Description

Delight in the warm, spiced flavors of homemade baked apple cider donuts that are perfectly soft, tender, and coated in a fragrant cinnamon sugar mixture. These donuts incorporate rich apple cider reduction and apple butter for deep autumnal notes, finished with a luscious drizzle of salted caramel sauce for an irresistible treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Apple Cider Reduction

7 and 3/4 cups apple cider

Donut Batter

1/2 cup salted butter, melted (113 grams / 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

Brushing & Cinnamon Sugar Coating

1/4 cup reduced apple cider (80 mL)
3 tbsp apple butter (53 grams)
1 cup granulated sugar (210 grams)
5 and 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp ground cloves

Optional

1 batch salted caramel sauce (recipe linked in original)

Instructions

Reduce the Apple Cider: Pour the apple cider into a pot over medium-high heat and bring to a rolling boil. Let it simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 35-50 minutes until the liquid reduces to approximately 1 cup. This concentrated cider will be used in the donut batter and for brushing the baked donuts. Alternatively, use pre-made boiled cider if desired.
Preheat and Prepare Pans: Set your oven to 350℉ (175℃). Spray donut pans thoroughly with nonstick spray. Prepare cooling racks placed on baking sheets to catch any cinnamon sugar. Spray the cooling racks with nonstick spray as well to prevent sticking when inverting the donuts.
Make the Donut Batter: In a large mixing bowl, melt the butter. Whisk in the granulated and brown sugars until combined. Add the eggs, reduced apple cider, apple butter, vanilla extract, sour cream, and vegetable oil, mixing until just combined. Gently fold in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves) using a spatula until no streaks of flour remain. Transfer batter to a piping bag or ziplock with the tip cut off.
Bake the Donuts: Pipe the batter into the prepared donut pans, filling each cavity about two-thirds full. Bake for 8-9 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out with moist crumbs. Remove pans from oven, run a butter knife around the edges, and let donuts rest for 2 minutes before carefully inverting onto greased cooling racks.
Coat the Donuts: While the donuts bake, whisk together the apple cider and apple butter for brushing. In a separate bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves for the coating. When the donuts are warm but cool enough to handle, brush each with the cider-apple butter mixture, then immediately dunk them in the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat evenly.
Serve and Store: Enjoy the donuts warm, optionally drizzled with homemade salted caramel sauce for extra decadence. Store cooled donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days; donuts with caramel sauce should be refrigerated.

Notes

Apple cider should not be confused with apple cider vinegar; ensure to use fresh apple cider or boiled cider for the best flavor.
Spraying the cooling racks with nonstick spray before placing donuts helps prevent them from sticking.
Donuts are best enjoyed the day made but can be stored in airtight containers for a few days.
Using salted butter enhances the flavor, but unsalted butter can be used with an adjustment to salt in the recipe.
Boiled cider is a great time-saver as it replaces the reduction step and intensifies apple flavor.
The cinnamon sugar coating can be adjusted to taste for sweetness and spice level.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: apple cider donuts, baked donuts, autumn recipes, cinnamon sugar donuts, homemade donuts, apple butter donuts