Apple Cider Donuts: A Cozy Fall Favorite
These homemade Apple Cider Donuts are soft, tender, warmly spiced, and coated in cinnamon sugar. Made with concentrated apple cider, they're an easy and cozy fall breakfast or dessert that's perfect with coffee or a warm mug of cider.
Ingredients
Apple Cider Donuts
- 1 ½ cups apple cider
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Reduce the Apple Cider: Pour the apple cider into a medium saucepan. Bring it to a gentle simmer over medium heat and cook until it reduces to about ¾ cup. Remove from the heat and let it cool slightly.
- Prepare the Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until evenly combined.
- Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract, and cooled reduced apple cider until smooth.
- Combine the Batter: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Gently stir with a spatula just until combined. Avoid overmixing, as this can make the donuts dense.
- Fill the Donut Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 12-cavity donut pan. Spoon or pipe the batter evenly into the cavities, filling each about ¾ full.
- Bake the Donuts: Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the donuts are lightly golden and spring back when gently touched. Be careful not to overbake.
- Prepare the Cinnamon Sugar: While the donuts bake, combine the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon in a shallow bowl. Mix well.
- Coat the Donuts: Let the donuts cool for a few minutes until they're easy to handle. While they are still slightly warm, gently toss each donut in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until well coated.
- Serve Warm: Transfer the finished apple cider donuts to a serving plate. Enjoy them warm with coffee, tea, or a glass of apple cider.
Notes
- For the strongest apple flavor, don't skip reducing the apple cider. This concentrates the cider before it goes into the batter.
- Avoid overmixing the batter once the flour is added. Stir just until the ingredients are combined for soft, tender donuts.
- For the best cinnamon-sugar coating, toss the donuts while they're still slightly warm. The coating sticks much better to a warm surface.
- Store leftover donuts in an airtight container. They are best enjoyed fresh but can be refrigerated or frozen for later.
- For a richer fall dessert, serve the warm donuts with caramel sauce or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 235 kcal
- Total Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Dietary Fiber: 1 g
- Total Sugars: 21 g
- Added Sugars: 20 g
- Protein: 3 g
Nutrition information is an estimate based on the ingredients listed and may vary depending on the brands and exact quantities used.