Homemade Filled Apple Cinnamon Doughnuts, Baked Not Fried!

By Rebecca St.Clair

There is something extra special about a fresh doughnut filled with warm spiced apples. These baked filled apple doughnuts take that cozy fall combination and turn it into a soft, buttery brioche doughnut filled with a fragrant spiced honey apple filling and finished with a sweet caramel glaze.

A tender, fluffy interior and a beautiful golden crust. Once they’re cool enough to handle, each doughnut is filled with homemade apple pie filling made with apples, honey, and warm spices.

And then comes the best part, the finished doughnuts are dipped into a simple caramel glaze that adds a bakery fresh sweetness to every bite.

If you are looking for something extra indulgent to serve on a crisp autumn morning, alongside a mug of coffee or tea, this is exactly what you’ve been looking for. These Homemade Filled Baked Apple Cinnamon Doughnuts with Caramel Glaze take all those cozy fall flavours and tuck them into one irresistible little treat.

What Makes These Baked Filled Apple Doughnuts Special?

Unlike a traditional cake-style doughnut, brioche doughnuts have a soft, bread-like crumb with a rich and slightly buttery flavour.

The dough is shaped into individual doughnuts before being baked. Once cooled, each doughnut is filled to abundance with homemade spiced honey apple filling.

This gives you three delicious textures in one bite:

soft brioche doughnut + warm spiced apple filling + sweet brown sugar glaze.

The combination is especially delicious in the fall when apples are fresh and plentiful.

How to Make Baked Filled Apple Doughnuts

1. Make the Brioche Dough

In a large bowl, add in 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 cup warm milk. Sprinkle 2 1/4 teaspoons dry-active yeast on top and set aside for a few minutes for the yeast to soften and become foamy.

To the same bowl, add in 1 teaspoon salt, 6 eggs, 1/4 cup soft butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 4 cups all-purpose flour.

Mix and then knead until you have a soft, smooth, elastic dough ball.

You will have to knead about 10 – 15 minutes or until it passes the window pane test.

Cover and allow to rise in a warm spot until doubled. About 1 hour depending on the temperature of your kitchen.

2. Shape the Doughnuts

Once the dough has risen, gently turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.

Divide and shape the dough into 18 individual doughnuts.

Place the shaped doughnuts onto a lined baking sheet, leaving enough space for them to double in size.

Allow them to rise about 45 minutes or until just about doubled in size.

This second rise is important. It helps create those lovely light and fluffy baked doughnuts.

3. Bake

Bake the doughnuts at 375 °F (190 °C) for 10 -15 minutes or until puffed and lightly golden.

Allow the baked doughnuts to cool before filling.

How to Make the Spiced Honey Apple Filling

While the doughnuts are baking and cooling, prepare the apple filling.

Peel and finely dice 6 – 8 apples. Smaller pieces work particularly well because they make the filling easier to pipe into the doughnuts.

Place the apples in a sauce pot with 1 ½ Tablespoons cornstarch, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, ½ teaspoons salt, 3 Tablespoons brown sugar, 1/3 cup honey. Cook on medium-low heat, until the apples are tender and the mixture has thickened.

Allow the filling to cool before using it.

How to Fill the Doughnuts

Once your baked brioche doughnuts have cooled, make a small opening in the side of each doughnut. Enough to fit your piping bag.

Place the filling in a piping bag. Fill each doughnut generously.

You should be able to feel the doughnut becoming slightly heavier as the apple filling goes inside.

Making the Caramel Glaze

On the stovetop, melt 3 Tablespoons butter with 3/4 cup brown sugar and 3 Tablespoons milk. Bring it to a boil and cook until smooth and the sugar is dissolved. Remove it from the heat and stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 2/3 cup icing sugar, and a pinch of salt.

Whisk until smooth and slightly thick but dippable.

Working quickly dip the tops of each doughnut. The icing will set up the cooler it becomes.

Decorate the top with any garnishes before the icing sets.

Dipping the Doughnuts

Dip the tops into the caramel glaze.

Let any excess glaze drip back into the bowl.

Place the doughnuts on a cooling rack or parchment paper and allow the glaze to set.

For an extra pretty presentation, you can sprinkle the tops with a tiny pinch of cinnamon sugar before the glaze completely sets.

Tips for Making the Best Baked Apple Doughnuts

Don’t rush the brioche dough

The rising time can vary depending on the temperature of your kitchen. Look for the dough to become visibly puffy and doubled in bulk rather than relying only on the clock.

Don’t overbake

Baked doughnuts can go from soft and tender to dry surprisingly quickly. Keep an eye on them toward the end of baking.

Cool before filling

Warm doughnuts can make the apple filling runny and difficult to pipe.

Cook the apple filling until thick

The filling shouldn’t be watery. A thick filling stays inside the doughnut much better.

Cut the apples small

Small pieces of apple make the filling easier to pipe and give you a little apple flavour in every bite.

Can I Make These Doughnuts Ahead of Time?

Yes!

You can prepare the brioche dough ahead of time and allow it to rise slowly in the refrigerator, overnight.

You can also prepare the spiced honey apple filling ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.

For the best texture, bake the doughnuts as close to serving time. Fill and glaze them then serve warm.

How to Store Filled Apple Doughnuts

Because these doughnuts contain a homemade apple filling and caramel glaze, they’re best enjoyed fresh.

Store leftover filled doughnuts in an airtight container, in a single layer so the caramel glaze doesn’t stick to the tops of the doughnuts beneath them.

The brioche will naturally become less soft as it sits, so these are definitely a fresh-is-best treat.

Can You Freeze Baked Doughnuts?

The baked brioche doughnuts can be frozen before they’re filled and glazed.

Allow the baked doughnuts to cool completely, then wrap them well and place them in a freezer-safe container.

When you’re ready to serve them, thaw completely and then prepare the apple filling and caramel glaze.

Variations

Maple Apple Doughnuts

Replace the honey with pure maple syrup in the apple filling for an extra autumnal flavour.

Salted Caramel Apple Doughnuts

Add a little flaky sea salt to the caramel glaze for a delicious sweet-and-salty combination.

Apple and Pecan

For a little crunch, finely chop toasted pecans and sprinkle them over the caramel glaze right after dipping.

Pumpkin Spice Apple Doughnuts

Add pumpkin pie spice to the apple filling in place of cinnamon for a delicious fall variation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fry these apple cinnamon doughnuts instead of baking them?

Yes! Brioche dough can also be used for fried doughnuts! Baking gives these doughnuts a lighter, less oily doughnut. If you want to fry, heat your fryer oil to 350 °F (180 °C). Bake for 2 minutes per side or until golden. Remove from the oil onto a cooling rack, to remove any excess oil as it cools.

What kind of apples should I use?

Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Cortland, Northern Spy, and Golden Delicious are all good choices. A combination of sweet and tart apples is especially delicious. But your favourite variety of apple will always be the best choice.

Why is my apple filling watery?

The apples may have released more moisture than expected. You can cook it down longer to evaporate excess moisture or add 1 teaspoon more of cornstarch to thicken the filling.

Can I use store-bought apple pie filling?

Yes you can. If the pie filling has larger chunks you will have to break them down to pipe it into the doughnuts.

Can I use maple syrup instead of honey?

Yes, pure maple syrup makes a delicious variation and pairs beautifully with apples, cinnamon, and caramel.

How do I keep the caramel glaze from running off?

The glaze will thicken as it cools. Stir for an extra few minutes to thicken or add a little extra icing sugar until you have your desired consistency.