These easy baked apple cider donuts are to die for. They are crispy on the outside, fluffed and doughy on the inside and they will get you pumped for fall weather. You can taste the apple spice and cider in every melt in your mouth bite. They are made with dairy free ingredients.
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Why Make These Baked Apple Cider Donuts
They aren't deep fried so you won't need to feel any type of way indulging in these morsels. They are easy to make, and they are sweetened to perfection with apple cider. Nothing compares to these donuts on the weekend with a strong cup of coffee. I personally couldn't stop with one, they were that amazing. Plus, your house will smell like fall.
These donuts are friends and family approved, everyone loves them, they are fluffy and crisped to perfection.
Ingredients Needed
Apple Cider. You can use apple cider or apple juice with a dash of cinnamon. This is the main flavor to these delicious donuts.
Flour. You will need all purpose flour for these donuts. They are baked but they end up nice and fluffy.
Spices. Apple Spice seasoning, cinnamon, nutmeg
Almond Milk. Or any milk of choice.
Recipe Variations
Apple Cider. If you can't find apple cider, use apple juice. I typically buy the small individual juices so they don't spoil if you don't use it all up.
All Purpose Flour. You can sub all purpose gluten free flour if you need to make these gluten free.
Almond Milk. Oat milk, soy milk or cows milk will work great with these donuts.
To Make These Dairy Free: use plant based butter and almond milk.
Steps To Make This Recipe
Step One. Simmer the apple cider in a small saucepan over low heat until it reduces to 1/2 cup. Check it every 10 minutes it typically takes 15 - 20 minutes. Leave the seasoning deposits in the juice and let it cool to the side while you prep everything else.
Step Two. Set oven to 350º. In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, apple pie spice, cinnamon, nutmeg together in a large bowl.
Step Three. In a medium bowl, mix melted butter, egg, brown sugar, granulated sugar, almond milk, vanilla extract together. Pour into the dry ingredients, add the reduced apple cider. Stir everything together until it's well mixed.
Step Four. Grease a donut pan well with vegetable shortening or oil. Either spoon the batter into the donut molds or pour batter into a icing bag and pipe the batter into the donut molds. Don't over fill as they will puff up a bit. Bake for 10 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned and a toothpick comes out clean from the middle.
Step Five. While the donuts are baking, melt the extra butter in a medium bowl. Mix granulated sugar, cinnamon and apple pie spice in another medium bowl. Once donuts are finished let them cool and set for about 5 minutes. You can also place on a cooling rack. Grease and fill the donut pan again to bake the next batch.
Step Six. Dunk both sides of each cooked donut in the melted butter, then generously in the apple spice topping, set on to parchment paper and continue. Enjoy!
Store leftovers in an airtight container or bag on the counter for up to 4 days. You can freeze these for up to 2 months.
FAQs & Tips
If you can't find apple cider, grab apple juice and adda dash of cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg before simmering.
These can easily be made dairy free with nut milk and a vegan butter. You can also use dairy milk or dairy butter if not dairy free.
Baked apple cider donuts are a healthier alternative to traditional fried donuts. They are baked in the oven, which means they are not submerged in hot oil, making them lower in calories and fat. They have a different texture, typically denser and less crispy than fried donuts.
If you don't have a donut pan, you can still make baked apple cider donuts by using a muffin tin. Simply shape the batter into muffin cups, and they will have a similar flavor, just in a different form.
Yes, you can make the batter ahead of time and refrigerate it for a few hours or overnight. Then, when you're ready to bake, simply fill the donut pans and bake them fresh. This can save time, especially if you're making them for a special occasion.
Apple Cider Donut Tips
Don't Overmix The Batter. Over mixing can result in tough or dense donuts. Mix the batter until the ingredients are just combined. It's okay if there are a few lumps, it will all work well.
Grease the Donut Pan Really Well. Even if you're using a non-stick donut pan, it's a good idea to grease it with butter or cooking spray to ensure the donuts come out easily and don't break.
If you use apply juice instead of cider, just add a dash of cinnamon to boost the flavors a bit before you begin to reduce the liquid.
Other Sweet Treat Recipes To Enjoy
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Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Equipment
- donut pan or muffin tin
Ingredients
For Donuts
- 1½ cup apple cider *see notes
- 2 cup all purpose flour *see notes for substitute
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- 2 tsp apple spice *optional
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- ½ cup almond milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 egg
Donut Topping
- 5 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 tsp apple pie spice
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup white granulated sugar
Instructions
- Simmer the apple cider in a small saucepan over low heat until it reduces to about 1/2 cup. Check it every 10 minutes it typically takes 15 - 20 minutes, it should be slightly thicker and more flavorful. Leave the seasoning deposits in the juice and let it cool to the side while you prep everything else
- Set oven to 350º. In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, apple pie spice, cinnamon, nutmeg together in a large bowl.
- In a medium bowl, mix melted butter, egg, brown sugar, granulated sugar, almond milk, vanilla extract together. Pour into the dry ingredients, add the reduced apple cider. Stir everything together until it's well mixed. The batter may be slightly thick.
- Grease a donut pan well with vegetable shortening or oil. Either carefully spoon the batter into the donut molds or pour batter into an icing bag and pipe the batter into the donut molds. Don't over fill as they will puff up a bit. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned. Check with a toothpick to ensure it comes out clean.
- While they are baking, melt the butter in a medium bowl. Mix the granulated sugar, cinnamon and apple pie spice in another medium bowl. Once donuts are finished let them cool for about 5 minutes or place on a cooling rack. Grease and fill the donut pan (if needed) again to bake the next batch.
- Combine the granulated sugar, cinnamon, and apple pie spice together in a medium bowl. Dunk both sides of each cooked donut in the melted butter, then generously in the sugar topping, set on to parchment paper and continue. Enjoy!
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