Description
These Baked Apple Cider Donuts are soft, warmly spiced treats packed with rich apple cider flavor and coated in cinnamon sugar. This easy baked apple cider donuts recipe delivers all the cozy fall taste without frying, making it a lighter and delicious homemade dessert.
Ingredients
For the donuts:
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the coating:
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F) and lightly grease a donut pan.
- In a small saucepan, simmer the apple cider over medium heat until reduced by about half. Let it cool completely.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk the eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and cooled apple cider until well combined.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Spoon or pipe the batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each cavity about 3/4 full.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the donuts spring back lightly when touched.
- Let the donuts cool slightly before removing them from the pan.
- Brush each donut with melted butter, then toss in the cinnamon sugar mixture until evenly coated.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Reducing the apple cider intensifies the apple flavor—don’t skip this step.Avoid overmixing the batter to keep the donuts soft and tender.Use a piping bag or zip-top bag for easy filling of the donut pan.For a lighter version, skip the coating or use less sugar.You can substitute plant-based milk and butter for a dairy-free version.
