Description
These baked apple cider donuts are soft, spiced, and coated in cinnamon sugar—the perfect cozy fall treat! Easy to make, no frying required, and full of fresh apple flavor.
Ingredients
For the Donuts:
- 1 cup apple cider (reduced to ½ cup)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice (optional)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Reduce the Apple Cider: In a small saucepan, simmer apple cider over medium heat until reduced to ½ cup. Let cool.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease donut pans with nonstick spray.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, sugars, melted butter, vanilla, and cooled cider reduction.
- Combine: Add dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Bake: Spoon or pipe batter into donut pans, filling each cavity about ¾ full. Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Coat Donuts: Dip warm donuts in melted butter, then roll in cinnamon sugar until coated.
- Serve: Enjoy warm or let cool completely before storing.
Notes
- Reduce the cider fully to intensify apple flavor—it’s worth the extra step.
- Use a piping bag (or Ziploc with the tip cut) to neatly fill the donut pan.
- For extra apple flavor, add 1 teaspoon apple pie spice to the batter.
- To make ahead, freeze donuts without coating and add cinnamon sugar after reheating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes