1-First Step: Preparation and Mise en Place Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). While the oven heats, prepare your donut pan by generously greasing it with butter, oil, or cooking spray to prevent sticking. If you don’t have a donut pan, you can use a muffin tin the result will be more like muffins with the same delicious flavor. Next, prepare your apples. Peel, core, and dice 2 medium apples into ¼-inch pieces. Toss the diced apples with a teaspoon of lemon juice to prevent browning while you prepare the batter. Choosing the right apple variety makes a difference in both texture and flavor. Granny Smith apples work particularly well due to their tart flavor and firm texture that holds up during baking without turning mushy.

2-Second Step: Mixing Dry Ingredients In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: 2 cups of all-purpose flour, ½ cup of granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Whisking these ingredients together ensures even distribution of the leavening agent and spices throughout the flour, preventing any concentrated pockets of flavor in your finished donuts.

3-Third Step: Combining Wet Ingredients In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: 1 large egg, ¾ cup of buttermilk, ¼ cup of melted butter, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Whisk until fully combined and slightly frothy. The buttermilk’s acidity will react with the baking powder to create a tender crumb, while the melted butter adds richness without needing to be creamed.

4-Fourth Step: Incorporating Ingredients Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently with a spatula or wooden spoon. Mix only until just combined the batter should remain slightly lumpy. Overmixing develops gluten, which can result in tough donuts rather than tender ones. Gently fold in 1.5 cups of the prepared diced apples, being careful not to overmix. The apples should be evenly distributed throughout the batter while maintaining their texture. Resist the urge to stir too much overmixing at this stage will cause the donuts to become dense rather than light and fluffy.

5-Fifth Step: Filling the Donut Pan Transfer the batter to a piping bag or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe the batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each cavity about ¾ full. If you don’t have a piping bag, you can use two spoons to carefully drop the batter into the pan. Be careful not to overfill the pan, as the donuts will rise during baking. Filling to ¾ full allows room for expansion while still maintaining the donut shape after baking. If using a muffin tin, fill each cup about ⅔ full.

6-Sixth Step: Baking the Donuts Place the filled pan in the preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes. The donuts are done when they’re golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the thickest part comes out clean. The baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven and the exact size of your donut pan, so start checking at the 15-minute mark.

7-Seventh Step: Cooling and Coating Allow the donuts to cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before removing them. This brief cooling period helps them set and makes removal easier without breaking. Carefully transfer the donuts to a wire rack to cool slightly. While the donuts are still warm (but not hot), prepare the cinnamon sugar coating by mixing ½ cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon in a shallow bowl. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a separate small bowl. Lightly brush each donut with the melted butter, then immediately roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture, pressing gently to ensure the coating adheres well. The slight warmth of the donuts helps the butter absorb and the sugar stick. Work quickly while the donuts are still slightly warm for the best coating results.

8-Final Step: Serving and Enjoying Serve the donuts warm for the best experience, when the cinnamon sugar coating is still slightly crisp and the interior is tender. These baked apple donuts are perfect on their own, but they also pair wonderfully with a cup of hot coffee, tea, or a glass of cold milk. For an extra touch of indulgence, you could drizzle them with a simple vanilla glaze made from powdered sugar and milk, but the cinnamon sugar coating alone provides plenty of sweetness and crunch. Enjoy these delightful treats with family and friends, or save some for yourself as a special morning or afternoon snack.