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Baked Apple Cider Donuts: Best Easy Cinnamon Sugar Recipe

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These baked apple cider donuts are tender, cakey, and coated in a warm cinnamon-sugar mixture. Made with reduced apple cider for intense flavor, they come together in about 30 minutes and are the perfect fall treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup apple cider
  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup granulated sugar (plus more for coating)
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon (plus more for coating)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • 1 large egg
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (plus more for greasing)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • For coating: 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted; ½ cup granulated sugar; 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a standard 6-well donut pan with melted butter or non-stick spray.
  2. Pour 1 cup apple cider into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about ¼ cup. Set aside to cool.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, ½ cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, 1½ teaspoons cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk, egg, 4 tablespoons melted butter, and vanilla extract. Whisk in the cooled reduced cider.
  5. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Fold gently with a rubber spatula until just combined (a few lumps are fine). Do not overmix.
  6. Transfer batter to a piping bag or Ziploc bag with a corner snipped off. Pipe batter into each donut cavity, filling about ¾ full.
  7. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the thickest part comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 2-3 minutes.
  8. While donuts cool, melt 4 tablespoons butter in a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, whisk together ½ cup granulated sugar and 1½ teaspoons cinnamon.
  9. Turn donuts out onto a cooling rack. While still warm, dip each donut in melted butter, then dredge in cinnamon sugar mixture to coat evenly.
  10. Serve warm or at room temperature. Best enjoyed the same day.

Notes

Don’t skip reducing the cider—it concentrates the apple flavor. Mix gently to avoid tough donuts. Coat donuts while still warm for best adherence. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. For dairy-free, use plant-based butter and dairy-free buttermilk substitute.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked apple cider donuts, easy cinnamon sugar donuts, fall donut recipe, baked donuts, apple cider donuts

Find it online: https://sofiaspice.com/baked-apple-cider-donuts-best-easy-cinnamon-sugar-recipe/