Baked Apple Cider Donuts are perfect for breakfast, brunch or dessert! These cake like donuts have the delicious taste of apple cider baked right into the donut and are finished with a dusting of cinnamon sugar.
The smell of fall is in the air and in my kitchen! These baked apple cider donuts make my kitchen all nice and cozy smelling. The smell of apples, cinnamon and nutmeg are so amazing and the taste of these baked donuts is equally as amazing.
I love baking and baking donuts is so much fun. They are much easier to make than a traditional donut, and the taste is amazing. These donuts are my new favorite and are perfect for fall, although they'd be delicious anytime of the year.
Other baked donut recipes include Chocolate Donuts and Mini Powdered Sugar Donuts.
The secret to these delicious donuts is all in the apple cider. I used our home pressed apple cider, but any apple cider will do. The apple cider is reduced down so you have a really concentrated apple cider. I used two cups of apple cider and reduced it down to ½ cup. The reduced cider was added to these baked donuts.
How do I make these donuts?
- Combine dry ingredients together in a bowl
- In a separate bowl, combine wet ingredients and add to dry ingredients.
- Mix just until combined
- The consistency should be smooth and fluid
- Pour into greased donut pan
- Bake
- Remove from pan and allow to cool slightly
- Roll donuts in sugar mixture and serve
What type of apple cider do I use?
I use our home pressed apple cider, but any apple cider will do. If you can find an unfiltered cider, use that. You will need to reduce the cider prior to using. This helps really concentrate the cider flavor. To reduce cider, place in a sauce pan and simmer until reduced from two cups down to ½ cup of cider. Allow cider to cool before adding to batter. Another great recipe using apple cider are these Apple Cider Snickerdoodles!
How long do Baked Apple Cider Donuts last?
These donuts are best eaten the same day they are baked. In my house, they disappear quickly!
Can I make these mini sized donuts?
Yes, you can make these with a mini size donut pan. Follow directions for making full sized donuts, but reduce baking time to 8 - 10 minutes.
How do I know when baked donuts are done?
Always start with the minimum baking time. All ovens are different and the baking time will vary depending on how full you fill your donuts. Donuts should be just slightly browned around the edges. Carefully touch the top of a donut with your finger. Donuts should bounce back just slightly and not feel soggy. Use a toothpick and test center of one donut. There should be just a few dry crumbs on toothpick when donuts are cooked through.
What equipment do I need?
- Donut Pan
- Measuring cup with pour spout
- Whisk
- Mini Donut Pan - If you'd like to make mini sized donuts
Other delicious apple recipes
- Apple Fritters
- Chocolate Apple Cake
- Applesauce Bars
- Apple Pull-Apart Bread
- Apple Cinnamon Babka
- Pumpkin Apple Muffins
- Apple Tart
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If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Do you love baking as much as I do? You'll want to check out all my baking recipes!

Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Ingredients
Donut Batter
- 2 cups apple cider
- 1 ½ cups flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons oil
- 1 egg
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Sugar Coating
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch nutmeg
Instructions
Donut Batter
- Place apple cider in a sauce pan. Simmer over medium heat until cider has reduced to ½ cup. Allow cider to cool.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
- In another bowl, combine apple cider oil, egg, milk and vanilla
- Add liquid mixture to flour mixture and combine
- Pour batter into a greased donut pan
- Bake in a preheated 350 oven for 12-15 minutes
- Remove from oven and allow donuts to cool for 5 minutes and remove from pan. Cool on a baking rack.
Sugar Mixture
- Combine sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg together
- Roll each donut in sugar mixture
Video
Notes
- I used canola oil. Any light flavored oil will work
- I used whole milk. You could also use 2% or skim milk
Nutrition
Recipe adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction
Monda says
It worked with almond milk (unsweetened)🧡
Kathy says
Great! Thanks for letting me know! I'm certain there will be more readers wanting to substitute the milk for almond milk too! Good to know it works just fine.
🙂
Samantha says
Can you substitute almond flour for white flour for the recipe? 1:1?
Kathy says
Hi Samantha,
I'm afraid I have not used almond flour before so I don't know if it would work in this recipe.
Thanks 🙂
Diane Moody says
Oh my goodness! A couple of years ago while in New York City, my daughter introduced me to apple cider donuts found at the Bryant Park holiday market. Love at first bite! I had never thought of making them myself until I saw them popping up on Pinterest in the last couple of months, and yours was the first one I tried. So, so good and just as I remember them! We'll be making lots of them in the weeks ahead. What a lovely discovery in such weary times. Thanks, Kathy!
Kathy says
Wow! Thank you! So glad to know these were a hit compared to the ones from NY!!! Thanks for leaving such a lovely comment! 🙂
Linda Baldwin says
Great recipe,tastes great,but thought I would taste the cider more.Baked them in my electric donut maker.They turned out great. Didn't out the sugar on some of them and they were good too.
Kathy says
I've never used an electric donut maker. Glad they worked out for you. The apple cider flavor is there, but I agree, it's not real strong - just a touch. 🙂