Apple Cider Donuts are a family favorite. Covered in cinnamon and sugar, that first bite makes you fall in love with all the fall flavors! Cinnamon and apple pie spice are two ingredients that really compliment the concentrated apple cider.

Fall is one of our favorite times of the year. The weather is finally cooling off. The Ohio leaves are changing into vibrant oranges, reds, and browns. People are getting ready for the holiday season. There are just so many exciting things about fall!

Baking also changes when fall comes. You can start baking heavier and warmer recipes. Using cinnamon in every goodie is more accepted. 🙂 And having your oven on for the baking process doesn’t overheat your house. That is a huge win!

What Are Apple Cider Donuts?

Apple Cider Donuts, at least this recipe, are coated in a yummy cinnamon sugar mixture after being dipped in melted butter. We highly recommend to enjoy these right after they come out of the oven. In our opinion, they don’t taste as good if the Apple Cider Donuts have sat around for a while.

This recipe requires no yeast, so the donuts come out a lot more dense than the yeast donuts you may have pictured in your mind. They are more of a cake-like donut. A good thing to point out, though, is that these are not deep fried! Less calories equals being able to have an extra one, right?!

Make sure to get yourself a couple donut pans before you go to make this recipe. You can definitely just get one pan and keep doing several batches, but we went ahead and got a couple since they aren’t super expensive. We have also just found out about this donut pan that makes 20 donuts at once (maybe we need to tell Santa about this idea)!

Apple Cider Concentrate

Do not skip the step of concentrating the apple cider. It may sound like a lot, but it is basically just simmering the apple cider down into a thicker, denser liquid. This will pack a flavorful punch when added into the Apple Cider Donut batter.

Apple Cider Donuts

These baked Apple Cider Donuts don't lack flavor. Coated in cinnamon and sugar and concentrated apple cider inside are two main keys to the wonderful taste of this fall treat!

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Prep Time 35 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Total Time 45 mins

Course Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert, Snack

Servings 12 donuts

Ingredients

  

Donuts

• 1 1/2 cups apple cider
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 3/4 tsp apple pie spice
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp salted butter melted
• 1 extra large egg room temperature
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
• 1/2 cup milk room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Topping

• 3/4 tsp cinnamon
• 6 tbsp salted butter melted
• 1 cup granulated sugar

Instructions

 

• The first step is to reduce the apple cider (this will give your donuts a lot more flavor). Simmer the apple cider in a small saucepan, stirring occasionally. Heat over low heat until you have about half a cup left in the saucepan. Check it every five minutes or so until the apple cider has gone down to half a cup. Ours took the entire 20 minutes to achieve this. Set aside and let this cool for 10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350F. Get your donut pans out and spray with non-stick cooking spray (if you only have one pan, you can bake these in multiple sets).
• Whisk together the baking soda, baking powder, flour, cinnamon, apple pie spice, and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, butter, egg, brown sugar, milk, and vanilla extract.
• Pour the wet ingredient mixture into the dry ingredient bowl, along with the reduced apple cider. Whisk everything together until fairly smooth (your batter should be somewhat thick).
• Pour the batter into the donut pans (we pour the batter into a gallon-sized zip bag and just snip the corner with scissors...creates a homemade piping bag to make it easier). Don't fill the donut cavities more than half way, these will rise!
• Mix together the cinnamon and sugar for the topping (we do this while the donuts are baking).
• Bake for 10-14 minutes. You want the edges and tops to be lightly browned. Press the top of a donut with your finger and if the donut bounces back, it is done. Allow the donuts to rest in the pan for two minutes and then transfer them to a wire cooling rack.
• Dunk both sides of each donut in the melted butter and then dunk each side into the cinnamon sugar mixture.
• Enjoy!!

Keyword apples, baking, dessert, Fall recipe, from scratch, homemade, kid friendly, sweets

The inspiration for this recipe came from Sally’s Baking Addiction. Thank you Sally!

We hope your fall is filled with lots of wonderful smelling baking in your kitchen!

Other great fall recipes:

• Cinnamon Roll Muffins
• Halloween Cupcake Brownies
• Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bread