• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Joy the Baker
Joy the Baker
  • Cookies
  • Bread
  • Cakes
  • Pies
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Cookies
    • Birthday Cake Recipes
    • Biscuits
    • Muffins
    • Cupcakes
    • Drinks
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Fruit
    • Nuts
    • Buttermilk
    • Chocolate
    • Vanilla
    • Holiday
    • Healthy
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegan
  • Blog
    • Baking 101
    • Tips
    • Beyond the Kitchen
    • Let It Be Sunday!
    • New Orleans
  • Shop

Apple Cinnamon Baked Doughnuts with Brown Butter Glaze

October 28, 2013 by Joy the Baker 117 Comments

_MG_5141

Sometimes in my daydreams I have hair that I can run my fingers through, I wear strapless dresses, I’m really good at driving a stick shift car, I have Sissy Spacek eyelids, and Sigourney Weaver narrates my life. Maybe also there’s an early 90’s Jagged Little Pill soundtrack running though my daydreams… but in a totally zen kinda way.  I mean…

Daydreams are all well and good.  But really, what’s the point daydreaming about different eyelids when there is a stack of freshly made baked doughnuts staring you in the face.  Right?

_MG_5137

I think I warned you about my new-found baked doughnut enthusiasm.  A few weeks ago I made these Brown Butter Doughnuts with Chocolate Glaze, and they felt like just about the best thing EVER.  I’m chasing that first baked doughnut high, this time with apples and cinnamon.  Join me!

_MG_4989

Oh my goodness… let’s just make these doughnuts!  Into the mixing bowl goes flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Easy cake beginnings!

_MG_5007

Sugar and spices, too!

Brown butter and grated apples are the heart and soul of these doughnuts.   Brown butter adds a nutty richness.  Apples add the perfect sweet seasonal flavor.  Such a happy pair!

_MG_5013

Freshly grated nutmeg is my very favorite fall spice.

If you do one thing for me this Fall… just one, pretty please… I want you to grate your own nutmeg, fresh to-order.  All you need is a microplane and whole nutmeg.  It’s a game changer.

_MG_5029

The browned butter is whisked together with an egg and buttermilk.  The wet ingredients meet the dry ingredients.  Simple as that.

Stir in the apples and POW.. well almost.  We’re so close to doughnuts!

_MG_5060

Good instincts!  We’ve got them.

_MG_5068

I was a bit over-enthusiastic and filled the baking pan a bit too much.  My doughnut centers betray me.

It’s cool.  Nothing a little Brown Butter Glaze and sweet tooth can’t fix!

_MG_5122

A sweet Brown Butter Schmear.  Few things are better.

_MG_5174

Imagine a little spice cake.  Shape that little cake into a doughnut. Add sweet apples.  Go heavy on the ground cinnamon and fresh nutmeg.  Drench the whole thing in Brown Butter Glaze.  This is that!

 You need a baked doughnut pan.  Just saying.

Apple Cinnamon Baked Doughnuts with Brown Butter Glaze

adapted from Doughnuts

makes about 8 doughnuts

Print this Recipe!

For the Doughnuts:

1 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

3 tablespoons unsalted butter (but we’ll only use 2 tablespoons of browned butter for the recipe)

1 large egg

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup peeled and grated fresh apple

For the Glaze:

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

pinch of salt

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 to 4 tablespoons whole milk

Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Lightly grease a doughnut pan and set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, spices, and brown sugar.  Set aside.

In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt all of the butter (including the butter needed for the glaze).  Butter will begin to crackle and pop as it melts.  That’s the water melting out of the butter.  Once the water has evaporated the butter will quiet down and begin to brown.  Keep an eye on it, it browns quickly.  The butter will begin to smell nutty.  Remove from heat and immediately transfer browned butter (brown bits and all) to a small bowl.

In a small bowl whisk together egg, buttermilk, and vanilla extract.  Measure out 2 tablespoons of browned butter and whisk into the wet ingredients.

Add the wet ingredients all at once to the dry ingredients.  Add the grated apple. Stir together until no flour bits remain and all of the ingredients are well combined.  Try not to overmix the batter.  That might create rubbery doughnuts.

Use a small spoon to dollop batter into the prepared pan.  Smooth out and fill each doughnut in the pan three-quarters full with batter.

Place in the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes.  Keep an eye on them and try not to over-bake them.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.

While the doughnuts cool, make the glaze.

To make the glaze, in a medium bowl whisk together the powdered sugar and salt.  Add 2 tablespoons of browned butter, vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons milk.  Whisk to combine.  Add more milk to make the glaze more spreadable.
Once the doughnuts are completely cool, use a butter knife to spread each doughnut with glaze.  Allow to rest for 15 minutes in the fridge to harden the glaze.  These doughnuts are best serve the day they’re made.  

 

Previous PostNext Post

Filed Under: Breakfast, Buttermilk, Cakes, Recipes, Vanilla

Previous Post: « Baking 101: Why We Use Large Eggs In Baking
Next Post: Roasted Squash and Mushroom Tarts »

Reader Interactions

All Comments
I Made This
Questions
  1. Karen Draver

    January 8, 2017 at 4:38 am

    Love this recipe! I have had a whole nutmeg in my freezer at all times for 40 + years. Nothing matches the flavor.

    Reply
  2. Pamela

    September 29, 2016 at 6:08 am

    I see the note that these are best served the day they are cooked, but could the batter be made ahead of time?

    Reply
  3. mrsmichellegoldsmith

    April 17, 2016 at 4:51 am

    Oh, and it goes without saying (almost!) that apple and cinnamon are the very best kind of doughnuts, so these will be made first! -Michelle G, Belper, UK [An American in Derbyshire]

    Reply
  4. mrsmichellegoldsmith

    April 17, 2016 at 4:50 am

    I’ve only just discovered your baked doughnut obsession and I now have a doughnut pan on order! (Can’t wait until the fall. ;-) We disposed of our deep fryer two house-moves ago and I have been missing doughnuts ever since, but never thought about baked doughnuts. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! -Michelle G, Belper, UK [An American in Derbyshire]

    Reply
  5. Sharleen M.

    February 29, 2016 at 3:07 pm

    Thanks for the very delicious donut recipe. Will be making these soon. Just hope they look as good as yours!

    Reply
  6. CanadianShe_Wolf....

    February 21, 2016 at 7:05 am

    Wondering IF these can be made in one of those electric doughnut makers? Been so long since I used it, I think they are of the “mini” size?
    Glad there is NOT any pork in these……hehehehe

    Reply
« Older Comments

Trackbacks

  1. Best Friends & Baby Showers says:
    June 28, 2016 at 8:25 pm

    […] Dessert table featuring the delicious donuts with brown butter frosting, recipe from Joy The Baker. […]

    Reply
  2. Weekend Reading - The Canon says:
    February 5, 2016 at 6:39 am

    […] Joy the Baker […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RELATED POSTS IN Breakfast

overhead shot of Mardi Gras toast on individual vintage plates
King Cake-Inspired Easy Bostock

This Bostock toast is a delightful marriage of toast and almond croissant. Toast turns pastry.  We’re topping these toasts with orange marmalade and sliced almonds inspired by my favorite almond-filled french King Cake. It’s Mardi Gras, friends!  The big BIG weekend and Fat Tuesday are just days away and who would I be if I…

Read More

inside of warm cinnamon roll on plate
How To Make The Best Single Serve Cinnamon Roll

Micro batch baking – the invitation is to get all the way into it with me!  This is all very Kristin Wiig  making herself a single, sad cupcake in the movie Bridesmaids, save for the fact that there is absolutely zero sadness in me eating a single cinnamon roll over the kitchen sink in my…

Read More

Orange roll on a plate with a fork.
Christmas Morning Orange Rolls

Think of tender breakfast rolls and cinnamon rolls without the cinnamon, scented with heavenly orange and just the right amount of warming nutmeg and ginger. Honestly if cinnamon rolls disappeared from the world, we’d all be just fine – these orange rolls hit the spot. I’m headed back to Los Angeles for the Christmas weekend…

Read More

Primary Sidebar

Fresh baked emails, delivered to your inbox

Jump to Recipe

Receive recipes from Joy the Baker and updates on events at The Bakehouse.

HI! I’M JOY!

Jump to Recipe

Welcome! This has been my little corner of the internet since 2008!

I’m a baker, photographer, cookbook author and teacher.  I live laugh love in New Orleans. 

MORE ABOUT JOY AND THE TEAM

BOOKS + Magazines

Jump to Recipe

JOY THE BAKER 2022 SUMMER MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2021 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2020 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

HOMEMADE DECADENCE

OVER EASY: SWEET AND SAVORY RECIPES FOR LEISURELY DAYS COOKBOOK

JOY THE BAKER COOKBOOK

Jump to Recipe
joy the baker on facebook joy the baker on twitter pinterest-social instagram-socialbloglovin-social

JOY @ WILLIAMS SONOMA

Jump to Recipe

SHOP THE CAKE LINE OF CAKE MIXES!

DRAKE ON CAKE

Jump to Recipe

Passionate from miles away since 2015.

Check it out on Instagram

Drake on cake instagram.

 

BREADS YOU’LL LOVE

jambalaya buttermilk biscuits in a row

Smoked Sausage Jambalaya Buttermilk Biscuits

inside of warm cinnamon roll on plate

How To Make The Best Single Serve Cinnamon Roll

Orange roll on a plate with a fork.

Christmas Morning Orange Rolls

LET’S MAKE COOKIES!

a stack of white chocolate macadamia nut cookies with a bite taken out of the top one with milk

Classic White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies

wider shot of lemon bars stacked on a plate with a bite taken out of one lemon bar

My Favorite Classic Lemon Bars Recipe

completed recipe close up shot of a blondie so the toasted almonds, chocolate chips, and sea salt can be seen

My Best Classic Blondie Recipe

Footer

Instagram

joythebaker

📚Baker and author of books and magazines
🎂Creator @drakeoncake
💁🏻‍♀️Classes with me @thebakehousenola
🍰 Products with @williamssonoma

joythebaker
Almost 🌀🌀 about everything on the March to-d Almost 🌀🌀 about everything on the March to-do list that didn’t get done but here’s proof of all the living a list can’t really touch.
Do you know my friend @ellenmariebennett of @hedle Do you know my friend @ellenmariebennett of @hedleyandbennett? She’s a 💎 of a friend and here’s what our quick visit last week looked like! Lots of cheese and chats, with help from Mr. Nico and Olive Oyl the chicken. 💙#apronsquad #cheeseboard #losangeles
🍓🌼 Pan Dulce is the best way to bake spring! 🍓🌼 Pan Dulce is the best way to bake spring! Full recipe linked in the @joythebaker bio! Xo
Second coffee: the perfect way to re-start the day Second coffee: the perfect way to re-start the day. 
✨Beignet Café au Lait✨⁣
⁣1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk⁣⁣
Splash of vanilla extract⁣⁣
½ cup heavy cream, whipped to stiff peaks⁣⁣
2 cups fresh brewed strong coffee⁣⁣
½ cup toasted cinnamon cereal, lightly crushed⁣⁣
Powdered sugar for topping⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Place sweetened condensed milk and vanilla in a small bowl. Add half of the whipped cream and fold to combine.  Add the remaining half and fold until you have a fluffy sweet cream. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Divide brewed coffee between two mugs. Spoon dream on top.  Sprinkle cinnamon cereal between the cups.  Dust with powdered sugar and enjoy immediately.
Life Skill No. 458: How to Make 1️⃣2️⃣ Cup Life Skill No. 458: How to Make 1️⃣2️⃣ Cupcakes with just 1️⃣ Stick of Butter⁣
⁣
Full recipe linked in my bio! xo
Someone call @foodnetwork because Dad and I need a Someone call @foodnetwork because Dad and I need a baking show stat. Here’s our very best chocolate chip cookies and all the little tips that make them perfection. ✨🍪 Find the full recipe linked in the profile!
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Joy the Baker
All rights reserved. Violators will be whupped and sent to bed with no dessert · Privacy Policy

Scroll Up