Cinnamon Applesauce Donuts

Cinnamon Applesauce DONUTS by Vicki Brett-Gach

Photo by Vicki Brett-Gach

These donuts are soft and delicate – plus quick and easy. They are oil-free, gluten-free, and sweetened only with fruit! The perfect companion to an afternoon cappuccino or cup of hot tea, these rank among my favorite baked goods ever.

Prep time: 10 minutes | Baking time: 16 minutes | Servings: Makes 9 donuts

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups, plus 2 tablespoons, rolled oats

1 1/2 Tablespoons baking powder 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 1/2 cups pitted dates, tightly packed 1 1/2 cups water 1/4 cup, plus 2 tablespoons, non-dairy milk

Topping: 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce, plus additional cinnamon

Instructions

1 Preheat oven to 350°F. Have ready a nonstick donut pan. (I use a silicone donut pan and love how beautifully it works.)

2 Add the oats to a high-powered blender. Briefly turn up the power to grind the oats into flour. Then turn power off, remove the lid, and add the baking powder, cinnamon, dates, water, and milk. Process for a few moments to combine well. 3 Spoon the batter into a large plastic zippered storage bag, and seal to close. Cut a 1/2-inch opening in the corner of the bag with scissors, and carefully pipe batter into the donut pan. With the back of a spoon, smooth the tops of each one to make sure batter is evenly distributed.

4 Bake 12-16 minutes, or until donuts are firm to the touch on top. Allow to cool on a baking rack.

5 To serve, “frost” each donut with about 1 tablespoon of applesauce and sprinkle with additional cinnamon.

Recipe adapted from The Plant-Based for Life Cookbook: Deliciously Simple Recipes to Nourish, Comfort, Energize and Renew by the creator of Ann Arbor Vegan Kitchen Vicki Brett-Gach. Copyright © 2022. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.