Introduction

Baked Apple Cider Donuts are a delightful treat, perfect for crisp autumn mornings or cozy afternoons. These soft, spiced donuts are lightly coated in cinnamon sugar and can be enhanced with a drizzle of homemade caramel sauce. Enjoy the comforting flavors of apple cider and warm spices in every bite.

A stack of five dark brown cinnamon sugar donuts with a grainy texture sits on a black cooling rack over a white marbled surface, each donut thick and coated in cinnamon sugar with sticky caramel sauce drizzling down the sides. Next to the stack, two more sugar-coated donuts lay on the surface, one with a bite taken out showing a soft inside. Two apples, one red and one green, are blurred in the background along with a white jar. The scene is warm and inviting with soft natural light. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

7 and 3/4 cups apple cider (not apple cider vinegar)

1/2 cup salted butter, melted (113 grams, or 8 tablespoons)

1/4 cup + 3 tbsp vegetable oil (80 mL)

3/4 cup granulated sugar (158 grams)

1/2 cup + 1 tbsp light brown sugar, packed (124 grams)

3 large eggs, at room temperature

3/4 cup reduced apple cider (240 mL)

1/4 cup + 2 tbsp apple butter, at room temperature (106 grams)

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup full fat sour cream, at room temperature (60 grams)

2 and 2/3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned & leveled (347 grams)

1 tbsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp allspice

pinch of ground cloves

1/4 cup reduced apple cider (80 mL) for brushing

3 tbsp apple butter (53 grams) for brushing

1 cup granulated sugar (210 grams) for coating

5 and 1/2 tsp cinnamon for coating

1/2 tsp nutmeg for coating

1/4 tsp allspice for coating

1/4 tsp ground cloves for coating

1 batch salted caramel sauce (optional, recipe linked below)

Instructions

Step 1: Reduce the Apple Cider. Pour apple cider into a pot and bring to a rolling boil over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 35-50 minutes until reduced to 1 cup. Use 3/4 cup for the donut batter and 1/4 cup for brushing later. Alternatively, use boiled cider to save time.

Step 2: Prep your oven by preheating to 350℉. Thoroughly spray donut pans with nonstick spray. Prepare cooling racks placed on baking sheets to catch any cinnamon sugar. Spray racks with nonstick spray to prevent sticking when donuts are inverted.

Step 3: Make the batter. Melt butter in a large bowl, then whisk in sugars until combined. Add eggs, reduced apple cider, apple butter, vanilla extract, sour cream, and oil; mix until just combined. Fold in flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices with a spatula until no flour streaks remain. Transfer batter to a piping bag or a zip-top bag with the tip snipped off.

Step 4: Bake the donuts. Pipe batter into prepared pans, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake for 8-9 minutes until a toothpick inserted pulls out moist crumbs. Let donuts rest in the pans for 2 minutes, then carefully invert onto the greased cooling racks.

Step 5: Coat the donuts. While donuts bake, mix 1/4 cup reduced apple cider and 3 tbsp apple butter for brushing. In a separate bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves for the coating. When donuts are warm but manageable, brush with the cider-apple butter mixture, then dunk in the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat.

Step 6: Serve and store. Enjoy the donuts warm, optionally drizzled with salted caramel sauce for an extra treat. Store cooled donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. Donuts with caramel sauce should be kept refrigerated.

Tips & Variations

Use boiled cider to reduce cooking time in the apple cider reduction step.

Spray your cooling racks with nonstick spray to prevent donuts from sticking when inverted.

Try adding a pinch of ginger or cardamom to the spice blend for a unique twist.

For dairy-free versions, substitute sour cream with coconut yogurt and use vegan butter.

Serve with a warm cup of coffee or apple cider for a cozy pairing.

FAQs

Can I use regular apple juice instead of apple cider?

Apple cider has a deeper, less sweet flavor compared to apple juice, which affects the taste of the donuts. While you can substitute apple juice, the final flavor may be lighter and less complex.