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Best Homemade Baked Apple Cider Donuts – Easy Fall Recipe

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These homemade baked apple cider donuts are warm, spiced, and coated in cinnamon sugar, making them the perfect fall treat. Ready in under 30 minutes, they’re kid-approved and made with simple ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup apple cider (reduced to 1/2 cup concentrate)
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar (for coating)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (for coating)
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (for brushing)

Instructions

  1. Reduce the apple cider: Pour 1 cup of apple cider into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 10-12 minutes. Set aside to cool.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray donut pan generously with non-stick cooking spray.
  3. Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt.
  4. Mix wet ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together cooled reduced apple cider, egg, melted butter, buttermilk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
  5. Combine wet and dry: Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Fold gently with a rubber spatula until just combined—do not overmix. Batter will be thick and slightly lumpy.
  6. Fill donut pan: Spoon batter into a piping bag or zip-top bag with corner snipped off. Pipe batter into each donut cavity, filling 2/3 to 3/4 full.
  7. Bake: Place pan in preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, until donuts spring back when touched and edges are golden brown.
  8. Cool briefly: Let donuts cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Cool for another 2-3 minutes before coating.
  9. Prepare coating: Mix 1/2 cup sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon in a shallow bowl. Melt 1/4 cup butter in a separate small bowl.
  10. Coat donuts: Working one at a time, brush donut with melted butter, then dip into cinnamon sugar mixture, turning to coat evenly. Place on a clean plate or rack.
  11. Serve warm: Best eaten within an hour of baking.

Notes

Don’t skip the cider reduction—it concentrates flavor. Use room temperature ingredients to avoid clumping. Overmixing makes donuts tough. Let donuts cool 3-5 minutes before coating for best sugar adhesion. For extra crunch, double coat with butter and cinnamon sugar.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple cider donuts, baked donuts, fall recipe, homemade donuts, cinnamon sugar donuts

Find it online: https://cooksybite.com/best-homemade-baked-apple-cider-donuts-easy-fall-recipe/