It's that time again! This month's SOS Kitchen Challenge features one of my favourite fall foods–a fruit that is delicious, nutritious and has more varieties than I count–apples!

Hosted by Ricki of Diet, Dessert and Dogs and Kim of Affairs of Living, the SOS challenge invites bloggers to create new recipes based on one key ingredient. But there are requirements: it has to be vegan and contain only natural, whole foods and no refined sugars.

There are a million and one things that can be done with apples, but since this is a baking blog, what other than a sweet apple treat?  My mini doughnut pans have been feeling quite neglected lately, so I decided to come up with a healthier version of traditional deep-fried apple cider doughnuts. These mini treats have a light, cakey consistency and highlight the flavours of fall–cinnamon, nutmeg and apple cider–much like the cider doughnuts that are sold at local cider mills as part of the annual harvest tradition. Break out the cider and enjoy!

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/3 cup Sucanat
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup apple cider
1 tbsp sunflower or canola oil
2 tbsp nondairy milk
1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
2. Grind the Sucanat briefly in a spice or coffee grinder. In a separate bowl, whisk together the Sucanat, maple syrup, applesauce, apple cider, oil, nondairy milk and vinegar.
3. Slowly add the flour mixture to the liquid mixture and mix until no large lumps remain. Be careful not to overmix.