Baking/ Breakfast/ Desserts/ Recipe

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

August 26, 2019 (Last Updated: September 7, 2020)

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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.

A stack of donuts covered with 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. 

A half of a donut held with one hand.

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 1/2 cup. The reduced cider was added to these baked donuts. 

How do I make these donuts?

  1. Combine dry ingredients together in a bowl flour swirled with cinnamon and sugar in a large bowl.
  2. In a separate bowl, combine wet ingredients and add to dry ingredients.
    A glass bowl with flour and a wet mixture added on top.
  3. Mix just until combined
  4. The consistency should be smooth and fluid Donut batter dripping off a spoon.
  5. Pour into greased donut pan A donut pan being filled with batter poured from a glass measuring cup.
  6. Bake Cooked donuts in a pan.
  7. Remove from pan and allow to cool slightly Baked donuts cooling on a rack.
  8. Roll donuts in sugar mixture and serve A baked donut in a bowl of spiced sugar.

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 1/2 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!

A plate with sugar covered donuts.

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?

Other delicious apple recipes

Don’t forget to PIN for later! Two apple cider donuts on a white plate.

 

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!

A plate filled with cinnamon donuts.

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Kathy
Baked donut with all the delicious flavors of apple cider
4.93 from 13 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 12 mins
Total Time 32 mins
Course Baking, Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 donuts
Calories 174 kcal

Ingredients
  

Donut Batter

  • 2 cups apple cider
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoons oil
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Sugar Coating

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • pinch nutmeg

Instructions
 

Donut Batter

  • Place apple cider in a sauce pan. Simmer over medium heat until cider has reduced to 1/2 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

Serving: 1donutCalories: 174kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 2gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 106mgPotassium: 109mgFiber: 1gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 36IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Apple Cider Donut, Baked Apple Cider Donut, baked donut recipe, Baked Doughnut
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Recipe adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction

 

 

August 26, 2019 (Last Updated: September 7, 2020) By
About

I enjoy cooking meals and treats for my husband and three teenagers. They are my official taste testers!

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24 Comments

  • Reply
    Monda
    November 8, 2020 at 5:30 pm

    5 stars
    It worked with almond milk (unsweetened)🧡

    • Reply
      Kathy
      November 8, 2020 at 5:32 pm

      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.
      🙂

  • Reply
    Samantha
    November 6, 2020 at 8:21 am

    Can you substitute almond flour for white flour for the recipe? 1:1?

    • Reply
      Kathy
      November 6, 2020 at 4:22 pm

      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 🙂

  • Reply
    Diane Moody
    November 1, 2020 at 5:38 pm

    5 stars
    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!

    • Reply
      Kathy
      November 1, 2020 at 6:22 pm

      Wow! Thank you! So glad to know these were a hit compared to the ones from NY!!! Thanks for leaving such a lovely comment! 🙂

  • Reply
    Linda Baldwin
    October 3, 2020 at 3:09 pm

    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.

    • Reply
      Kathy
      October 3, 2020 at 3:19 pm

      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. 🙂

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