Turn your humble cinnamon donuts into a warm, gooey, and utterly decadent dessert with this ingenious pie maker hack. This recipe is the perfect solution for a quick dessert fix, transforming store-bought donuts into gourmet treats in just 20 minutes. The combination of warm, softened apple, rich vanilla custard, and a crispy, cinnamon-dusted exterior is simply irresistible.
Yields: 6 Donuts Preparation & Cooking Time: 20 Minutes
Ingredients
- 9 cinnamon donuts
- ½ cup sliced pie fruit apples
- 1 cup double thick vanilla custard
- 2 tbsp cinnamon sugar
- Salted caramel sauce, to serve (optional)
Method
- Prepare the Donut Bases: Begin by cutting three of the cinnamon donuts in half horizontally to create six rounds. Using a rolling pin, gently flatten each half. These will form the base and top of your pie maker creations.
- Preheat the Appliance: Lightly spray a 4-hole pie maker (with a ⅓-cup capacity per hole) with cooking oil and preheat it.
- Assemble the Donuts: Press four of the flattened donut rounds, cut-side up, into the prepared pie maker holes. Carefully spoon 1 tablespoon of the sliced pie fruit apples into the center of each donut. Follow this by topping each with a generous spoonful of the double thick vanilla custard. Place the remaining flattened donut rounds on top and close the lid of the pie maker.
- Cook to Perfection: Cook for approximately 7 minutes, or until the donuts are golden brown and the filling is heated through and bubbling. Once cooked, carefully remove them. Repeat the process with the remaining donut rounds, pie fruit, and custard to make a total of six donuts.
- Serve: Generously sprinkle the warm donuts with cinnamon sugar. For an extra touch of indulgence, serve immediately with a drizzle of salted caramel sauce and any remaining custard.
Pro Tip: Leftover pie fruit can be placed in a freezer-proof container and frozen for another use. You can also substitute the apple pie fruit with canned apricots for a different flavour profile.
“Apple Custard Cinnamon Donuts.” New Idea food, July 2025.
