Puff Pastry Apple Donuts
These puff pastry apple donuts are crispy, flaky, and coated in cinnamon sugar. Talk about a perfect sweet treat, ready in only 40 minutes. Better yet, it is vegan and beginner-friendly!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- When was the last time you made donuts from scratch? I’m guessing it’s been a while since they are a pain to make! These yummy homemade “donuts” only take 40 minutes and beginner skill.
- Puff pastry wraps around apples for the ultimate texture contrast. The apples cook to be soft and slightly tart, while the pastry becomes crunchy and sweet.
- All plant-based ingredients, no compromise on taste. Who says that vegan desserts have to be complicated?
- Speaking of ingredients, it’s a short list! All you need are apples, puff pastry, sugar and cinnamon.
- Having a dinner party? These puff pastry apple donuts will definitely make an impression. They look fancy but are so easy to make!
Key Ingredients
- Apples are the ultimate dessert filling in the fall. They are sweet, juicy, and perfectly shaped for donut rings.
- Puff pastry in the stores is often incidentally vegan, which makes desserts like this super easy to make.
- Cinnamon and sugar is a classic warming combo, that also adds a touch of caramelized spice.
Hack It!
- Honeycrisp is ideal for this recipe, but you can use a different apple variety, epending on what is available. Fuji or Gala works very well.
- Coconut or date sugar is great for a deeper flavor, especially if you’re avoiding white sugar.
- If you don’t have access to an oven, you can bake smaller donuts in an air fryer in half the time.
- For a boozy twist, soak your apple slices in some spiced red wine or rum first.
How to Make Puff Pastry Apple Donuts
Step 1: Thaw the puff pastry according to package directions. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Step 2: Place the apples on their sides on a cutting board and slice into ¼-inch thick rounds, making 8-10 slices. Use a small cookie cutter or the lid of a pop bottle to punch out the cores, creating donut shapes.
Step 3: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry and slice into 8 long, even strips. Wrap each strip around an apple ring, slightly overlapping as you go, until fully covered.
Step 4: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the wrapped rings onto the prepared baking sheet.
Step 5: In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Lightly brush both sides of each donut with oil, then generously sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Step 6: Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown and crisp. Allow to cool slightly before serving.
Step 7: Enjoy hot or cold!
Frequently Asked Questions
You can definitely pre-slice the apples and cut the pastry. To stop the apples from browning, drizzle with some lemon and store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Yes, that is exactly what I used! You just have to remember to defrost it in advance as you cannot microwave it.
Smaller and non-round parts of apples can be saved for healthy stewed apples. Cores, peels and small offcuts are great to make your own apple cider vinegar.
You can certainly do something similar with pears, since they are a similar size and texture. large peaches, nectarines or mangoes if you cut them creatively.
More Plant-Based Desserts
- Banana Oatmeal Muffins
- Air Fryer Sweet Rice Paper Dumplings
- Rice Chocolate Mousse (Zero Waste)
- Banana Donut Holes
- Persimmon Pudding
This recipe can be great for using an abundance of apples and avoiding food waste. If this cause is close to your heart, you’ll love my cookbook, PlantYou Scrappy Cooking! This vibrant cookbook is filled with vegan recipes that are beginner- and budget-friendly, and great for the planet.
The Recipe: Puff Pastry Apple Donuts
Ingredients
- 3 honeycrisp apples, medium
- 1 sheet puff pastry, I use the tenderflake brand which is naturally vegan in Canada
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- avocado or olive oil, for brushing
Equipment
- cookie cutter or botle lid, or apple corer
- Rolling Pin alternatively, use pre-rolled pastry
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Thaw the puff pastry according to package directions.
- Place the apples on their sides on a cutting board and slice into ¼-inch thick rounds, making 8 to 10 slices. Use a small cookie cutter or the lid of a pop bottle to punch out the cores, creating donut shapes.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry and slice into 8 long, even strips. Wrap each strip around an apple ring, slightly overlapping as you go, until fully covered. Place the wrapped rings onto the prepared baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Lightly brush both sides of each donut with oil, then generously sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown and crisp. Allow to cool slightly before serving. These are best enjoyed immediately!
Notes
- Honeycrisp is ideal for this recipe, but you can use a different apple variety, epending on what is available. Fuji or Gala works very well.
- Coconut or date sugar is great for a deeper flavor, especially if you’re avoiding white sugar.
- If you don’t have access to an oven, you can bake smaller donuts in an air fryer in half the time.
- For a boozy twist, soak your apple slices in some spiced red wine or rum first.