gluten-free apple cider donuts with beet sugar glaze

I have an ongoing love affair with apples and one of the best places to find them in New York City this time of year is Migliorelli. This family-run, fruit and vegetable farm originates from 1933 in the Hudon Valley.  They specialize in over 130 different varieties of fruits and vegetables and sell in every major farmers market in New York City. Migliorelli's philosophy is to only sell produce that is less than 24 hours young.

"An Apple a day” is not an old wive’s tale. Apples are a great source for antioxidants, vitamin C and fiber helping you boost immunity and overall health. I like to use applesauce in baking to reduce the amount of oil and butter I use.  This gluten-free apple cider recipe uses apple sauce to increase the fiber content and beet juice to create the perfect shade of pink frosting.

This donut recipe was developed for The Chalkboard Magazine, one of my favorite lifestyle and wellness blogs. 

________________

GLUTEN-FREE APPLE CIDER DONUTS WITH BEET SUGAR GLAZE  // serves 12

by Elisabeth Srur

prep time: 20 minutes // cook time: 15 minutes // TOTAL TIME: 35 minutes

DONUT INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup almond flour

• 1 1/4 cup gluten-free flour

• 2 tsp. baking powder

• 1/2 tsp. baking soda

• 1/2 tsp. xantham gum

• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1/2 cup coconut sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 1/2 cup apple sauce

• 1/2 cup mashed banana

• 1/4 cups apple cider

• coconut oil spray

DONUT METHOD:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. In a large mixing bowl whisk together gluten-free flour, almond flour baking powder, baking soda, xantham gum, salt and cinnamon.

3. In a separate large mixing bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to whip together butter and coconut sugar until cream and fluffy.

4. Mix in eggs one at a time into the butter mixture, until well combined.

5. Add banana, apple sauce and apple cider to the butter mixture, mixing until well combined. 

6. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until well blended.

7. Pour the batter into a gallon-size, freezer bag.

8. Snip of a small corner of the freezer bag, creating a piping bag that will help you easily squeeze the batter into a donut pan. 

9. Generously spray your donut pan with coconut oil.

10. Fill each donut 3/4 of the way to the top.

11. Bake for about 18 minutes or until a knife or toothpick inserted comes out clean. ( note - timing will depend on the size of your donut pan )

12. Allow the donuts to cool slightly before you add the topping.

TOPPING INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup coconut sugar 

• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

• 1 tsp. beet juice or pomegranate juice

• optional - 1 tsp. beet juice or pomegranate juice

• 1 tsp. water

TOPPING METHOD:

1. Mix the granulated sugar, coconut sugar and cinnamon.

2. Place the sugar mixture on a plate and roll the donuts in the sugar mixture until well coated. Set aside.

3. Whisk the beet juice, water and powdered sugar until smooth forming a thick glaze. Set aside.

4. OPTIONAL - Take 2 tbsp. of the pink powdered sugar glaze and water in down with an additional tsp. of beet juice.  You can put this brighter pink watery glaze on the donuts first if you would like 2 pink colors to show up. Using a spoon, drip the glaze over the donuts in a zig zag pattern. Note that the watery glaze will be mostly soaked up by the donuts.

5. Take the pink powdered sugar glaze and place in a quart size ziploc bag.  

6. Snip a tiny corner off of the ziploc bag and pipe the sugar glaze in a stripe patter on the donuts.