Spiced Apple Cider Donuts (Print)

Soft, fragrant apple cider donuts finished with sweet cinnamon glaze—ideal for cozy mornings or gatherings.

# Ingredients:

→ Donuts

01 - 1 cup apple cider
02 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
03 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
09 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
10 - 2/3 cup granulated sugar
11 - 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
12 - 2 large eggs
13 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
14 - 1/2 cup whole milk
15 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Cinnamon Glaze

16 - 1 cup powdered sugar
17 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
18 - 2-3 tablespoons apple cider, as needed for consistency

# Instructions:

01 - In a small saucepan, simmer 1 cup of apple cider over medium heat until reduced to 1/3 cup. This should take approximately 10 minutes. Set aside to cool completely.
02 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a standard donut pan.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground allspice, and ground cloves until thoroughly combined.
04 - In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, light brown sugar, large eggs, melted and cooled unsalted butter, the reduced apple cider, whole milk, and pure vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well incorporated.
05 - Gently pour the wet ingredients into the bowl containing the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined, taking care not to overmix the batter.
06 - Spoon or pipe the donut batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each cavity approximately 3/4 full.
07 - Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the donuts are golden brown, spring back when lightly touched, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
08 - Allow the baked donuts to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
09 - In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and ground cinnamon. Gradually add the apple cider, one tablespoon at a time, while whisking, until a smooth, pourable glaze consistency is achieved.
10 - Dip the tops of the completely cooled donuts into the cinnamon glaze. Place them back on the wire rack to allow the glaze to set before serving.

# Pro Tips:

01 -
  • Ready in just 40 minutes from start to finish
  • Uses simple pantry ingredients with fresh apple cider as the star
  • Baked not fried making them lighter than traditional donuts
  • Perfect make ahead treat for weekend brunches or holiday gatherings
02 -
  • These donuts contain significantly more real apple flavor than store bought versions
  • The recipe works perfectly in mini donut pans just reduce baking time to 8 minutes
  • Can be made ahead and frozen unglazed for up to 3 months
03 -
  • The temperature of your ingredients matters tremendously for this recipe. Room temperature eggs and properly cooled melted butter will incorporate more evenly resulting in a better textured donut. I learned this through many batches of trial and error before achieving consistent results.
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