky.  It should roll out beautifully and easily.  Place the parchment paper on top of your dough and gently roll your dough out evenly until it is ½ - ¾ inches thick.  With a donut cutter, cut out 12-15 donuts and donut holes.  Put all of the donuts and holes on a baking sheet with parchment paper to rise while you continue to roll and cut out the rest of your donuts.  Be sure to cover them with a warm damp cloth to keep them pliable.  Take the remaining scraps, gently mold them back together in a ball then repeat the directions from above to roll and cut your donuts until you have used all of the dough. 

Let your donuts rise in a warm draft free place for about 20 minutes.  While they are rising, prepare your cinnamon and sugar.

Cinnamon and Sugar Directions

In a small bowl, mix cinnamon and sugar together and mix until well combined.

Once your donuts have risen for about 20 minutes, it’s time to fry them.  The donuts will not rise a lot before you fry them.  Gently place 3 donuts in the oil at a time if your pan allows that many.   You want there to be enough room for each donut to move around a bit.  Be sure to keep an eye on the oil temperature.  Fry the donuts for 1 minute, then gently flip with a slotted spatula, then fry for another 1 minute.  Using your slotted spoon, get your donuts out of the oil and place them on a cooling rack with paper towels on it to absorb excess grease.  Repeat until all of the donuts are cooked.  Dip in cinnamon and sugar.  Enjoy!!