Growing up in Lansing, our family made a yearly trip to Uncle John’s Cider Mill. The location has grown greatly since I was a child. However, they don’t offer gluten free donuts. (They do make some amazing hard cider, tho!) Now, I travel to the east side of the state, to support one of these Michigan businesses that offer gluten free cider mill donuts.

Greater Detroit – also made by Gluten Free Specialties (gluten & dairy free)

For many years, Gluten Free Specialties in Rochester supplied gluten free donuts to just Yates Cider Mill and Franklin Cider Mill. Then, in 2019, many Michigan cider mills responded to customer demand, and partnered with Gluten Free Specialties. If you want a cider mill in your area to carry gluten free donuts, speak up and tell them about gluten free bakers in your area! 

• Yates Cider Mill (Rochester & Canterbury Village)
• Diehl’s Orchard & Cider Mill (Holly)
• Franklin Cider Mill  (Franklin)
• Westview Orchards & Winery (Washington Twp.)
• Big Red Orchard (Washington) 
• The Property Farms And McCallum’s Orchard (Jeddo- Thumb area)
• Knaebe’s Mmmunchy Krunchy Apple Farm (Rogers City)

• Almar Orchards (Flushing, west of Flint) (They also make JK’s Farmhouse Organic Hard Cider!)
• Porter’s Orchard (Goodrich)
• Bayne’s Apple Valley, (Freeland, Saginaw County)
• Blake’s Cider Mill (Armada and South Lyon)
• Plymouth Orchards (Plymouth)
• Ruggles Ranch and Farm Markets (White Lake)
• Kackleberry Farms (Monroe)
• Country Mill (Charlotte)

Please be alert- In previous years, The Country Mill had both the donuts from Gluten Free Specialties, AND house made “gluten friendly” RICE donuts, sold in a package of 6.

Their gluten friendly RICE donuts were cooked in a shared fryer. The gluten free donuts in packages of 2 are from Gluten Free Specialties, and are made in a dedicated gluten free facility.  Read more on my Facebook page. 

Spicer Orchards Gluten Free Donuts – Made In House (shared facility)

Starting in 2026, Spicer Orchards will be making their own gluten free donuts. (Vegan donuts will still be available from Mama Alana’s Pantry.) Here are the details

• Their gluten free donuts are made a designated area with designated utensils, fryer, washing area, and sanitizer.
• There is space in between the gluten free station and the wheat based donut station. In addition, the sections are separated with a floor to ceiling curtain. However, we are not a 100% gluten free facility.
• The prep area and donuts are tested for gluten using GlutenTox Pro.
• Spicer’s Orchards makes their gluten free donuts from a certified gluten free mix.
• The gluten free donuts contain dairy, egg, and soy.
• Gluten Free Donut Ingredients: Gluten Free Flour Blend (Potato Starch, Brown Rice Flour, White Rice Flour, Tapioca Starch, Sorghum Flour, Xanthan Gum), Sugar, Soybean Oil, Non-Fat Milk, Whey, Dextrose, Soy Flour, Salt, Leavening (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Monocalcium Phosphate) Dried Egg Yolk, Potato Flour, Cinnamon, Natural Flavor
• Fried in a blend of Cottonseed and Palm Oil
• The cost is $7 for a 2 pack.

VEGAN and Gluten Free Donuts by Mama Alana’s Pantry (nut free)

Click here to learn more about Mama Alana’s Pantry

• Spicer Orchards – Blueberry & Apple
  • Also, Gluten Free Mixes
• Mueller’s Orchard – Cinnamon Sugar & Pumpkin Spice Donuts

Parshallville Cider Gluten Friendly Donuts

Parshallville launched gluten friendly donuts in 2025. They are made in the same facility as donuts made with wheat flour. However, they are taking the following precautions.

• Made from a mix that is bought and prepared, and is certified gluten free
• Mixed in a separate bowl and with a separate paddle
• Made before any gluten containing products were made
• Sugared in a separate bin in a separate space.
• Fried in a dedicated fryer
• $13/doz, $9/half dozen, $2.50 single
• Contains soy
• Ingredient list – RICE FLOUR, SUGAR, FOOD STARCH-MODIFIED, LEAVENING (SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, BAKING SODA, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE), CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CELLULOSE GUM, MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, SALT, SODIUM STEAROYL LACTYLATE, SOY LECITHIN, SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, XANTHAN GUM.

Greater Grand Rapids  – made by Kind Crumbs (gluten, soy, nut free and vegan)

Kind Crumbs in Grand Rapids specializes in commercial production of gluten free baked goods. You find them in stores such as Harvest Health, D&W Fresh Market, and Foods for Living in East Lansing. However, you can also find them at these farm markets and cider mills in western Michigan. Click here for donut ingredient information. 

• Ed Dunneback and Girls Farm Market (NW GR)
• Red Barn Market (Lowell) (makers of Painted Turtle Hard Cider)
• Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery (NE GR)

Google Map of Michigan Cider Mills with Gluten Free Donuts

Are Any of These Gluten Free Donuts Available for Shipping?

Both Gluten Free Specialties and Kind Crumbs ship their donuts. Gluten Free Specialties ships their donuts nationwide. Kind Crumbs ONLY ships their donuts within the state of Michigan.

You can order from Gluten Free Specialties by visiting their website. To order donuts from Kind Crumbs (which are gluten free AND vegan), you will have to call them. 

Mama Alana’s Pantry also ships their gluten free & vegan donuts. Visit her website to place an order.

Store Bought Donuts

Not finding any cider mills near you with gluten free options? There are two gluten free brands which makes delicious, commercially available gluten free donuts. Both Katz and Kinnikinnick donuts contain no dairy, nuts or soy. While you can order them online, you can also find Katz and Kinnikinnick donuts in your local stores. Find Katz Donuts on Amazon.  (affiliate link)

Another option is to buy gluten free donuts from one of the many dedicated gluten free bakers in Michigan. Find my complete list, organized by geographic region, at this link. Buy a package the whole family can enjoy, take them with you to the cider mill, and have a small family picnic!

Homemade Gluten Free Donuts

Of course, one can always make their own gluten free donuts, and take them to the cider mill. My two ingredient gluten free pumpkin donuts are truly a hit this time of year. Depending on which cake mix you use, these can easily be made free from the top 8 allergens. These chocolate dipped gluten free cake donuts are also free from the top 8 allergens.

Looking for gluten free donuts with fancier flavors? My friend Daniela from The Gluten Free Austrian is a trained pastry chef. Her gluten free apple cider donuts look amazing. My friend Johnna from In Johnna’s Kitchen compiled the ultimate list of 52 gluten free donut recipes. There’s sure to be one to fulfill your gluten free donut cravings.

Did I miss any? What other Michigan cider mill locations do you like to frequent? Leave me a note in the comments! 

Originally Published September 2020

The post Michigan Cider Mills with Gluten Free Donuts appeared first on MI Gluten Free Gal.

A Great Dish To Use Up Stuff in the Fridge

I seem to create some of my most memorable dishes when I have things in the fridge to use up. That’s how I originally stumbled upon this favorite dish years ago.

A quick search on AllRecipes.com using the ingredients in my fridge returned this Chicken Apple Sausage with Cabbage. I could eat sausage and potatoes any day of the week. Throw in cabbage boiled in apple cider and I’m ALL IN!’

Apple Cider NOT Apple Cider Vinegar

Please note that this is made with fresh apple cider. NOT apple cider vinegar. Someone once mentioned how awful the dish was, because of all the vinegar. I repeat, this is made with fresh apple cider, or apple juice. Not vinegar.

What If I Can’t Find Apple Cider?

Here in Michigan, It’s easier to find fresh apple cider in the fall. However, I have seen it year round at my local Meijer store. If you can’t find fresh apple cider, you can use apple juice instead.

What Brand of Chicken Apple Sausage Do You Use?

Previously, I’ve used Chicken Apple Sausage from Meijer, however it no longer seems to be available. I prefer Gilbert’s Bourbon Apple Chicken Sausage, as well. An added bonus of Gilbert sausages is that they are individually wrapped. Dietz and Watson also makes a gluten free and pork free Apple Chicken Sausage. In addition, Al Fresco makes a gluten and pork free Sweet Apple Sausage.

**NOTE- While Aidells makes a gluten free Chicken Apple Sausage, it is not pork free. The sausages are made with a pork casing.

The Best FRESH Apple Cider in Mid Michigan

By the by, I’m not using just ANY apple cider. This Chicken Apple Sausage with Cabbage is braised in Almar Orchards organic apple cider. While I don’t eat organic frequently, I do LOVE this cider. Almar Orchards is the only 100% apple orchard I know of in Michigan. While the cider is great, what I really appreciate is the owner and his staff.

I once had the privilege of interviewing the owner, Jim Koan, for an article I wrote for The Awesome Mitten. I feel like Jim is the equivalent to a modern day Johnny Appleseed. His knowledge about apples, plants and farming is simply AMAZING. Universities complete organic research on his farm that scientific journals publish across the world. And it’s all in the back corner of my county. Amazing.

The Best HARD Cider to Serve with This Dish

Almar sells more than just cider. They also sell HARD cider! It is so amazingly delicious, and I’m not a big alcohol fan. It is sold under the name JK’s Farmhouse Ciders, and they have many varieties. They recently released a Honeycrisp hard cider that is PHENOMENAL.

My favorite flavor is The Pair Perry, created from a blend of pear and apple juices. Almar Orchards also makes a beverage called switchel. Switchel contains no alcohol, although it is fermented. For those who drink apple cider vinegar for health reasons, this might be up your alley. It comes in various flavors, including cherry and berry.

What to Serve with This Dish

However, let’s get back to the food. This dish of Chicken Apple Sausage with Cabbage is perfect with tiny Yukon Gold potatoes. They’re just the right size to cook quickly and absorb all that sweet cider. Just a pinch of parsley adds a beautiful color contrast, too.

This hearty dish of Chicken Apple Sausage with Cabbage is filling. It contains plenty of carbohydrates because of the potatoes. Yet, if you want rolls, these Garlic and Onion grain free rolls pair perfectly with them! Thinking about dessert? I highly suggest pairing this dish with an apple based dessert. May I suggest my super easy Gluten-Free French Apple Cake? Better yet, how about my Gluten-Free Applesauce Bundt Cake?

Print

Chicken Apple Sausage with Cabbage

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 tsp butter
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 4 links chicken and apple sausage
• 1 onion sliced
• 1 pinch salt
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 1/2 cups apple cider or apple juice
• 1 lb small Yukon potatoes washed but not peeled
• 1 1/2 lb green cabbage shredded
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

• Combine butter and olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat; add sausages and cook until browned on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Stir onion, pinch of salt, and pinch of pepper in with the sausages. Cook and stir until onions are slightly translucent and caramelized, about 5 minutes.
• Stir garlic into sausage mixture; cook and stir for 30 seconds.
• Pour apple cider into sausage mixture; increase heat to medium-high and stir in potatoes. Bring to a simmer.
• Pour cabbage over top of sausage mixture and reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove sausages and potatoes from the Dutch oven and set aside.
• Increase heat to high, simmer liquid until thick and reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
• Return potatoes and sausages to the Dutch oven and remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with mustard and parsley.

On a side note, please know that this post was not sponsored in any way by Almar Orchards. I simply love to support Michigan businesses who do things right. This post does contain Amazon affiliate links. I do earn a small commission from those sales. However, it does not impact the price of your purchase. 

Originally Published December 2013

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