Plant-Based Baked Apple Cider Donuts with Pomegranate Glaze

Today is more than just another day in the kitchen; it’s a truly special occasion! While the thought of sinking my teeth into a tender, moist, and perfectly spiced Baked Apple Cider Donut, generously rolled in a sweet cinnamon sugar coating and finished with a vibrant pomegranate glaze, is undeniably exciting, that’s not the sole reason for my joy today. These vegan baked donuts are a revelation, delivering a richness and moisture that defies their baked nature, making them an absolute must-try for any fall enthusiast, vegan or not.

The first bite of these beauties often evokes a moment of pure disbelief. How can something so incredibly rich, moist, and utterly delicious be both *baked* and *vegan*? It’s a culinary magic trick that leaves you wide-eyed and utterly satisfied. And the evidence speaks for itself: when I sent a batch to O’s workplace (to prevent myself from devouring them all), they vanished within minutes. His vegan colleague even texted him to declare them “f***ing awesome,” a testament to their irresistible appeal. But even this rave review isn’t the primary cause for celebration today.

Nor is it simply the joy of finally getting to use my beloved heart-shaped donut pan – though, seriously, if you don’t have one, you absolutely need to get one! The sheer cuteness factor these pans add to any donut is worth every penny, transforming a simple treat into an adorable masterpiece. However, the true reason for this special day is much grander and more beautiful: we’re celebrating Melissa Belanger of A Teaspoon of Happiness. She has embarked on the incredible journey of growing a human, and it’s almost time for her to meet her baby girl! This momentous occasion fills our hearts with joy and wonder, a perfect reason to gather and celebrate, even if it’s virtually.

Celebrating Melissa Belanger: A Teaspoon of Happiness

If you haven’t yet discovered Melissa’s inspiring blog, A Teaspoon of Happiness, now is the perfect time to dive in. Melissa is renowned for crafting totally family-friendly recipes that strike an exquisite balance between easy preparation and elegant presentation. Her culinary creations are a gorgeous mix of practicality and sophistication, perfect for any home cook. Melissa’s life is as dynamic as her recipes; her husband is a professional hockey player, which means their family moves frequently. Currently residing in Amiens, France, I first “met” Melissa when they were living in Kazakhstan! Back then, I’d often see a couple of daily views on my blog originating from Kazakhstan, a testament to her global presence and adventurous spirit. Through all her travels, Melissa consistently develops recipes that not only nourish a hungry family but also rely on wholesome, universally accessible ingredients. Beyond her delicious food blog, she also shares her fascinating travel tales on her sister blog, Love in a Suitcase, offering readers a glimpse into her life’s exciting adventures.

A Friendship Forged in Flour and Blog Posts

Melissa and I have been “bloggy friends” for what feels like an eternity. Our connection began with lengthy emails exchanged back and forth, delving into blog strategy and tactics, sharing the unique struggles of blogger life (like the inevitable recipe testing failures and the often-misunderstood “Oh, I have a friend who writes a blog, too!” response when you explain you’re a *real* food blogger – the struggle, indeed, is real!), and bonding over guilty pleasure TV shows and discussions about life in general. Melissa is an absolutely incredible person, full of warmth and wisdom, and she’s someone you truly want to know. Just saying.

Since I couldn’t physically travel to France to throw this amazing mama-to-be a traditional baby shower, I decided to rally some of our incredible blogger friends and organize a virtual celebration! We’ve all prepared recipes that we *would* have brought to Melissa’s baby shower in real life, posting them today to share our collective joy and excitement. The virtual party is packed with seriously fantastic treats and dishes, and I sincerely hope you’ll adore their recipes as much as I do. It’s a wonderful way to shower Melissa with love and delicious food from afar, demonstrating the strong bonds and supportive community that exist within the blogging world.

Baked Apple Cider Donuts: The Perfect Fall & Baby Shower Treat

These Baked Apple Cider Donuts are unequivocally perfect for a fall baby shower, or any autumn gathering for that matter. The delicate, tart pomegranate drizzle adds a perfectly “girly” touch without resorting to the typical, sometimes over-the-top, baby-themed decorations (no babies carved out of watermelons here!). They are guaranteed to disappear quickly at any shower you host, but their appeal extends far beyond special events. They’re simply ideal for embracing the crisp flavors of fall. The secret to their intense apple flavor lies in reducing the apple cider, which concentrates its essence beautifully. Meanwhile, the cinnamon sugar coating provides a delightful textural contrast to the incredibly moist cake, making these a recipe you’ll find yourself craving and making throughout autumn, and certainly dreaming about on Pinterest during the summer months! Prepare to fall in love with these wholesome, flavorful, and delightfully simple vegan donuts.

Recipe By:
Cheryl Malik

Rated 5 out of 5 stars by 4 voters

Baked Apple Cider Donuts with Pomegranate Glaze (Vegan)

Prep
30 minutes

Cook
10 minutes

Total
40 minutes

Perfectly spiced and moist apple cider donuts rolled in cinnamon sugar and topped with a tart, pink pomegranate glaze. Absolutely perfect for fall. Vegan!

Cheryl Malik

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18
pieces

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cup apple cider (for reduction)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves or pumpkin spice
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 flax egg (combine 1 tablespoon flaxseed meal and 3 tablespoons room temperature water and set aside for about 5 minutes)
• 2 Tablespoons Earth Balance , melted
• ½ cup light brown sugar (dark brown works, too!)
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon lemon juice
• ½ cup unsweetened unflavored almond milk , room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¾ cup granulated sugar (for coating)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for coating)
• ½ cup powdered sugar (for glaze)
• 2 teaspoons pomegranate juice (for glaze)
• 1 drop or two red food coloring , optional (for glaze)

Instructions

1. To start, pour 1 ¼ cups of apple cider into a small saucepan and simmer over low-medium heat on the stove for approximately 15-20 minutes. You can add cinnamon sticks during this stage to further enhance the apple cider’s fragrant aroma and deep flavor, if desired. The goal here is to reduce the apple cider, concentrating its rich, autumnal taste. You’ll need about ½ cup of this reduced cider in total for the recipe. Once reduced, transfer the cider reduction to a container and allow it to cool completely in the refrigerator while you prepare the remaining ingredients. This cooling step is crucial for the texture of the donuts.
2. Next, prepare your vegan “buttermilk.” Pour ½ teaspoon of fresh lemon juice into a measuring cup. Then, add room temperature unsweetened, unflavored almond milk until the total volume reaches ½ cup. Set this mixture aside for about 5 minutes, allowing it to curdle slightly. This curdling action will mimic traditional buttermilk, adding tanginess and helping with the donuts’ light texture.
3. Preheat your oven to 350º F (175º C). Lightly spray a donut pan with a nonstick cooking spray, ensuring all cavities are well-coated to prevent sticking. Set the prepared pan aside. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground cloves (or pumpkin spice for a slightly different blend), and salt. Ensure they are thoroughly combined.
4. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: the prepared flax egg, melted Earth Balance (or your preferred vegan butter alternative), light brown sugar (dark brown sugar also works wonderfully for a deeper molasses flavor), and granulated sugar. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is smooth and well-combined. Then, incorporate the vegan “buttermilk” mixture, vanilla extract, and the ½ cup of cooled, reduced apple cider. Continue whisking until everything is uniformly blended.
5. Carefully pour the wet ingredient mixture into the bowl containing the dry ingredients. With a whisk, gently mix them together until just combined. It is crucial to avoid overmixing, as this will develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tough, dense donut instead of a light and moist one. Whisk only until you no longer see streaks of dry flour. A few small lumps in the batter are perfectly acceptable and won’t affect the final product, especially since the donuts will be rolled in a delicious cinnamon sugar coating.
6. Transfer the donut batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each cavity about halfway full. You can use a piping bag (with the tip snipped off) or a spoon for easier filling. Bake the donuts for approximately 9-10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a donut comes out clean. This indicates they are fully cooked. Allow the donuts to cool in the pan for a few minutes before carefully removing them. Transfer the warm donuts to a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling on a rack prevents the bottoms from becoming soggy.
7. While the donuts are cooling, prepare the topping and glaze. For the cinnamon sugar coating, simply whisk together ¾ cup of granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon in a small bowl until well combined. For the pomegranate glaze, whisk together ½ cup of powdered sugar and 2 teaspoons of pomegranate juice in another small bowl until smooth. If you desire a more vibrant pink glaze, add one or two drops of red food coloring at a time, mixing until you reach your preferred shade.
8. To assemble these delectable donuts: one by one, gently toss each completely cooled donut in the cinnamon sugar mixture until it is fully coated. Place the coated donuts back on the wire rack. Then, using a butter knife, spoon, small whisk, or a piping bag fitted with a very small tip, artfully drizzle the pomegranate glaze over the tops of the donuts. Allow the glaze to set for about 10 minutes before serving. These Baked Apple Cider Donuts are undoubtedly at their absolute best when enjoyed on the day they are made, but they will keep for a couple of days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

Adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction.

Approximate Information for One Serving

Serving Size: 18g
Calories: 165cal
Protein: 2g
Fat: 2g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Cholesterol: 3mg
Sodium: 117mg
Potassium: 61mg
Total Carbs: 36g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 25g
Net Carbs: 35g
Vitamin A: 39IU
Vitamin C: 1mg
Calcium: 28mg
Iron: 1mg

Nutrition Disclaimers

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Without further ado, let’s unveil the delicious contributions to Melissa B’s virtual baby shower!

Baked Apple Cider Donuts with Pomegranate Glaze (Vegan) from 40 Aprons

Strawberry White Chocolate Macarons from Culinary Couture

Grapefruit Mint Spritzer (Non-Alcoholic) from Tattooed Martha

Chocolate Raspberry Pop Tarts (Vegan) from Yup, It’s Vegan

Hot Milk Cake with Lemon Curd and Italian Meringue Buttercream from Vanilla and Bean

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins (Vegan) from Jessica in the Kitchen

Strawberry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting from Inspiration Kitchen

This array of delightful recipes truly makes Melissa’s virtual baby shower a memorable and delicious affair, brimming with love and creativity from her dear friends in the blogging community. We wish her all the happiness in the world as she welcomes her baby girl!