Description
These easy baked apple cider donuts offer the deep, caramelized flavor of traditional fried donuts without the mess or stress. They feature a crispy cinnamon sugar coating and a tender, spiced interior, making them a perfect cozy fall treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups apple cider (fresh-pressed, not juice)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- For Coating: ½ cup granulated sugar
- For Coating: 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- For Coating: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a donut pan generously with non-stick spray or butter.
- Pour 4 cups of apple cider into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer.
- Simmer the cider for 20-25 minutes until it reduces to approximately 1 cup of syrupy liquid. Let it cool completely.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the cooled reduced cider, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla until emulsified.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir gently with a spatula until just combined; do not overmix.
- Fill each donut hole in the pan about ¾ full using a spoon or ice cream scoop.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the donuts spring back when touched and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let donuts cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool for another 5 minutes until warm.
- Mix the coating ingredients: melted butter, granulated sugar, and cinnamon.
- Roll the warm donuts in the sugar mixture to coat evenly. Serve immediately.
Notes
Ensure the reduced cider is completely cool before mixing with butter to prevent melting. Do not overmix the batter to avoid tough donuts. Coat donuts while they are warm, not hot or cold, for the best sugar adhesion. If you don’t have a donut pan, you can bake in a muffin tin and create a hole after baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 donut
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 3
Keywords: apple cider donuts, baked donuts, fall recipes, easy donuts, cinnamon sugar donuts, autumn baking