Fall is just around the corner and that means one thing: apple season! What better way to celebrate than with a delicious batch of baked apple cider donuts?
In this blog post, we’ll look at an easy recipe for baked apple cider donuts. This recipe produces a decadent donut that is perfect for autumn. The cinnamon sugar topping pairs perfectly with the moist, cake-like batter. Best of all, these donuts are baked, not fried, so you can feel good about indulging in a few!
Let’s get started!
About Baked Apple Cider Donuts
There are two types of people in this world: those who love donuts, and those who haven’t tried a baked apple cider donut yet.
Baked apple cider donuts are a fall favorite for many reasons. First, they taste amazing. The combination of apples and cinnamon is unbeatable.
They’re sweet and savory, and have a nice cake-like, dense texture. Perfect for getting cozy in autumn!
Second, they’re relatively easy to make. Baked donuts require no deep frying, so you can avoid the mess and hassle that comes with making traditional fried doughnuts.
Finally, baked apple cider donuts are a healthier alternative to their fried counterparts. Because they’re baked, these donuts contain less fat and fewer calories than their fried counterparts.
So, if you’re looking for a delicious treat that won’t sabotage your diet, look no further than baked apple cider donuts!
How to Make Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Now that we’ve whet your appetite, let’s look at how to make these delicious donuts.
The Ingredients You Will Need
The first step is to gather your ingredients. For this recipe, you’ll need:
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
- 1 and ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon of ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon of ground cardamom
- ½ cup of granulated sugar
- ½ cup of light brown sugar
- 1 and ½ cups of concentrated apple cider
- 2 Tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup of milk
- 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
For the Topping:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon of ground cardamom
- 6 Tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted
Step by Step on How to Make Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Now that you’ve gathered the ingredients, it’s time to begin. Making these donuts is easy! Simply follow these steps:
Making the Donuts
- Begin by grabbing a small saucepan and pouring your apple cider into it. Heat the apple cider over medium-high heat. Bring the cider to a simmer and cook until it is reduced by half. This could take as little as 10 minutes or as much as 20 minutes, or possibly more. Keep an eye on it and stir occasionally until it reaches the correct amount. Then set the cider aside to cool.
- After that, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then grease your donut pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- Next, you’ll mix the dry ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and salt. In another bowl, mix the granulated sugar and the light brown sugar.
- Then it’s time to mix in the wet ingredients, one at a time. Add the melted butter to the sugar mixture. Stir until it’s well combined. Then add the egg, milk, and pure vanilla extract to the mixture and stir it well.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, including the cooled cider, and stir the whole mixture until it is fully incorporated. Now you have your dough! It should appear to be slightly thick.
- Next, use a spoon to fill a piping bag or a ziploc bag with the batter. Cut off the tip of the bag and pipe the batter into the donut pan, filling each cavity about ¾ of the way full.
- Bake the donuts for about 12 to 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into a donut comes out clean. Then remove the donuts from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before turning them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Making the Cinnamon Sugar Topping
The final step is to prepare your cinnamon sugar topping.
Here is what you’ll do:
Simply whisk the granulated sugar, cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cardamom, and melted butter together in a small bowl. The end result should be of a grainy texture.
Once the donuts are cooled, you can dip them in the mixture or sprinkle it on top. Enjoy!
Expert Tips for Making Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Baked apple cider donuts are a delicious, healthier alternative to their fried counterparts. And now you know how to make them! Here are a few more expert tips to get you the very best baked apple cider donuts possible.
Use Apple Cider Spice
Instead of the combo of nutmeg, cardamom, and a hint of cinnamon, you can simply use apple cider spice. It cuts down on the amount of ingredients you’ll need. Just a note about that, though–if you use apple cider spice, eliminate nutmeg and cardamom from the recipe, but only slightly reduce the amount of cinnamon in the recipe.
Use Concentrated Apple Cider
For the best flavor, use concentrated apple cider. That is the secret to a great apple cider donut! However, if you can’t find any, you can substitute with store-bought apple cider or apple juice.
Reduce the Cider
Be sure to reduce the cider before adding it to the batter. This step concentrates the flavors even more and prevents the donuts from becoming too soggy.
Prepare the Donut Batter Ahead of Time
To get a jump start on this recipe, you can prepare the batter the night before and refrigerate it overnight. Just be sure to bring it to room temperature before baking.
Eat Your Apple Cider Donuts Right Away
Baked apple cider donuts are best enjoyed fresh, but they will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Frequently Asked Questions about Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Congratulations! Now you know how to make these delicious donuts. Next, let’s answer some common questions asked when people create this recipe.
Can I freeze baked apple cider donuts?
Yes! Baked apple cider donuts freeze well. Just place them in a freezer-safe bag or container and store them for up to three months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator and reheat them in the oven for a few minutes.
Can I make these donuts without a donut pan?
Yes! If you don’t have a donut pan, you can use a muffin tin. Or you can make your own DIY donut pan by forming donut shaped bowls of aluminum foil and placing them on a cookie sheet. In either the muffin tin or the homemade donut pans, just fill each cavity about ¾ of the way full and bake for 12 to 15 minutes.
How long do apple cider donuts keep?
Apple cider donuts don’t keep a super long time–but then again, they’re so yummy that you’ll want to eat them quickly anyway! They are best enjoyed fresh, but they will keep at room temperature for up to 2 days and in the fridge for up to 5 days. Either way, be sure to use an airtight container to preserve them longer.
Can you make gluten free apple cider donuts?
Yes! Making these baked apple cider donuts gluten free is very simple and easy. Just substitute the all-purpose flour for gluten free all-purpose flour and check the donuts as they bake in case their cook time changes.
Can you make these donuts without eggs?
Yes! Fortunately, baked apple cider donuts can be made without eggs. Just replace the eggs in the recipe with an equivalent amount of a suitable egg substitute. Just be sure to watch them as they cook, since an egg substitute could slightly alter the donuts’ consistency and baking time.
What is the difference between cake and yeast donuts?
Cake donuts are made with a simple batter of flour, milk, eggs, butter or oil, sugar, baking powder, and a touch of salt. Yeast donuts are made with a dough that is enriched with milk and eggs and contains leavening in the form of yeast.
Both types of donuts can be baked, but cake donuts are denser and have a more compact crumb, while yeast donuts are fluffy and airy. These apple cider donuts would be considered cake donuts.
In Conclusion
There you have it! An easy recipe for delicious baked apple cider donuts. Donut recipes like this one don’t come around all the time–this one is worth the wait.
Be sure to give this recipe a try this fall and let us know how you like it! It’s sure to get you snuggled up by the fire on a crisp, chilly morning, enjoying your donuts with a great big cup of joe.
Do you have any favorite fall recipes? Let us know in the comments below. Happy baking!
