Apple Pie Donuts
Apple Pie Donuts
Ingredients
For the Apple Filling
- 2 apples, peeled and diced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons water
For the Donut Dough
- 1/2 cup warm milk
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For Frying
- 4 cups vegetable oil, for deep frying, or as needed
For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions
- 1
Peel and dice the apples. In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the diced apples, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg to the saucepan. Pour in 2 tablespoons of water.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Cook the apple mixture for approximately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are softened and the mixture has thickened. Remove from heat and let it cool completely while you prepare the donut dough.
⏱️ 10 min
- 3
In a large bowl, combine 1/2 cup of warm milk and 1 teaspoon of active dry yeast. Stir gently and let it sit for 5 minutes until the yeast is foamy.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Add 1/4 cup of sugar, 1 egg, and 1/4 cup of melted butter to the milk and yeast mixture. Whisk well to combine all the wet ingredients.
⏱️ 3 min
- 5
Gradually add 2 cups of all-purpose flour and 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the wet ingredients. Mix with a spoon or your hands until a shaggy dough forms.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until it is smooth and elastic. The dough should be soft and slightly tacky.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Lightly grease a clean bowl with a little oil. Place the dough in the greased bowl, turning it once to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until doubled in size.
⏱️ 90 min
- 8
Once the dough has risen, gently punch it down to release the air. Roll the dough out onto a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness.
⏱️ 5 min
- 9
Using a 3 to 4-inch round cookie cutter, cut out circles from the dough. Gather any scraps, knead them gently, and re-roll to cut out more circles.
⏱️ 5 min
- 10
Place a spoonful of the cooled apple filling in the center of each dough circle. Fold the dough over the filling to create a half-moon shape or a closed pouch, pinching the edges firmly to seal the filling inside. Ensure the edges are well-sealed to prevent filling from escaping during frying.
⏱️ 10 min
- 11
In a deep pot or Dutch oven, heat about 4 cups of vegetable oil (or enough to submerge the donuts) over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F. Use a candy or deep-fry thermometer to monitor the temperature.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350
- 12
Carefully place 2-3 filled donuts into the hot oil, ensuring not to overcrowd the pot. Fry for about 30 seconds on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through. The total frying time per donut will be about 1 minute.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350
- 13
Using a slotted spoon, remove the fried donuts and place them on a wire rack lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil. Repeat with the remaining donuts.
⏱️ 5 min
- 14
In a separate shallow bowl, mix 1/2 cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon to create the coating.
⏱️ 2 min
- 15
While the donuts are still warm, roll each donut generously in the cinnamon sugar mixture until fully coated. Serve immediately and enjoy!
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Apple Pie Donuts
For the Apple Filling
- 2 apples, peeled and diced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons water
For the Donut Dough
- 1/2 cup warm milk
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For Frying
- 4 cups vegetable oil, for deep frying, or as needed
For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions
- 1
Peel and dice the apples. In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the diced apples, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg to the saucepan. Pour in 2 tablespoons of water.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Cook the apple mixture for approximately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are softened and the mixture has thickened. Remove from heat and let it cool completely while you prepare the donut dough.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
In a large bowl, combine 1/2 cup of warm milk and 1 teaspoon of active dry yeast. Stir gently and let it sit for 5 minutes until the yeast is foamy.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Add 1/4 cup of sugar, 1 egg, and 1/4 cup of melted butter to the milk and yeast mixture. Whisk well to combine all the wet ingredients.
⏱️ 3 min - 5
Gradually add 2 cups of all-purpose flour and 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the wet ingredients. Mix with a spoon or your hands until a shaggy dough forms.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until it is smooth and elastic. The dough should be soft and slightly tacky.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Lightly grease a clean bowl with a little oil. Place the dough in the greased bowl, turning it once to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until doubled in size.
⏱️ 90 min - 8
Once the dough has risen, gently punch it down to release the air. Roll the dough out onto a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness.
⏱️ 5 min - 9
Using a 3 to 4-inch round cookie cutter, cut out circles from the dough. Gather any scraps, knead them gently, and re-roll to cut out more circles.
⏱️ 5 min - 10
Place a spoonful of the cooled apple filling in the center of each dough circle. Fold the dough over the filling to create a half-moon shape or a closed pouch, pinching the edges firmly to seal the filling inside. Ensure the edges are well-sealed to prevent filling from escaping during frying.
⏱️ 10 min - 11
In a deep pot or Dutch oven, heat about 4 cups of vegetable oil (or enough to submerge the donuts) over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F. Use a candy or deep-fry thermometer to monitor the temperature.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350 - 12
Carefully place 2-3 filled donuts into the hot oil, ensuring not to overcrowd the pot. Fry for about 30 seconds on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through. The total frying time per donut will be about 1 minute.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350 - 13
Using a slotted spoon, remove the fried donuts and place them on a wire rack lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil. Repeat with the remaining donuts.
⏱️ 5 min - 14
In a separate shallow bowl, mix 1/2 cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon to create the coating.
⏱️ 2 min - 15
While the donuts are still warm, roll each donut generously in the cinnamon sugar mixture until fully coated. Serve immediately and enjoy!
⏱️ 5 min