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Apple Cider Donuts

We have an orchard that sells amazing cider donuts but it's always very busy during apple season. I've got The Easy Baked Donut Cookbook by Sara Mellas on my cookbook shelf so decided to give them a try at home.

Honestly, the most time consuming part of this one is reducing the cider down from three cups to one cup. Don't be tempted to skip it and just use straight cider or juice though because it's what really gives the donuts their flavor. 


The batter comes together pretty quickly after that and I put it into a piping bag to make filling the donut pans easier.  You could also use a large glass measuring cup with a spout. 


Mine took exactly 13 minutes on convection. I let them cool in the pans for a bit and then turned them out onto a wire rack over a half sheet pan to cool completely. 


After they are cool you brush them with melted butter and then coat them with a spiced sugar mixture.  I did this and then put them back on the wire rack so that any excess dropped off onto the sheet pan.

The texture was perfect, packed with flavor but not dense at all. You could taste the cider in the donut and then the spiced sugar outside just put them over the top. 


Be sure to go and check out what the other bloggers are making for National Cookbook Month by using the links down below!


Apple Cider Donuts

Apple Cider Donuts
Author: Jolene's Recipe Journal

Ingredients

For the donuts:
  • 3 cups apple cider
  • 6 Tablespoons butter, melted
  • 4 teaspoon canola oil
  • 6 Tablespoons light brown sugar (packed)
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 large room temp eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
For the spiced sugar coating
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

For the donut batter
  1. Over medium high heat bright apple cider to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and then reduce the cider to 1 cup. Let cool.
  2. Heat oven to 350º. Whisk together butter, oil, brown sugar, sugar, eggs, vanilla and cider in a large bowl until smooth.
  3. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Whisk until the batter is smooth. Transfer to a piping bag or large glass measuring cup with a spout.
  4. Coat donut pans with cooking spray. Divide batter between pans, filling each about 3/4s full. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 12 to 14 minutes or until a toothpick tests clean.
  5. Let cool in pans 10 minutes and then turn out onto wire rack over a sheet pan to cool completely.
  6. Make the spiced sugar coating by combining the sugar, cinnamon, apple pie spice and salt in a small bowl. Brush the donuts with melted butter then place into sugar mixture. Flip to coat the other side.

Notes

Source: The Easy Baked Donut Cookbook, Sara Mellas

Recommended Products:

The Easy Baked Donut Cookbook
Wilton Non-Stick 6-Cavity Donut Baking Pans, 2-Count
Wilton 12

Other donut recipes you may enjoy:

Lemon Funfetti Baked Donuts

Chocolate Glazed Donuts

Donuts, apple cider, baked
dessert, breakfast, brunch
American

 

October is National Cookbook Month! I know that there are a lot of digital ways to get recipes out there nowadays, but I still love the feeling of sitting with a cookbook and paging through to find new dishes to try.

 


















Comments

A Day in the Life on the Farm said…
Oh good. Now I have a reason to pull out the donut pans that I bought and have only used once LOL. Thanks Jolene.
October 12, 2022 at 8:24 AM
Karen said…
I'm going to have to check out that cookbook! These look wonderful.
October 12, 2022 at 1:55 PM
Dorothy Reinhold said…
There is something so special about reading a cookbook. I am glad you found these donuts! Apple is my favorite fall flavor!
October 12, 2022 at 7:44 PM
Family Around the Table said…
I really need to get on the homemade donut bandwagon! These look amazing! I love reading cookbooks too!
October 13, 2022 at 7:01 AM
Inger said…
I've never made them but love apple cider donuts. I wouldn't have thought to reduce the cider but it makes so much sense!
October 13, 2022 at 11:37 PM
Anonymous said…
Jolene these look absolutely PERFECT! Thank you for sharing! :)

- Sara Mellas
November 27, 2022 at 8:39 PM

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