Spiced Apple Doughnuts

This is my first doughnut recipe for the blog. Personally, I have never had a sweet craving so baking or making sweet treats regularly was only when my husband or kids asked for it. These apple doughnuts are baked and have a cake like texture, once they are baked and cooled its dipped in a creamy apple butter frosting that has a warm caramel flavor, warmly spiced and adds that extra something to give it an autumnal flavor. Pair it with a warm beverage and it will surely make your day.

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Spiced Apple Doughnuts with Apple Butter Frosting Makes 8 regular-sized doughnuts

• DRY INGREDIENTS
• 2 cups all-purpose flour or gluten free cake mix, sifted and leveled 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon each ground cloves and nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• WET INGREDIENTS
• 4 Tablespoons avocado oil or any light oil, ideally unsalted butter, melted
• ½ cup plain yogurt+ ½ teaspoon baking powder this replaces 2 eggs, use plant or regular yogurt, mix and set aside to rise
• 1/2 cup apple butter or maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• ½ cup plant milk
• 1 cup apple sauce 
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• FROSTING
•  ¼ cup Date syrup or dark maple syrup
• 1/2 cup cream cheese or full fat coconut milk
• 1/2 cup apple butter 

1. Preheat oven to 350˚F.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. 
3. Mix the wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together melted butter, applesauce, milk, apple butter or maple syrup, vanilla extract, apple cider vinegar and the yogurt mixture.
4. Using a spatula, stir wet ingredients into dry, stirring just until the batter comes together. Don’t overmix. We need the bubbles to be trapped.
5. Grease donut pan and pipe the batter into each cavity.
6. Using a piping bag or a ziplock bag cut a corner pipe the batter into the pan. Don’t fill to the top – about 3/4 of the way will create the perfect donut. 
7. Bake for 10-11 minutes, until the tops are lightly golden brown. Remove from oven and transfer to cooling rack. 
8. FROSTING To prepare the apple butter frosting, blend all the ingredients in a blender or food processor until thick and creamy.
9. Once the doughnuts are completely cool, gently dip each one into the apple butter frosting.
10. Refrigerate to firm, it should be fairly firm yet soft to the bite.