Description
Warm Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts bring fall’s comfort straight to your kitchen table, with a tender crumb and rich apple spice that feels like a cozy hug from an old friend. Grab your favorite mug of coffee and savor these delightful treats that make weekend mornings special.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
- ½ cup packed light or dark brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 and ½ cups apple cider
- ½ cup milk
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Topping:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon apple pie spice
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Simmer 1 and ½ cups apple cider over low heat for 25-30 minutes until reduced to ½ cup. Stir periodically and monitor liquid concentration carefully.
- Heat oven to 350°F. Generously coat your donut pan with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Blend 2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ¾ teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon apple pie spice, and ¼ teaspoon salt in a mixing bowl. Whisk until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- In another bowl, combine 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1 large egg, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly until sugar dissolves.
- Pour liquid ingredients into dry mixture. Stir gently until batter becomes smooth and no flour pockets remain.
- Add reduced apple cider to batter. Fold carefully until completely incorporated.
- Fill each donut pan cavity halfway with batter using a spoon or piping bag for even distribution.
- Bake at 350°F for 10-11 minutes until donuts are golden and spring back when lightly pressed.
- Allow donuts to cool in pan for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.
- Melt 6 tablespoons butter in shallow dish. Mix 1 cup sugar, ¾ teaspoon cinnamon, and ¾ teaspoon apple pie spice in separate bowl.
- Dip warm donuts in melted butter, then immediately coat with spiced sugar mixture. Rotate to ensure complete coverage.
Notes
- Reduce apple cider slowly and carefully to concentrate the flavor, which helps create a deeper apple taste in the doughnuts.
- Use a piping bag or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off for clean, even filling of the donut pan cavities.
- Check donuts a minute before recommended baking time, as oven temperatures can vary and prevent potential over-browning.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend and ensure all other ingredients are gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 30-40 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-11 minutes
- Category: Donuts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 to 12
- Calories: 243 kcal
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 190 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 1.2 g
- Protein: 3.5 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg