This recipe is for soft and moist baked apple cider donuts. They're flavored with an apple cider reduction and rolled in cinnamon spice sugar. They're literally fall in breakfast form!
If you're looking for other apple cider recipes check out my apple cider cupcakes and apple cider bread!
Why You'll Love These Baked Apple Cider Donuts:
They're full of fall flavor. They have the perfect blend of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice that compliment the cider flavor exquisitely.
They're super soft and moist. These donuts are super moist due to the sour cream and buttermilk combination. Also, the method used to make the batter makes them super soft. One bite and you'll see what I'm talking about!
They're super easy to make. These baked apple cider donuts are super easy and if you don't count the time it takes to reduce apple cider, they can be whipped up and baked in under 30 minutes!
They're just as good, if not better than fried donuts. Would you believe me if I told you these baked donuts are better than some fried donuts I've had? They really are!
Ingredients for Apple Cider Donuts:
- Apple cider- it will be reduced into a thick syrup
- Flour- all purpose is the best for these baked donuts
- Sugar- equal amounts of light brown sugar and granulated sugar give these donuts the best texture
- Buttermilk- helps these donuts stay super moist
- Sour cream- also helps the donuts very moist
- Butter- make sure it is softened
- Eggs- whole eggs will be used in the donut batter
- Baking soda & powder- helps these donuts to rise
- Ground spices- cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice bring warm, fall flavors to these donuts
- Vanilla- as always, I recommend vanilla bean paste for the best flavor
Step by Step Instructions
STEP ONE: Start by adding 3 cups of apple cider to a sauce pan over medium low heat. Bring it to a simmer and stir occasionally until it has reduced down to ½ cup. It will take some time, around 20 minutes. Let the cider reduction cool before using it in the donut batter.
STEP TWO: In a large bowl cream ½ cup +2 tablespoon of softened butter together with ¾ cup of granulated sugar and ¾ cup of packed, light brown sugar.
STEP THREE: Add in 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon of vanilla and mix for 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy. Next add in ½ cup of buttermilk, ½ cup of sour cream and the ½ cup of apple cider reduction and mix.
STEP FOUR: In a small bowl sift together 2 ¼ cups of flour, 1 ½ teaspoon of baking powder, ¼ teaspoon of baking soda, ½ teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon of ground allspice. Then add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until completely combined.
STEP FIVE: Grease a donut baking pan. Transfer the donut batter to a piping bag and cut about ½ inch opening on the bottom. Pipe the donut batter into the donut pan, ¾ of the way full.
STEP SIX: Bake the donuts at 350 degrees for 12-13 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center. Let them cool for a few minutes in the pan and then on a cooling rack until cool enough to handle.
STEP SEVEN: Melt ¼ cup of butter in a small bowl. In a separate bowl mix together 1 cup of granulated sugar, 2 teaspoon of cinnamon, ½ teaspoon of nutmeg and ¼ teaspoon of allspice. Brush each donut with the melted butter and then roll in the spiced sugar. Serve right away!
FAQs
Can I fry these? No, this batter is specifically for baked donuts, not fried.
How long do these stay fresh for? They'll stay fresh for up to three days in an air tight container.
Can these be made gluten free? I don't specialize in gluten free baking, so these were only tested with regular flour. I'm not sure if they'd come out the same.
Pro Tips
Make sure all your wet ingredients are room temperature. You'll have the best textured donuts when the ingredients are room temperature instead of cold. Cold wet ingredients can make any kind of cake batter/donut batter "gummy".
If you're planning on making my other apple cider desserts this fall I recommend just reducing a bunch of apple cider all at once and keeping the reduced syrup in the fridge for when you want to make something! It'll really come in handy! A good ratio for reduction is 3 cups reduced down to ½ cup, 6 cups down to 1 cup, 9 cups reduced to 1 ½ cups etc.
If you make these donuts tag me on Instagram @inbloombakery_ so I can see! Also follow me on Pinterest for other dessert ideas!
Other recipes to try:
Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
📖 Recipe
Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Ingredients
For the Donut Batter
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoon unsalted, softened butter
- ¾ cup granulated white sugar
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- 2 eggs at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup buttermilk at room temperature
- ½ cup sour cream at room temperature
- 3 cups apple cider (to be reduced to ½ cup)
- 2 ¼ cups flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
For the Spiced Sugar Topping
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
Instructions
For the Donuts
- Start by adding 3 cups of apple cider to a sauce pan over medium low heat. Bring it to a simmer and stir occasionally until it has reduced down to ½ cup. It will take some time, around 20 minutes. Let the cider reduction cool before using it in the donut batter.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Add ½ cup + 2 tablespoon of softened butter, ¾ cup of granulated white sugar and ¾ cup of packed, light brown sugar to a large bowl. Cream together with an electric mixer.
- Then add in 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon of vanilla and mix for 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Next add in ½ cup of buttermilk, ½ cup of sour cream and the ½ cup of apple cider reduction and combine.
- In a small bowl sift together 2 ¼ cups of flour, 1 ½ teaspoon of baking powder, ¼ teaspoon of baking soda, ½ teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon of ground allspice.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until completely combined.
- Grease a donut baking pan. Transfer the donut batter to a piping bag cut with a ½ inch opening. Pipe the donut batter into the donut pan, ¾ of the way full.
- Bake the donuts for 12-13 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the centers. Let them cool for a few minutes in the pan and then on a cooling rack until cool enough to handle.
For the Spiced Sugar Topping
- Melt ¼ cup of butter in a small bowl.
- In a separate bowl mix together 1 cup of granulated sugar, 2 teaspoon of cinnamon, ½ teaspoon of nutmeg and ¼ teaspoon allspice.
- Brush each donut with the melted butter and then roll in the spiced sugar. Serve right away!
Hi Ginny (also my sister's name).
We don't have fresh apple cider this side of the world. What we usually get is bottled either alcoholic or mon alcoholic (fizzy, not still). Can I use any of these instead? And particular one?
Hi! I have not tried the recipe with either of these so I can't say you'll have the same results. Perhaps apple juice would work. That's the closest thing I can think of to apple cider.
Hi Ginny! Did you use salted or unsalted butter for the recipe?
Hi! Unsalted 🙂
Hi ginny ! How long do these keep for ? I’m trying to prep for thanksgiving but don’t know if I should bake them the day before …
Hey Gina! They are best the day off, but will certainly keep over night!