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Baked Apple Cider Donuts

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Delicious, baked apple cider donuts. The perfect way to celebrate the fall season! Make a fresh batch in 35 minutes.

This classic apple cider donut recipe boasts the irresistible flavor of donuts sold at apple-orchard bakery stands. Brushed with butter, and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, they’re light and flavorful with the perfect crumb!

PIN BAKED APPLE CIDER DONUTS TO MAKE THEM LATER!

ABOUT APPLE CIDER DONUTS

When the leaves change color, our family heads to Apple Hill in Northern California. We visit wineries, apple orchards, and on-site bake shops. We pick apples and pumpkins, and bring home jugs of fresh apple cider.

These cider donuts are filled with the rustic flavors and scents of fall in the foothills. Your kitchen will smell like an apple-orchard bakery!

One dozen apple cider donuts served on a rustic metal tray.

MORE FALL RECIPES: GLAZED PUMPKIN HAND PIES, delicious PUMPKIN MUFFINS, classic ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS, and easy PUMPKIN PIE DIP.

INGREDIENTS FOR BAKED APPLE CIDER DONUTS

Here’s what you’ll need for this easy apple cider donut recipe:

DONUT BATTER

  • Butter
  • Granulated sugar
  • Light brown sugar
  • Large eggs
  • Vanilla extract
  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking powder
  • Sea salt
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Ground mace OR ground nutmeg
  • Apple cider

DONUT COATING

  • Melted butter
  • Granulated sugar
  • Ground Cinnamon
The ingredients for making classic apple cider donuts shown on a white rustic table.

APPLE CIDER DONUT RECIPE

Follow these easy-step-by-step instructions for this apple-orchard favorite!

  • STEP 1: This first step is OPTIONAL, but will give your donuts a greater depth of gorgeous apple flavor! On the stovetop, reduce one cup of apple cider down to one-half cup. Cool the liquid before beginning this recipe.
  • STEP 2: In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs, one by one, mixing well after each addition.
  • STEP 3: Add flour, salt, baking powder, and spices. Mix on low speed until all ingredients are well incorporated. As needed, stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
  • STEP 4: With the mixer running, slowly stream in the apple cider.
Four step-by-step images showing how to make apple cider donuts.

BAKED APPLE CIDER DONUTS

These delicious fall favorites are baked not fried! Continue following this easy recipe for apple cider donuts:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
  2. Grease 2 donut pans with butter, or spray them with cooking spray.
  3. Fill the donut pan cavities to 2/3 full. Do not overfill!
  4. Bake for 15 minutes or until done. Cool in pan for 4-5 minutes.
A USA donut pan filled with batter for baked apple cider donuts.

COAT THE DONUTS

  1. Melt the butter.
  2. In a bowl, mix the granulated sugar and cinnamon.
  3. Brush each donut with butter.
  4. Dredge in sugar/cinnamon mixture.
Ramekin of melted butter next to a small bowl filled with cinnamon and granulated sugar.

EXPERT TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS

    • FOR THE ROBUST FLAVOR OF JUST-PICKED APPLES: Reduce one cup apple cider down to 1/2 cup. On the stovetop, simmer the cider in a small saucepan over low heat for 15-20 minutes. Transfer the liquid to a freezer-safe bowl. Cool it in the freezer for 10 minutes before adding it to the donut batter. Another option: use thick, pourable, apple cider concentrate (boiled cider syrup).
    • USE GROUND MACE if you have it! After all, it’s the primary flavor of donut-shop favorites. Because nutmeg is pretty close, it’s a great substitute for mace in most donut recipes, including this one.
    • HOW TO FILL DONUT PANS: Transfer batter to a large zip-top bag. Snip a corner of the bag. Pipe batter into donut pan cavities.
    • HOW TO KEEP SURFACE OF BAKED DONUTS SMOOTH: After removing donuts from the pan, cool on a baking tray. A cooling rack would leave unwanted marks across the surface!
    • CAN APPLE CIDER DONUTS BE FROZEN? Yes! This is the perfect recipe for freezing. Store them in the freezer for up to 6 weeks.
    • NO DONUT PAN? NO PROBLEM! Prep two muffin pans with cupcake liners. Fill each cavity 3/4 full. Bake at 350°F for about 18 minutes, or until a cake tester run through the middle of two separate muffins comes out clean. Makes one dozen apple cider donut muffins.
    • HOW TO BAKE APPLE CIDER DONUTS IN MINI DONUT PANS: Grease the pans. Fill the cavities 2/3 full with batter. Bake at 350°F for 8-9 minutes. Makes 48 mini donuts.
    Five apple cider donuts stacked vertically on a tray with one donut leaning against the stack.

    I WANT WHAT SHE HAS

    It’s happiness in the kitchen when you have beautiful, high-quality kitchen tools! Here’s what I used to make this scrumptious recipe:

    RATE THIS RECIPE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    This recipe produces the best apple cider donuts. They’re so darn tasty! Rate this recipe in the comments below.

    Gold Line: Sprinkles of Inspiration | confettiandbliss.com

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Apple cider donuts stacked vertically on a small white plate.

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

★★★★★

5 from 17 reviews
Print Recipe

Description

Apple cider donuts are a fall favorite! Baked not fried, they’re lightly brushed with butter then sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. These are the farm-style donuts sold apple-orchard bakeries throughout the country.

Ingredients

Scale

DONUT BATTER

  • 10 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup light-brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground mace OR ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup apple cider*

COATING FOR DONUTS

  • 6 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

RECIPE PREP: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease the wells of two donut pans with butter, or spray them with cooking spray.

  1. Cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and eggs one by one, mixing well after each addition.
  2. Add flour, salt, baking powder, and spices. Mix on low speed until all ingredients are well incorporated. As needed, stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
  3. With your mixer running, slowly stream in the apple cider.
  4. Fill the donut pan cavities to 2/3 full. Bake for 15 minutes or until done. Allow donuts to cool in the pan for 4-5 minutes. Transfer to a baking tray.
  5. Melt 6 tablespoons butter. In a bowl, mix granulated sugar and cinnamon. While the donuts are still warm, brush them with melted butter. Dip them into the cinnamon sugar.

Equipment

Notes

EXPERT TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS

  • FOR THE ROBUST FLAVOR OF JUST-PICKED APPLES: Reduce one cup apple cider down to 1/2 cup. On the stovetop, simmer the cider in a small saucepan over low heat for 15-20 minutes. Transfer the liquid to a freezer-safe bowl. Cool it in the freezer for 10 minutes before adding it to the donut batter. Another option: use thick, pourable, apple cider concentrate (boiled cider syrup).
  • USE GROUND MACE if you have it! After all, it’s the primary flavor of donut-shop favorites. Because nutmeg is pretty close, it’s a great substitute for mace in most donut recipes, including this one.
  • HOW TO FILL DONUT PANS: Transfer batter to a large zip-top bag. Snip a corner of the bag. Pipe batter into donut pan cavities.
  • HOW TO KEEP SURFACE OF BAKED DONUTS SMOOTH: After removing donuts from the pan, cool on a baking tray. A cooling rack would leave unwanted marks across the surface!
  • CAN APPLE CIDER DONUTS BE FROZEN? Yes they can! This is the perfect recipe for freezing. Store them in the freezer for up to 6 weeks.
  • NO DONUT PAN? NO PROBLEM! Prep two muffin pans with cupcake liners. Fill each cavity 3/4 full. Bake at 350°F for about 18 minutes, or until a cake tester run through the middle of two separate muffins comes out clean. Makes one dozen apple cider donut muffins.
  • HOW TO BAKE APPLE CIDER DONUTS IN MINI DONUT PANS: Grease the pans. Fill the cavities 2/3 full with batter. Bake at 350°F for 8-9 minutes. Makes 48 mini donuts.
  • Prep Time: 20 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 Minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Apple Cider Donuts, Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Gold Line: Sprinkles of Inspiration | confettiandbliss.com

BAKED APPLE CIDER DONUTS > JOIN THE CONVERSATION

When was the last time you enjoyed a freshly-baked apple cider donut? Was it from a rural road-side stand? Share your favorite fall traditions in the comments below!

31 thoughts on “Baked Apple Cider Donuts”

  2. This is what I love about the Fall. So many baked treats that have awesome flavor and the family enjoys them too. I will definitely keep this recipe! The donuts would go well with your fave cup of coffee or tea!

    Reply

  7. These donuts look amazing. It’s been awhile since I have made donuts before. I’m really looking forward to trying this recipe.

    Reply

  11. Baked apple cider donuts sound incredible. We can get these only in the fall around here, I’d like to make them other times. Thanks to you and your recipe, they can be a year long treat!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  29. These are seriously delicious looking donuts! I love that you baked them and not fried. I can’t wait to try them and I bet they will taste fantastic@!! Cheers

    ★★★★★

    Reply

  31. These bring back fond memories of living back east. Every Fall we’d head to the town Apple Harvest Festival. There they would have delicious apple cider donuts! I’m excited to try this recipe with my family and pretend we are back at the Apple Harvest Festival!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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