Get all of that yummy caramel apple flavor in a donut! These homemade gluten-free caramel apple donuts are full of fall flavors! Everyone will love these donuts with tart apple chunks and a thick caramel glaze!
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My kids were so excited for me to make this recipe. It isn’t often that I drench something in caramel! Dipping these gluten-free baked apple donuts in caramel adds a sticky caramel glaze, which takes them to a new level of yumminess!
If you are a donut fanatic like me, you will want to check out all of my gluten-free donut recipes!
Why these gluten-free caramel apple donuts are perfect for fall:
- When I was a kid, we would melt caramel and dip apples for a Halloween treat. These donuts capture that same tradition in every bite.
- Now, you can have those flavors in a baked donut.
- It only takes about 30 minutes to make these donuts! We are big caramel apple lovers.
If you want more caramel apple flavor, you will want to make my Gluten-Free Caramel Apple Cake, too!
Ingredient Notes and Easy Swaps:
For the full list of ingredients and amounts, please go to the recipe card below.
- Gluten-Free Flour Blend – I tested this recipe using Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 and King Arthur Measure for Measure. That doesn’t mean others will not work; I just have not tested other flours.
- Xanthan Gum – If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 3/4 teaspoon. See the Substitutions section below for a gum-free alternative. Read Why Binders are Important in Gluten-Free Baking to learn more.
- Sugar – Use cane sugar.
- Baking Powder – I used aluminum-free baking powder.
- Butter – Use unsalted butter. Butter adds more richness to these donuts compared to using oil.
- Non-Dairy Milk – You can use any plant-based milk or regular milk. I used almond milk to test this recipe. See the Substitutions section below for other dairy-free alternatives.
- Applesauce – I recommend using unsweetened smooth applesauce. Applesauce keeps donuts moist without extra fat
- Caramel – You can use those round caramel sheets or melt caramels in a microwave-safe dish.
- Apples – Use any flavor. After testing tart and sweet apples, the more tart apples, like Granny Smith and Pink Lady, had a better flavor contrast.
Substitutions:
- To make this gluten-free baked apple donut recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter with vegan butter. See my notes about vegan caramel in the FAQ section below.
- I used almond milk, but other dairy-free kinds of milk will work.
Testing Notes From My Kitchen
I love baking donuts, either in my donut maker or in the oven. Sometimes a recipe tastes better in a larger, oven-baked version, and this is that recipe. The bigger donuts hold more apple bits, giving the donuts more cinnamon apple flavor.
I tested both Bob’s 1:1 and King Arthur Measure for Measure. I found that using Bob’s, I needed 1 tablespoon more flour. Making adjustments like this is normal because every gluten-free flour blend has a different grain-to-starch ratio. Add more milk if the batter is thick, and add more flour if the batter is too wet. Make any adjustments 1 tablespoon at a time.
How to Make Gluten-Free Caramel Apple Donuts (Step-By-Step)
Wash, peel, and chop your apples into small pieces. Peeling is optional.
Step 1: Add your dry ingredients to a large
Step 2: Melt the butter in a microwave-safe dish until it is warm but not hot. Add the rest of the wet ingredients and mix them well.
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Step 3: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and add your chopped apple bits. (I peeled my apples, but you can easily leave the peels on.)
Step 4: Mix the apple donut batter.
HINT: Mix the batter until it is just barely mixed. Overmixing will make your donuts turn out denser.
📢 Sandi says: Every gluten-free flour blend has a different starch-to-grain ratio. The brand of gluten-free flour you use will affect the moisture of the batter. If your cake batter is too runny, add more flour, and if it is too thick, add more liquid.
Read Why Gluten-Free Flour Blends Vary to learn more about this.
Step 5: Add the batter to a piping or plastic bag. (If using the plastic bag, snip the corner off before piping into the donut pan.)
Step 6: Pipe your batter into a donut pan.(I like this silicone donut pan because the donuts are so easy to get out, and they shape perfectly!
If you love using a donut maker, I can’t say enough good things about the Babycakes Donut Maker. I have had mine for years, and it still works great!
Step 7: Bake the donuts at 350º F for 20-22 minutes, depending on how large and deep your donut pan is. Allow the donuts to cool on a rack.
Step 8: Melt your caramel in a microwave-safe dish. Dip each donut into the caramel. You can also drizzle the caramel on if you prefer less caramel. Be careful. The caramel is HOT!
You may also love this easy Gluten-Free Vanilla Donuts recipe.
Variations:
- Sprinkle the caramel with coarse salt to make these salted caramel donuts!
- Add your favorite sprinkles. Make sure you use gluten free sprinkles by checking my gluten-free sprinkles list.
- Add mini white chocolate chips to the donut batter.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Most donuts aren’t very healthy due to the high sugar content. These donuts have a lot of sugar from the caramel. If you are looking for a healthy apple donut, try these Paleo Apple Donuts made with almond flour. They are made without processed sugar.
Caramel has dairy, so you can make the donuts as apple donuts, but you could try making this vegan caramel. Although it’s not as thick as the caramel squares, it will still add that yummy caramel flavor.
You can store these donuts in an airtight container in your refrigerator. You can also freeze them in a zip-style freezer bag in the freezer.
These donuts will keep fresh for up to 4 days in an airtight container or up to 4 months in the freezer.
More Gluten-Free Donut Recipes:
If you enjoy donuts with breakfast or for snacking, I have lots of great donut recipes for you to make. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Gluten-Free Fried Jelly Donuts
- Baked Gluten-Free Apple Cider Donuts
- Chunky Monkey Gluten-Free Banana Donuts
- Gluten-Free Lemon Donuts
Love This Recipe?
If you made and enjoyed these apple donuts with caramel glaze, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. Please include which flour blend you used. This will help others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!
Gluten-Free Caramel Apple Donuts
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups gluten free flour blend * see note
- ½ cup cane sugar (white or brown both work well)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder aluminum-free
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup applesauce unsweetened
- ¾ cup non-dairy milk
- ¾ cup diced apple * see note
- ⅔ cup caramel * see note
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Instructions
- Add 2 cups gluten free flour blend, 1/2 cup cane sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg to a large mixing bowl and whisk to blend together.
- In a microwave-safe dish, melt 1/4 cup unsalted butter until it is warm, but not hot. Add 1/4 cup unsalted butter, 1 large egg, 1/2 cup applesauce, and 3/4 cup non-dairy milk and mix it well.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and add your 3/4 cup diced apple. (I peeled my apples, but you can easily leave the peels on them.)
- Mix the apple donut batter. Mix the batter until it is just barely mixed. Overmixing will make your donuts turn out denser.
- Add the batter to a piping bag or a plastic bag. (If using the plastic bag, snip the corner off before piping into the donut pan.) Pipe the batter into the donut pan.
- Bake the donuts at 350º F for 20-22 minutes, depending on how large and deep your donut pan is. Allow the donuts to cool on a rack.
- Melt the 2/3 cup caramel candy cubes in a microwave-safe dish. Dip each donut into the caramel. You can also drizzle the caramel on if you prefer less caramel. Be careful; the caramel is HOT!
Notes
- I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF and Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend. That doesn’t mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
- Xanthan gum – If your blend doesn’t contain a binder, add 3/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum to the dry ingredients.
- Baking powder – I use aluminum-free. It leaves less of an aftertaste.
- To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter for vegan butter.
- These donuts will keep fresh for up to 4 days in an airtight container or up to 4 months in the freezer.
- I used Kraft caramel squares (like the ones used for caramel apples). You can also make your own caramel sauce. I included a recipe in my post.
- It is optional if you want to peel your apples.
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, my rule of thumb is to add more flour if your dough or batter is wet and add more liquid if the dough or batter is too dry!
Nutrition
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.
I truly hope you enjoy this recipe. I have been testing and creating gluten-free recipes for over 15 years. Creating gluten-free recipes that do not taste gluten-free is my goal for every recipe. Sometimes I only have to test a new recipe a couple of times, and others it takes multiple times. I do this so you get reliable, delicious results every time!
What kind of apples did you use?
Hi Laurie, I have used the two kinds mentioned in the ingredients notes section. Granny Smith or Pink Lady are my favorites.
They are in the oven now and they smell scrumptious
I am so glad!! I hope your daughter and granddaughters enjoy them. It is so sweet of you to make these for them.
Delicious, but I wish the sugar was listed at the beginning of the ingredient list….I forgot the sugar the 2nd time making these. 🙁
I am so glad you loved these donuts, Alisha. Your request is simple and I moved the sugar up under the flour to make it easier. :-).
This recipe was very easy to throw together and following your directions on piping the batter into the donut molds was very easy as well,I can’t wait to try these as my daughter and granddaughters are celiacs so I’m hoping they will love them as well, thanks for sharing your delicious recipe with everyone.