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Easy Baked Apple Cider Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar

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Light, tender baked apple cider donuts with a crunchy cinnamon sugar coating. Made with reduced apple cider for intense flavor, these are the perfect fall treat that tastes like childhood memories.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup apple cider (unfiltered preferred)
  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly grated or pre-ground)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ½ cup buttermilk (room temperature)
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter (melted and slightly cooled)
  • 1 large egg (room temperature)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup granulated sugar (for coating)
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (for coating)
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter (melted, for brushing)

Instructions

  1. Reduce the apple cider: Pour the cider into a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about ¼ cup (12-15 minutes). Set aside to cool.
  2. Preheat and prep the pan: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a donut pan generously with non-stick spray.
  3. Mix the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
  4. Mix the wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together granulated sugar, brown sugar, buttermilk, melted butter, egg, vanilla extract, and cooled reduced cider until smooth.
  5. Combine wet and dry: Pour dry ingredients into wet ingredients and fold gently with a rubber spatula until just combined (a few lumps are fine).
  6. Fill the donut pan: Transfer batter to a piping bag or zip-top bag with corner snipped off. Pipe batter into each donut cavity, filling about ¾ full.
  7. Bake: Bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in pan for 2 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
  8. Make the cinnamon sugar coating: While donuts cool, mix ½ cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon in a shallow bowl. Melt ¼ cup butter in another small bowl.
  9. Coat the donuts: While donuts are still warm, brush each with melted butter, then roll in cinnamon sugar mixture until fully coated.
  10. Serve and enjoy: Place coated donuts on a rack or plate and let set for a few minutes. Serve warm.

Notes

Don’t skip reducing the cider—it concentrates the apple flavor. Coat donuts while warm for best sugar adhesion. For gluten-free, use 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For dairy-free, use plant-based buttermilk and vegan butter. Can be made as muffins (bake 14-16 minutes) or mini donuts (bake 6-8 minutes). Freeze uncoated donuts for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked apple cider donuts, cinnamon sugar donuts, fall donuts, apple cider donuts, baked donuts, easy donut recipe

Find it online: https://ariaappetite.com/easy-baked-apple-cider-donuts-with-cinnamon-sugar/