Perfect baked cinnamon sugar donuts elevated with a sweet drizzle of elderberry icing. Easy to make and deliciously warm right out of the oven!
What better way to welcome this gorgeous fall weather than with these fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth, downright addicting (because one is never enough) cinnamon elderberry donuts?
These donuts are baked instead of fried and made with simple ingredients. Plus, it’ll fill your kitchen with that glorious fall aroma.
Just describing them to you is giving me a serious craving. They’re fluffy and irresistible — you’ll regret not doubling the batch, just wait.
In case you don’t know me yet — hi there! I’m Lindsey, founder of Elderberry Queen. And if you can’t tell already, I LOVE food. Baking, cooking, eating… count me in. But what I love even more is knowing that I’m giving my family wholesome nutrition with everything that comes out of my kitchen.
I do that by pulling in my Organic Elderberry Syrup into some of our favorite recipes. You can actually explore my immune-boosting recipes on my blog here.
What makes these recipes stand out from the crowd? They’re made with 100% REAL ingredients.
Real Ingredients, No Junk
A few weeks ago, my family had a hankering for a donut type of breakfast. They don’t happen often for us, but when there’s a craving… a mom does what a mom’s gotta do, right?!
Off I went to our little local bakery.
I haven’t bought donuts in a while, and I don’t know about you, but when I get them fresh, I just tell myself they’re healthier than store-bought.
Haha, that’s not the case.
I stood in line waiting to pay, super excited for that simple cinnamon donut — knowing full well that I ordered an extra to eat in the car on the way home. That’s what happens when no one wants to come with you, right? You treat yo’ self!
I walked straight to my car and immediately opened the box to smell that incredible bakery aroma and took my pick. As I was munching away and sipping my coffee, I saw the ingredient list sticker peeking from under the box.
I thought to myself, “Do I dare?”
Of course, I had to look. And I was floored. The list was soooo long. I immediately identified ten ingredients I could actually pronounce that I’d never purchase in a store or let my kiddos consume. EVER
But then I reminded myself it’s all about balance. Right?!
We can enjoy these donuts without feeling horrible about it because we’re not doing it daily, weekly, or even monthly. Guilt almost took over (which is so easy to do in our world today — you kind of feel like you’re always doing something wrong).
Instead, I thought to myself, “I wonder if I could make something just as delicious but way healthier in my kitchen. And we could have this as a treat a little more often. Birthdays, Halloween, on camping trips….”
And that is how these gorgeous cinnamon donuts with elderberry icing came to be.
My cinnamon donuts are mouthwatering and a healthy alternative, so you can eat a good amount without the guilt! Let’s get into the two main parts you’ll need for this tasty treat.
The Two Parts of These Delicious Cinnamon Donuts
There are two parts to these warm, mouthwatering, perfectly sweetened donuts. You’ll need:
To prove that these cinnamon elderberry donuts are worth every second spent in your kitchen, let’s go over the benefits of making them. Here are just a few more reasons why you’ll love them!
Why You’ll Love These Cinnamon Elderberry Donuts
Just in case you’re still on the fence, here are a few more reasons you’ll fall in love with these donuts this fall:
- It’s the perfect recipe for any occasion (lazy mornings, Christmas, a fall festival, even as a snack around the bonfire)
- No mixer required, just a bowl and spatula
- Baked for a healthier dessert, not fried
- Soft, fluffy, and buttery
- Sweetened with elderberry syrup
- Way healthier than a traditional donut
- Your house will smell like a bakery during autumn
After reading this list, you’ve got to be on board. Your family will LOVE this recipe, so I suggest making a double batch if you’re up for it!
Ingredients for Cinnamon Donuts & Elderberry Icing
Here’s what you’ll need to make this treat:
- 1 cup gluten-free 1:1 baking flour (can sub traditional flour)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 large egg at room temp
- 1/3 cup coconut or maple sugar
- 1/4 cup almond milk (can sub for any milk)
- 1/4 cup yogurt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 5 tablespoons organic elderberry syrup
- ½ cup powdered sugar
You’ll also need a bowl for mixing, a spatula, and your donut pan.
My Favorite Donut Pan
The big problem with traditional bakeware like non-stick and aluminum is that they leach heavy metals, hormone-disrupting chemicals (PTFE) and even forever chemicals (PFAS) into your food.
(Learn more about how to make your kitchen non-toxic here with simple tips that make a big difference.)
When you search for a donut pan, you’ll see that everything is labeled non-stick. It’s virtually impossible to find stoneware, cast iron, or just simple stainless steel for this type of pan.
Such a bummer! So, I started researching and found the next healthiest alternative!
USA Pan's 6 Cavity Doughnut Pan. It’s commercial grade, so it’s definitely built to last. It’s made from aluminized steel, but since our family stays away from aluminum, this small exposure doesn’t worry me much. It’s then coated with Americoat, a silicone coating that’s PTFE, PFOA, and BPA-free.
It’s way better than traditional non-stick pans. I’ll keep you updated if a healthier option becomes available, but for now, I’m using this.
How to Make The Donuts
These cinnamon elderberry donuts are pretty simple to whip up. Take a look at the steps below.
STEP 1: Make the donut batter
First, preheat your oven to 350. Then, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium-sized bowl.
Then, set that aside and whisk the egg, maple sugar, milk, and yogurt until smooth. Next, add in the melted butter and whisk until fully combined.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Don’t overmix. You’ll lose that fluffy texture, and they’ll get dense instead. The batter will be very thick.
STEP 2: Bake the donuts
Spoon the batter into your donut pan. Sometimes, this can be a pain, so I use a large Ziplock bag or piping bag (if you have one!) to make it a bit easier. If you’re using a Ziplock bag, Just cut the corner at the bottom of the bag after filling it with batter and pipe it into the donut wells. Fill these in about ⅔ full.
Bake for 9-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.
Allow them to cool for a few minutes, then pop them out of the pan onto a wire rack to finish cooling. You’ll want to let them cool for at least ten more minutes before getting your topping on.
STEP 3: Top the donuts
In a small bowl, mix your powdered sugar and elderberry syrup. Drizzle over the top of your donuts, and voila! The perfect donut!
Your taste buds are going to go crazy over these. And the best part? Very little sugar and a ton of healthy ingredients.
How to Store The Donuts
These are best stored at room temperature in a glass container for up to three days. But I doubt they’ll last that long. Be sure to let these donuts cool completely before storing them.
Elderberry Syrup: A Fall Game-Changer
Elderberry Syrup is just what you need to boost your immune system & keep your family healthy, no matter what comes your way.
It’s an absolute game-changer when it comes to all those nasty viruses cycling through your home.
You know that feeling, right? When you hear coughing in the middle of the night, and you know the next month is going to be LONG and SLEEPLESS.
Well, not anymore. With my Organic Elderberry Syrup, you finally have a line of defense for your family that actually works. Here’s why:
ORGANIC INGREDIENTS
Unrivaled USDA organic ingredients straight from nature! No artificial flavors or colors, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup, or added sugar. Just lightly sweetened with a touch of organic honey. Seven simple ingredients: elderberries, aronia berries, honey, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.
POWERFUL ANTIOXIDANTS
Elderberries alone are known to reduce symptoms and shorten the duration of colds, the flu, and allergies. Our Elderberry Syrup is handcrafted with superfoods and loaded with antioxidants and vitamins that support and strengthen your immune system.
KID-APPROVED
Delicious, kid-friendly syrup you don’t have to force them to take. There’s no weird, thick, gritty, or sugary product here. Our syrup has a juice-like consistency that doesn’t affect the potency or effectiveness one bit. Our ingredients boost your immune system even more, giving you additional support no other elderberry syrup has!
“The other HUGE plus is that my 3-year-old and 16-month-old LOVE this stuff! My son asks for it every day, and my daughter slurps it down.” — The Wilkes Family
You’ve got to give it a try, and for on-the-go support, I’ve even crafted elderberry gummies.
My passion is helping other families thrive, even with COVID, the flu, colds, and stomach bugs constantly popping up. You can finally boost your immune system to have a stronger fight against these bugs. It all starts with a healthy immune system, and I’m honored to offer you that support.
Learn more about my immune-boosting goodies here. And let me know how you enjoyed your cinnamon donuts with this delicious elderberry icing!
💜 For more delicious fall recipes, give these a try:
- Sheet Pan Elderberry Balsamic Chicken & Veggie Bake
- Elderberry Glazed Lemon Muffins
- Thumbprint Cookies With Elderberry Jam
