Light and fluffy baked Apple Cider Protein Donuts for a cozy fall treat, but low fat and sugar free! Healthy apple cider protein doughnuts use homemade sugar-free apple cider and very little butter too.

Honestly, the main reason I made this apple cider donut recipe is because my husband decided to make homemade apple cider with sugar-free monkfruit sweetener for a healthier version. It was for a bonfire get together with friends, but there were plenty of leftovers, and we had to go for this cozy classic.

What is so special about Apple Cider Donuts?

The big deal about apple cider donuts is that they’re a fall favorite and full of cozy flavors. With apple cider being in season at this time, its flavors with the warm spices brought into this cakey baked doughnut – you can imagine the specialty now! A warm donut made with reduced apple cider and coated with (sugar-free here) cinnamon sugar is all you need for this weather.

Ingredients for Apple Cider Protein Donuts

These apple cider protein donuts are made with simple ingredients you already have in your pantry.

A skinny apple cider doughnut recipe with no sugar, no oil and no butter; Yes, low fat too.

Here’s what you need:

Apple Cider – Use a regular one, or see the note below on a low-sugar version.
Vanilla Protein Powder – This adds in sweetness, so this protein doughnut recipe has no added sugar; I used Quest Nurition Vanilla Protein Powder.
Unflavored Protein Powder to replace some of the flour (and carbs) in the recipe for a slightly lower carb high protein apple cider donut. I used a whey-casein blend from Quest Nutrition.
Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
Almond milk, or any other reduced fat milk, at room temperature
Egg also at room temperature
Melted Butter
Spices: Ground Cinnamon, Cardamom and Nutmeg
Baking Powder and Baking Soda

And for the sugar free apple cider donut topping:

Unlike most baked apple cider donut recipes, the coating for this one actually sugar-free. Here’s the ingredients:

Zero Calorie Sugar substitute – I use the sugar-free one from Lakanto, but you can also use regular sugar. Use the code HAYLSKITCHEN for a discount here.
Cinnamon, Cardamom and Nutmeg

Melted Butter for coating. You want this completely melted

How to make Sugar free Apple Cider Donuts?

You can use regular apple cider for these protein doughnuts, but for a sugar-free recipe, I recommend making your own homemade apple cider without sugar.

I used this this recipe from Delish, but used Zero-calorie Monkfruit Brown Sweetener from Lakanto (code HAYLSKITCHEN gives you a discount) instead of regular brown sugar.

The texture (cider and donuts) comes out perfect – just like store-bought apple cider, but much healthier with none of that added sugar involved.

Some Tips For Baked Apple Cider Protein Powder Donuts:

This recipe for healthier baked apple cider donuts made with protein powder is really easy, but here’s some tips to get it perfect!

Let reduced apple cider cool completely before using in recipe. The hot version will spoil the recipe; It will cook the raw egg, and ingredients won’t mix well either.

Use room temperature eggs and milk;
This is so the wet ingredients and dry ingredients can mix well.

Don’t over-mix the batter!
Make sure you gently fold the dry mix into the wet to combine them.
If you over-mix it, the protein powder – will make it tough, dense and gummy.

Make sure your mixture has enough moisture in it. The vanilla protein powder exteremely absorbent and if the wet ingredients are too little, the donuts will be dry and tough.
The mix should be like a slightly thick brownie batter.

Taste the batter and see if you need some extra sweetener. I’d recommend using stevia powder to maintain the consistency of the batter and have sugar free protein donuts.

Be sure to grease the donut pan if it your pan is not silicon.

Let donuts cool slightly before adding topping.

How to store Sugar Free Apple Cider Protein Doughnuts?

These sugar free apple cider protein doughnuts keep really well at room temperature, in the fridge or freezer.

Keep apple cider protein donuts on the countertop in an airtight container for 2 days.

Healthy apple cider doughnuts last about 5 days in the fridge in an airtight container.

To freeze homemade apple cider protein donuts, let them freeze individually on a baking sheet and then transfer them to freezer safe zipper bags. They should keep up to 2 months.
Thaw to room temperature before eating.

Alternate Ingredients for Healthy Apple Cider Donut Recipe

I made these low calorie, low fat and sugar free healthy apple cider donuts with the ingredients and brands listed above, but here’s some options to try:

Whole Wheat Pastry Flour: All purpose flour or 1:1 Gluten Free Baking Flour in the same amount by weight not cups
Unflavored Protein Powder: ¼ cup more Flour, but also skip the Greek Yogurt
Almond Milk: Regular milk
Greek Yogurt: Coconut Yogurt
1:1 Zero Calorie Sugar Replacement: Regular confectioners sugar (this won’t be sugar free though, and also higher in calories)

More Healthy Unique Protein Donut recipes?

More Apple Protein Powder Dessert Recipes: