Description

Soft, cakey donuts bursting with real apple cider flavor, coated in cinnamon sugar or maple glaze. A cozy, easy-to-make treat perfect for autumn weekends.

Ingredients

Scale

3 cups (720ml) 100% pure cold-pressed apple cider
½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
½ cup (100g) brown sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
For Cinnamon Sugar Coating: ½ cup granulated sugar + 1 tablespoon cinnamon
For Optional Maple Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar + 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup + 1 teaspoon milk or cream
Oil for frying (vegetable, canola, or peanut oil)

Instructions

Pour 3 cups of apple cider into a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 30-45 minutes until reduced to about ½ cup of thick, syrupy liquid. Let cool completely.
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a donut pan generously with butter or non-stick spray. If frying, heat oil to 350°F (175°C) in a heavy skillet.
In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and both sugars together until light and fluffy (3-4 minutes).
Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract and the cooled cider reduction.
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.
Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing on low speed or by hand until just combined. Do not overmix.
Fill donut pan holes about ¾ full with batter. If frying, spoon small balls of batter into hot oil, frying 2-3 at a time.
For baking: Bake for 10-12 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. For frying: Fry for 1-2 minutes per side until golden brown.
Let donuts cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Roll in cinnamon sugar while slightly warm, or dip in maple glaze once completely cool.

Notes

Do not skip the cider reduction step as it concentrates flavor. Ensure ingredients are at room temperature for best texture. Do not overmix the batter to avoid tough donuts. Coat donuts while slightly warm for better sugar adhesion.

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 donut
Calories: 220
Sugar: 22
Sodium: 250
Fat: 8
Saturated Fat: 5
Carbohydrates: 35
Fiber: 1
Protein: 3

Keywords: apple cider donuts, fall recipe, autumn baking, cozy weekend, cinnamon sugar donuts, maple glaze, homemade donuts