Fluffy apple flavored donuts that are just 2 ingredients. These donuts don’t require any yeast, butter, or eggs. All you need to mix the dough is a spoon. You can have fresh, homemade donuts in less than 15 minutes.
overhead shot of a pile of donut holes.

Apple season is here and I’m excited for all the upcoming apple varieties. You don’t have to wait for apple season to make these donuts though. They can be made all year long. The donut dough takes about 2 minutes to mix together and then the dough is ready to be cooked.

Ingredients

  • Applesauce
  • Self-Rising Flour (you can also make your own with flour, baking powder and salt)

The donut dough is just 2 ingredients. The two ingredients are mixed together until a dough forms and then it’s ready to be cooked. The donuts can be eaten plain or coated in sugar or a glaze. I coated mine with cinnamon sugar.

Substitutions

  • I have not tested this recipe with any flour alternatives.
  • If you are looking for a substitute for applesauce, I have also made pumpkin donuts and a banana version.

Fried, Air Fried or Baked

These donuts are best fried. When fried, the donuts come out very light and fluffy and taste like regular donuts.

If you do not wish to fry the donuts, the next best method is cooking them in the air fryer. The donuts do not come out as light and airy but they are still very tasty, especially after they are rolled in cinnamon sugar (or glaze). These taste more like a healthier baked version of donuts.

If you don’t own an air fryer, you can try baking them. This was my least favorite version. The donuts come out more dense and bready when baked.
close-up shot of the apple donuts.

Variations

  • These donuts have a mild apple flavor. If you want to enhance the apple flavor, you can add some chopped apple pieces into the batter.
  • You can also add cinnamon or nutmeg to flavor the batter. Both flavors pair well with apples.

Toppings

I rolled my donuts in a cinnamon sugar mixture. Other topping ideas:

  • powdered sugar
  • caramel sauce
  • vanilla glaze

a pile of apple donut holes.

More Apple Recipes

4.91 from 11 votes

2 Ingredient Apple Donuts

Fluffy apple flavored donuts that don't require any yeast, butter or eggs. This donut dough is just 2 ingredients and comes together in minutes.
Servings: 16 donuts
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 8 minutes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Leave a Review

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cup (162.5 g) self-rising flour, see note before starting
  • 2/3 cup (167 g) applesauce
  • canola or vegetable oil, for frying

Instructions
 

  • If you are frying the donuts: Add 1 inch of oil to a medium saucepan. Bring to medium heat (about 350°F).
  • Combine flour and applesauce into a large bowl. Mix with a spoon until applesauce is completely incorporated into the flour and a sticky dough forms.
  • Use a 2 tsp cookie scoop to scoop dough. Gently release the dough ball directly into the heated oil. (This is usually the small size cookie scoop. If you don't own a 2 tsp cookie scoop, you can also use measure out a heaping 1/2 tbsp of dough with a measuring spoon and use another spoon to help you form a ball and release it into the oil. ) Add in half of the dough balls or however many your saucepan has room for. I fried my donuts in two batches. Fry the donuts until the bottoms are golden brown, then flip them and fry a few more minutes until the other side is also golden brown. Remove donuts from oil and place onto a plate lined with a paper towel (to soak up excess oil) to cool.
  • To air fry the donuts, set your air fryer to 375°F, no preheat. Cook donuts for about 6 minutes or until cooked through. Cooking time can vary depending on the size of your donuts and your air fryer, so I recommend testing one out before adding the remaining. To bake the donuts (not recommended as the donuts come out bready), preheat oven to 375°F. Bake for about 9-12 minutes or until done.
  • When donuts are no longer too hot to touch, coat them with your favorite topping. I mixed 2 tbsp sugar + 1/2 tsp cinnamon and put it into a ziploc bag. I then put the donut holes in the bag and shook them until they were coated in cinnamon sugar. Donuts are best enjoyed soon after they are cooked.

Notes

  • Self-rising flour amount needed: There are 2 main kinds of self-rising flour sold in the US. One that is a lower protein (2 grams per 1/4 cup serving) flour and one that has a regular amount of protein (3 grams per 1/4 cup). Brands like King Arthur Flour and White Lily make the low protein flour. Brands like Gold Medal and most store/generic brands contain a regular protein amount. The amount of protein affects how much liquid is absorbed. For this recipe, I tested it with White Lily self-rising flour (lower amount of protein). If you are using a self-rising flour with a regular amount of protein (3 grams per 1/4 cup) you will need less flour for this recipe or more pumpkin. I recommend starting with 1 cup and then adding more as needed.
  • Homemade self-rising flour: Whisk together 2 cups all purpose flour, 3 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt to a bowl. Do not use the full amount. Start with 1 cup and add more as needed. Make sure your all purpose flour has 3 grams of protein per 1/4 cup. There are some brands of all purpose flour with high protein (4 grams per 1/4 cup), such as King Arthur and Bob's Red Mill, and that will make your donut dough too dry and your donuts dense. You don't want to use a high protein flour for these donuts.
  • Fried donuts are best enjoyed the same day they are made. They do not store well. Air fried donuts taste best while warm and soon after they are cooked.
  • You can use sweetened or unsweetened applesauce. I used unsweetened.
  • The donuts have a mild apple flavor. If you wish to add more apple flavor, you can fold in finely chopped apples into the donut dough. 
  • If you don't plan on adding toppings, you can add cinnamon or other spices to the dough to add more flavor to the dough.
  • These donuts come out the same size as regular donut holes. A smaller cookie scoop is used because the dough will puff up during cooking.
  • I used this 2 tsp cookie scoop.*
  • *This product link is an affiliate link. This means I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.
  • Nutrition estimate is for the dough only and does not include toppings or oil absorbed if the donuts are fried. Nutrition estimate is calculated using unsweetened applesauce.
Serving: 1donut, Calories: 35kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 1g, Sodium: 109mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, NET CARBS: 7
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. This is not a comprehensive list of all the nutrients in the recipe (i.e., does not include vitamins, cholesterol, etc). I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a star rating and review below!