There is no flavor that captures the essence of a crisp autumn day quite like an apple cider donut. For years, I thought they were a treat that could only be enjoyed at a local orchard, but I was thrilled to discover how simple it is to recreate that magic at home. This recipe for baked apple cider donuts delivers all the cozy, spiced flavor of the classic, but in a lighter, cake-like form that is wonderfully easy to make.
You will fall in love with this recipe because it strikes the perfect balance between sweet, spiced, and tangy. The secret is reducing the apple cider down to a concentrate, which infuses the donut batter with an intense, unmistakable apple flavor. Coated in a crunchy layer of cinnamon sugar, these donuts are the perfect companion to a warm cup of coffee on a chilly morning.
The Ingredients for Your Autumnal Donuts
For Donuts:
- 2 cups fresh apple cider
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon fine salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch ground cardamom
- 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
- ½ cup white sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup warm milk
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, divided
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
For Coating:
- 1 cup white sugar, or as needed
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, or as needed
How to Create Your Apple Cider Donuts
Step 1: Reduce the Apple Cider
This is the most important step for getting a deep apple flavor. Pour the 2 cups of apple cider into a small saucepan and bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Let it continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 15-20 minutes, or until it has reduced down to about ½ cup. This creates a potent apple cider concentrate. Set it aside to cool slightly.
Step 2: Prepare the Donut Batter
Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and generously grease a donut pan. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the white sugar, brown sugar, warm milk, 4 tablespoons of the melted butter, vanilla, and the egg. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, add the cooled apple cider reduction, and whisk until just combined.
Step 3: Bake the Donuts
Spoon or pipe the batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each cavity about halfway full. A zip-top bag with the corner snipped off makes this process incredibly neat and easy. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the donuts cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
Step 4: Coat in Cinnamon Sugar
In a shallow bowl, mix together the 1 cup of white sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon for the coating. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in another small bowl. Once the donuts are cool enough to handle, use a pastry brush to coat one side of a donut with melted butter, then immediately dip the buttered side into the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Repeat with the other side, and for all the remaining donuts. Serve immediately.
My Best Tips for These Apple Cider Donuts
My Secret for the Best Apple Flavor
Reducing the apple cider is non-negotiable. Simmering the cider evaporates the water and concentrates the apple flavor into a thick, syrupy reduction. This is the only way to get that authentic, robust apple cider taste to shine through in the final baked donut.
Don’t Overfill Your Donut Pan
It can be tempting to fill the donut cavities to the top, but this will cause the batter to overflow and you’ll lose that classic donut hole shape. Filling them only about halfway to two-thirds full gives them the perfect amount of space to rise and bake into a beautifully shaped donut.
The Double-Dip Method
For an extra thick and crunchy cinnamon-sugar crust, I like to do a double dip. After the first coat, let the donuts sit for a minute, then brush them with a little more butter and dip them in the cinnamon sugar a second time. This creates an irresistibly crunchy exterior.
Delicious Variations to Try
These Apple Cider Donuts are a perfect canvas for other fall flavors. You can add a tablespoon of apple pie spice to the batter for an even warmer, more complex spice profile. For a different kind of coating, try making a simple glaze with powdered sugar and a little bit of the apple cider reduction. You could also add a cup of finely shredded apple to the batter for extra moisture and bits of real apple throughout the donut.
FAQs
Can I make these without a donut pan?
Yes! If you don’t have a donut pan, you can bake these in a standard muffin tin to make “donut muffins.” Just be sure to grease the pan well and adjust the baking time as needed; they may take a few minutes longer to bake through.
Can I make these ahead of time?
These donuts are best enjoyed the day they are made, especially right after they’ve been coated in cinnamon sugar. However, you can store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. They may soften slightly, but they will still be delicious.
Why do my donuts taste bland?
The most common reason for a bland apple cider donut is not reducing the apple cider enough. That concentration step is truly the key to unlocking a powerful apple flavor. Make sure you simmer the cider until it has reduced by at least half, or even by three-quarters, for the best results.
Baked Apple Cider Donuts
- Total Time: 45
- Yield: 12 donuts 1x
Description
Recreate the magic of a crisp autumn day at home with these Baked Apple Cider Donuts. This simple recipe delivers all the cozy, spiced flavor of the orchard classic in a lighter, cake-like form. The secret is an intense apple cider reduction that infuses the batter with flavor, all finished with a crunchy cinnamon-sugar coating. They’re the perfect companion to a warm cup of coffee on a chilly morning.
Ingredients
For Donuts:
2 cups fresh apple cider
2 cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon fine salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pinch ground cardamom
1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
½ cup white sugar
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup warm milk
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, divided
¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
For Coating:
1 cup white sugar, or as needed
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, or as needed
Instructions
Reduce the Apple Cider:
Pour the 2 cups of apple cider into a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until it has reduced down to about ½ cup. Set aside to cool slightly.
Prepare the Donut Batter:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and generously grease a donut pan. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugars, warm milk, 4 tablespoons of melted butter, vanilla, and egg. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, add the cooled apple cider reduction, and whisk until just combined.
Bake the Donuts:
Pipe or spoon the batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each cavity about halfway. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the donuts cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
Coat in Cinnamon Sugar:
In a shallow bowl, mix the sugar and cinnamon for the coating. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in another bowl. Brush each donut with melted butter, then immediately dip it into the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat. Serve immediately.
Notes
Intense Apple Flavor:
The most crucial step for a deep, authentic apple flavor is reducing the apple cider. Simmering the cider concentrates its flavor into a potent syrup that makes the donuts shine.
No Donut Pan?
If you don’t have a donut pan, you can bake this batter in a standard muffin tin to make delicious “donut muffins.” Adjust the baking time as needed; they may take a few minutes longer.
Storage:
These donuts are best enjoyed fresh on the day they are made. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days but may soften slightly.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: Dessert, Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 donut
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: apple cider donuts, baked donuts, fall baking, cinnamon sugar donuts, breakfast recipe, dessert recipe
