Baked Apple Cider Donuts

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These baked apple cider donuts can be made in one bowl and are packed with fall flavors. Grab your donut pan and let’s get baking!

Quick Tips

• You will need to purchase 1-2 donut pans to make this recipe
• Start heating the apple cider early! It will take about 15 minutes to reduce on the stove
• Be sure to thoroughly grease the donut pan each time you use it
• Use a piping bag or pancake batter dispenser to cleanly fill each donut cavity
• As the finished donuts set, the sugar coating will likely soak into the donuts. Save your leftover sugar coating mixture and re-coat them, if desired, before serving them!

Equipment

• Hand or stand mixer
• Mixing bowls
• Saucepan
• Measuring cups
• Silicone spatula
• Donut pan
• Pancake batter dispenser (optional)

Ingredient Notes

• Apple cider – pure apple cider without added flavors is recommended
• Oil – vegetable or canola oil is OK (do NOT use olive oil)
• Brown sugar – light or dark brown sugar is OK
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• All of the other ingredients in this recipe are very common and likely already in your kitchen! (flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, egg, milk, vanilla extract, sugar)

Try these other donut recipes!

• Baked Lemon Raspberry Donuts
• Baked Vanilla Cake Donuts
• Classic Fried Cake Donuts

How to make Apple Cider Donuts

These baked apple cider donuts can be made in just three simple steps!

1. Reduce the apple cider
2. Make the donut batter
3. Bake and coat the donuts

How to reduce the apple cider

In order to get that amazing apple taste to pop through in these baked donuts, you will need to reduce the apple cider in order to concentrate it.

To do this, pour the apple cider into a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat so that it continues to simmer (but not a rolling boil).

Leave it on a simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the cider has reduced to half its volume (¾ cup). Remove from heat and allow it to cool. While you make the rest of the donut batter.

How to make the donut batter

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Pour all of the dry ingredients into a medium mixing bowl (or a stand mixer bowl). These ingredients include flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar and sugar. Lightly whisk the ingredients together.

Add oil, milk, egg and vanilla. Mix the ingredients on medium to low speed using a hand mixer or a stand mixer until they are well combined. Scrape down the bowl once complete.

Add the apple cider (¾ cup total) and mix until combined. Scrape down the bowl to ensure that all of the ingredients are well incorporated.

How to bake and coat the donuts

Thoroughly grease your donut pan. Note: if you use the same pan more than once, re-grease the pan each time.

Next, use a spoon or a piping bag to pour the batter into the donut pan, filling each cavity ~¾ full. I prefer to use my pancake batter dispenser on this step to fill the pan.

Bake them for 15-20 minutes, or until the edges and bottom have browned.

While the donuts bake, prepare your cinnamon sugar coating. In a small-medium bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon.

Prepare a cookie sheet or cooling rack to set the coated donuts on, as you will be covering them as soon as they come out of the oven.

When the donuts have finished baking, immediately remove them from the pan and toss them in the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Then place them on the cookie sheet or cooling rack to cool to room temperature.

*Note: as the donuts sit, the sugar will soak into the donuts. Save your leftover sugar coating mixture and re-coat them, if desired, before serving them!

Try these other apple recipes!

• Caramel Apple Bundt Cake
• Apple Pie Bars
• Apple Crisp Cheesecake Bars