Description
Baked Apple Cider Donuts are soft, spiced cake-style donuts made with reduced apple cider and coated in buttery cinnamon-sugar. A cozy fall treat that’s baked instead of fried, making them easier and lighter while still packed with flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups apple cider (reduced to ½ cup)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup milk
- Additional melted butter (for coating)
- Cinnamon-sugar mixture (for coating)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a donut pan.
- Simmer apple cider in a saucepan over medium heat until reduced to about ½ cup. Let cool.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- In another bowl, whisk melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk, and reduced apple cider.
- Gradually add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Spoon or pipe batter into donut pan, filling each cavity about ¾ full.
- Bake 10–12 minutes, or until donuts spring back when lightly pressed.
- Cool donuts in the pan a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
- While still warm, brush with melted butter and roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat.
Notes
- Reduce apple cider ahead of time for convenience.
- Coat donuts while warm so cinnamon sugar sticks well.
- For freezing, skip coating and add it after reheating.
- Try adding chopped apples, raisins, or using apple pie spice for variation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 donut
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 170mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
