If you love donuts but want a healthier “no-guilt” version that doesn’t give up flavor, these apple cinnamon almond flour donuts are worth making! These little donuts are full of juicy apples and lots of cinnamon flavor.

My kids are so excited we are breaking the rules today. Breakfast must be fun, but my biggest rule is that breakfast must have protein and not too much sugar. Nothing is worse than sitting through your first class, and your tummy starts to rumble.

I love that these paleo apple donuts are made with all the healthy stuff….almond flour, cassava flour, egg, almond milk, and no-refined sugars. It makes these fall under the no-guilt; yes, you can have another donut category :-).

As a mom, I love that these include high-protein almond flour to prevent sugar buzzes!

Why This Recipe Is Great:

  1. These baked almond flour donuts are full of flavor and are so easy to make.
  2. They tick off all of the checkboxes I have for breakfast rules. Healthy, protein, fruit, and low in sugar.
  3. You will LOVE this recipe if you are strict about what your family has for breakfast, like I am.
  4. You can make them in a donut maker or bake them in a donut pan! And aren’t these gluten free donuts worth it? 

Check out all of the Best Gluten Free Donut Recipes on my blog! You can also see our favorite gluten free apple recipes.

Allergen Information:

This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free. Note that this recipe contains nuts and eggs.

Top Pick
Anthony's Blanched Gluten Free Almond Flour, 4 lb

There are several gluten free almond flour brands. I really love Anthony's because they blanch their almonds first. This means no peels and less grit texture. The price is also great for four pounds!

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Ingredient Notes:

A photo of the almond flour donuts ingredients.
  • Almond Flour – I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your donuts grainy.
  • Cassava Flour – You can also use tapioca starch or arrowroot starch.
  • Baking Soda
  • Apples – I prefer tart apples, but you can use any variety.
  • Coconut Oil – I love the flavor coconut oil brings to these cinnamon apple donuts. You can use another light oil if you prefer.
  • Almond Milk – I used almond milk but other dairy-free milk will work. I do not recommend canned coconut milk. Regular milk will also work.
  • Eggs – Use size large.
  • Honey – Use an inexpensive variety of honey. Do not use corn syrup imitation honey.
  • Vanilla Extract – Use pure vanilla extract.
  • Cinnamon

How To Make Almond Flour Donuts:

Photos of steps one and two making almond flour donuts.

Step 1: Add the dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl and whisk to blend. In a smaller bowl, add your wet ingredients and mix well if your coconut oil is solid, warm it for 15-20 seconds in the microwave oven.

Step 2: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and add the apple chunks. Mix until just barely mixed. (This will help the donuts bake up fluffier.)

A picture of what the donut batter looks like.

Step 3: The batter should be a little thick, but not too thick. See all of the delicious apple chunks? They are the highlight of this donut recipe!

🔑 Sandi says: Let the batter rest for 15 minutes if you have the time. Almond flour is grainy, but resting the batter can soften it a bit, so you have less gritty donuts.

The almond flour donuts in my donut maker.

Step 4: There are two ways you can cook these donuts.

  • My favorite way to make donuts is in a BabyCakes Donut Maker. They taste fried, but these are just as healthy as baked donuts. You can also use a donut pan and bake these, they will taste just as good :-).
  • Bake them in a donut pan at 350º F. Be sure to grease it before adding the batter.

TIP: If you use a donut pan, spray coconut oil in the pan, and it will help give a little crispness to your donuts.

Recipe FAQ:

How long do donuts take to bake?

If you use a donut maker, the donuts are ready in 5-7 minutes. If you are baking your paleo donuts in a donut pan, it will take 22 minutes.

What kinds of apples do you use in baking?

I like to use apples that are on the tart side for baking. My favorites Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Jonagold. They are more sweet-tart and really taste delicious in this gluten free apple donuts recipe.

Can you use a different milk?

I used almond milk, but other dairy-free kinds of milk will work, but I do not recommend canned coconut milk. Regular milk is also fine if you are not dairy-free

Is almond meal or almond flour best in this recipe?

I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your donuts grainy.

How do you store paleo donuts?

Store these donuts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can also freeze them in a freezer-safe zip bag for up to 4 months in the freezer.

More Delicious Donut Recipes To Try:

Paleo Apple Cinnamon Donuts with Honey Nectar

Sandi Gaertner
If you can't eat grains, I have you covered with this easy paleo apple cinnamon donuts recipe. They are perfect for breakfast!
4.86 from 14 votes
dairy free allergen icon
gluten free allergy icon
soy free allergy icon
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Gluten Free Breakfast Recipes, Gluten Free Donut Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 12 mini donuts
Calories 131 kcal

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup almond flour * see note
  • ½ cup cassava flour * see note
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • dash salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¼ cup coconut oil melted
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • ½ cup almond milk * see note
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 chopped apple peeled first

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the BabyCakes Donut maker, or your oven to 350º F.
  • In a small bowl, whisk all wet ingredients together.
  • Take a large bowl, add all dry ingredients. Whisk to blend.
  • Pour the web ingredients into the dry ingredients and add apple.
  • Mix well.
  • Add to sections of the donut maker or pan and cook 4 minutes in the donut maker, or until done in the oven. (*Please note, I am not listing cook time for using the oven. Many people have a mini donut pan, but most use a large donut pan and the cooking times vary between donut size.)

Video

Notes

  1. I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your donuts grainy.
  2. You can use cassava flour, tapioca starch, or arrowroot starch.
  3. I used almond milk but other dairy-free kinds of milk will work but I do not recommend canned coconut milk.
  4. Let the donut batter sit for 10 minutes before adding to the donut maker. This will help the consistency of the donuts.
  5. These donuts will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
  6. Drizzle with honey :-).

SPECIAL NOTE

Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 131kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 3gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 116mgPotassium: 29mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 48IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 46mgIron: 1mg
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Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

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Recipe Rating




37 Comments

  1. 4 stars
    I made these this morning following the recipe exactly except I added some nutmeg in addition to the cinnamon. Our donuts came out very oily tasting. If I make again I think I’ll need less coconut oil. Also would add some honey to the batter and not just the drizzle for sweetness. I did bake in oven in a donut pan. They were hard to remove despite a greased nonstick pan. I love that they are made with almond flour. Thanks!

    1. Hi Connie, I have never seen sunflower flour, but I assume it is moist like almond flour and that it should be fine to use!!