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Best Baked Apple Cider Donuts (Easy Homemade Recipe)

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These Baked Apple Cider Donuts are soft, tender, and coated in a cinnamon-sugar shell. Made with reduced apple cider for deep, authentic flavor, they’re quick to make and perfect for fall mornings.

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
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup buttermilk, at room temperature
  • For the Cinnamon-Sugar Coating:
  • 3–4 tablespoons melted butter
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Reduce the apple cider: Pour 1 cup of apple cider into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until reduced to about ¼ cup, about 12-15 minutes. Stir occasionally. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a donut pan with non-stick spray.
  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 separate medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, egg, vanilla extract, buttermilk, and the reduced apple cider syrup until smooth.
  5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix; a few lumps are fine.
  6. Transfer batter to a piping bag or sturdy Ziploc bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe batter into the prepared donut cavities, filling each about ⅔ to ¾ full.
  7. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the thickest part comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack.
  8. While donuts are still warm, melt 3-4 tablespoons of butter in a small bowl. In a separate shallow bowl, whisk together ½ cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon.
  9. Working one at a time, brush the top and sides of each warm donut with melted butter, then immediately dip or roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat. Place coated donuts back on the cooling rack to set.

Notes

Don’t skip the cider reduction—it’s key for deep apple flavor. Use room temperature ingredients to prevent the butter from seizing. Coat donuts while warm but not hot for best adherence. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Freeze uncoated donuts for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://lunafeast.com/best-baked-apple-cider-donuts-easy-homemade-recipe/