Fresh baked, fluffy apple cider doughnuts bring the taste of the season to your breakfast table. Flavored with apple cider and apple pie spice then dipped into maple syrup and cinnamon sugar, they are a great way to start any day!
We made a trip this past fall up to Maine and one of the things I knew I wanted to try, besides their lobster (duh), were their Apple Cider Donuts. I mean what better place to get this delicious confection than from a state that grows over 100 different varieties of apples.
While perusing the shops and restaurants of Portland Maine we came across a popular doughnut shop and just had to stop in to see if we could find some. They had so many different varieties it was hard to choose.
Of course, I had to purchase an apple cider doughnut and, when I saw they had a sweet potato doughnut, I knew I had to have that too. Both were super delicious and something I definitely wanted to try making myself when I got home.
One thing that is hard to find in Florida is good apple cider but I managed to find some in one of the specialty stores nearby. When using cider in a recipe, like these apple cider doughnuts, you need to reduce it to more of a concentrated syrup.
To do this takes a little time but it is well worth the effort. Of course, you can always purchase a bottle of Willis Wood Boiled Cider from Amazon to make the recipe a little less time consuming.
How to Make Apple Cider Donuts
Step 1 - Combine the dry ingredients - flour, baking powder, baking soda and apple pie spice.
Step 2 - Whisk egg, sugars, buttermilk and cider in a medium bowl until smooth.
Step 3 - Add vanilla and melted butter, whisk again.
Step 4 - Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients.
Step 5- Stir until just combined. Overmixing will cause the doughnuts to be drier.
Step 6 - Pour batter into prepared doughnut pan and bake.
Step 7 - Allow baked doughnuts to cool in pan about 5 minutes.
Step 8 - Invert onto wire rack then dip into maple syrup or brush with butter and dip or sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Just look at all that delicious apple pie spice inside every bite of this moist doughnut.
Besides how delicious these doughnuts are, they are also a little better for you than the usual dounut because they are baked. I also love baking doughnuts because it's so quick and easy.
I've made Vanilla Donuts with Chocolate Glaze, Chocolate Donuts with White Chocolate Glaze, Lemon Blueberry Donuts and now Apple Cider Doughnuts. I would make all of them again in a heartbeat, they are that good!
These apple cider donuts are great for breakfast or just for a quick afternoon snack. Surprise your family with a warm batch of doughnuts during those cool fall days - they'll love you for it!
More Apple Cider Recipes
- Apple Cider Cookies with Maple Frosting
- Apple Cider Pound Cake with Caramel Drizzle
- Apple Cider Margarita
- Hot Fireball Apple Cider Cocktail
- Spiked Hot Apple Cider
Find lots of delicious fall recipes here on 2CM!
BAKED APPLE CIDER DOUGHNUTS
Ingredients
Doughnuts
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon apple pie spice
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- ¾ cup apple cider reduced to ¼ cup
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 Tablespoon butter, melted
Glaze
- 3 Tablespoon maple syrup or 3 Tablespoons butter, melted
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Before beginning, the apple cider will need to be reduced to intensify the flavor in the doughnuts. To do this, place cider in a saucepan and bring to a boil then turn down and simmer for 15-20 minutes until it is reduced to ¼ cup. Let cool. You can also make this ahead of time and store in refrigerator.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray doughnut pan with nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and apple pie spice. Set aside.
- Whisk egg, sugars, buttermilk and cider in a medium bowl until smooth. Add vanilla and melted butter, whisk again. Add dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Overmixing will cause the doughnuts to be drier.
- Using a spoon, divide batter between doughnut cavities. This recipe usually makes 7 or 8 so you may have some left over.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes then invert on to wire rack. Let cool until just warm to the touch.
- While doughnuts are cooling, place either the maple syrup or the butter on to a flat plate. On another plate, combine sugar and cinnamon.
- When you can handle doughnuts, dip tops into syrup or butter then into cinnamon sugar.
Notes
Nutrition
This post has been updated and was first published on December 14, 2016.
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Julie Evink says
I finally had my first apple cider doughnut a few weeks ago and after that I knew I needed to try them at home! This recipe was amazing and I'm so glad we tried it!
Meagen Brosius says
I'm SO glad that we're finally able to start making tasty fall recipes again! These are so tasty and I love that they are baked and not fried. So yummy and an easy breakfast for those busy mornings!