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Apple Cider Donuts Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 117 reviews

These Apple Cider Donuts are a delightful autumn treat, combining warm spices with the natural sweetness of reduced apple cider. Baked to perfection and coated in cinnamon sugar, they offer a soft, cakey texture with a flavorful twist that’s perfect for cozy mornings or holiday gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

Donut Batter

  • 1 ½ cups (354ml) apple cider
  • 3 cups (360g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ teaspoons (6.25g) ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons (8g) baking powder
  • 1 ¼ teaspoon apple pie spice
  • 1 teaspoon (5g) salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ cup (56g) unsalted butter, melted
  • ½ cup (55g) light brown sugar, packed
  • ¼ cup (48g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • ¾ cup (189g) unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons (10ml) pure vanilla extract

Coating

  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup (190g) granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon (7.5g) ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a donut pan with baking spray and set aside to ensure the donuts don’t stick during baking.
  2. Reduce Apple Cider: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the apple cider to a boil. Then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until reduced to about ½ cup, roughly 20-25 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool completely.
  3. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients except sugars — including flour, cinnamon, baking powder, apple pie spice, salt, and baking soda. Set this mixture aside.
  4. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk melted butter with light brown and granulated sugars until smooth. Add in the egg and egg yolk, then mix in the unsweetened applesauce, vanilla extract, and maple syrup until fully incorporated. Stir in the cooled reduced apple cider.
  5. Combine Batter: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. The batter will be thick. Transfer the batter into a large piping bag for easy filling.
  6. Fill Donut Pan: Pipe the batter evenly into each donut cavity, filling them all until full.
  7. Bake: Place the donut pan in the preheated oven and bake for 9-10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the donuts to cool in the pan for a few minutes, then remove them onto a cooling rack until warm enough to handle.
  8. Prepare Coating: In a small bowl, whisk together granulated sugar and ground cinnamon for the coating.
  9. Coat Donuts: One at a time, dip each warm donut into the melted butter, coating both sides thoroughly, then immediately roll it in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Toss gently to ensure even coverage. Repeat with all donuts.

Notes

  • Reducing the apple cider intensifies its flavor, which is key for achieving the classic apple cider donut taste.
  • Make sure the reduced cider is mostly cooled before adding to the wet ingredients to prevent curdling or affecting the batter texture.
  • Piping the batter helps achieve uniform donut shapes and even baking.
  • For extra flavor, you could add a pinch of nutmeg or ground cloves along with the apple pie spice.
  • These donuts are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Keywords: apple cider donuts, baked donuts, fall dessert, cinnamon sugar donuts, apple spice donuts

Find it online: https://lucabites.com/apple-cider-donuts-recipe/