Spiced Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Classic Apple Cider Donuts that are baked instead of fried. Buttery donuts with crisp apple cider flavor and warm apple pie spices. The perfect way to kick off fall baking.

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Baked Apple Cider Donuts

These donuts are so easy and fun to make. The apple cider is reduced for a stronger apple cider flavor and the donuts are loaded with apple pie spice. This is a recipe that will get you excited for fall. Adapted from the New York Times recipe, I made a couple changes to up the apple flavor and I love the results.

Apple Cider Donut Ingredients

• Apple Cider – reduced by half to intensify the flavor.
• All-Purpose Flour – use the spoon and sweep method to measure flour for best results
• Salt – table salt
• Apple Pie Spice – can substitute a mix of cinnamon and nutmeg
• Unsalted Butter
• Dark Brown Sugar
• Granulated Sugar
• Large Eggs
• Pure Vanilla Extract

What Pan to Use

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To get the classic donut shape, you will need a donut pan. If you overfill a donut pan, the donuts come out looking like little bundt cakes. So if you want the classic donut shape, make sure you don’t overfill. I tested out three different donut pans with this recipe and my favorite are these deeper donut pans. They make a more classic donut shape.

I also liked this fancier donut pan. The donuts from the fancy pan are quite a bit smaller and are pictured at the end of the post. If you use that pan, be sure to reduce cooking time. The smaller pan will make more of the smaller donuts. Finally, you can also use a muffin pan!

How to Make Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for full directions.

1. Start by reducing apple cider to intensify the flavor.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and apple pie spice in a medium sized bowl.
3. Beat butter, sugar, brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add eggs and vanilla.
4. Add dry ingredients, then stream in apple cider reduction.
5. Use a gallon size baggie to pipe donut batter into mold and bake.
6. Once donuts have cooled for five minutes, brush with hot butter and dip in apple spiced sugar mixture.

Recipe Tips

• For a classic donut shape, only fill the pan half full.
• Transfer donut batter to a gallon sized baggie and snip the end for the quickest way to fill the donut pan.
• If you don’t have apple pie spice, you can use just cinnamon, or a mixture of cinnamon and nutmeg.
• Cooking time will vary depending on oven and type of pan used. Darker colored pans will brown quicker than light colored pans.

5 from 2 votes

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Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

35 mins

 

Classic Apple Cider Donuts that are baked instead of fried. Buttery donuts with crisp apple cider flavor and warm apple pie spices. The perfect way to kick off fall baking.

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Apple Cider Donuts, Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Servings: 15

Calories: 259 kcal

Author: Melissa

Ingredients

Apple Cider Donuts

• 1 cup apple cider reduced to 1/2 cup
• 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Donut Topping

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
• non stick cooking spray

Instructions

For the Donuts

1. Start by reducing one cup of apple cider to 1/2 a cup. Set aside to cool. Preheat oven to 350° and place oven rack in middle position. Spray donut pans with non stick cooking spray.

2. In medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and apple pie spice.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, use the paddle attachment to beat together butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Add eggs, one at time until well incorporated and add vanilla extract. Scrape down sides of bowl to make sure everything is evenly combined.

4. Add in flour mixture and mix just until combined, then stream in reduced apple cider. Transfer donut batter to gallon sized plastic baggie. Snip the corner and pipe into donut pan. Fill each donut about half way. Bake at 350° for 15-18 minutes. Donuts should be a light golden brown and spring back when lightly touched.

5. While donuts are baking, melt butter for topping and stir together sugar and apple pie spice. Let donuts cool for about 5 minutes after baking, then brush with hot butter and dip in apple spiced sugar mixture.

Recipe Notes

This recipe makes slightly more than 12 donuts. You can use the remaining batter in muffin tins or mini muffin tins. I like to use a mini donut pan to make a few extra mini donuts. Muffins will bake about the same amount of time, mini muffins or mini donuts, will bake for about 12 minutes. 

Nutrition Facts

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Amount Per Serving

Calories 259 Calories from Fat 117

% Daily Value*

Fat 13g20%

Saturated Fat 8g50%

Trans Fat 0.5g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 3g

Cholesterol 57mg19%

Sodium 132mg6%

Potassium 95mg3%

Carbohydrates 34g11%

Fiber 0.5g2%

Sugar 22g24%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 410IU8%

Vitamin C 0.2mg0%

Calcium 36mg4%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.