Spiced Apple Cider Donuts (Printable)

Delight in warm donuts infused with apple cider and a blend of autumn spices for a cozy treat.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

09 - 1 cup apple cider
10 - 2/3 cup granulated sugar
11 - 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
12 - 2 large eggs
13 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
14 - 1/2 cup buttermilk
15 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Topping

16 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
17 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
18 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

# How To Make:

01 - Simmer apple cider in a small saucepan over medium heat until reduced to about 1/3 cup, approximately 10 to 12 minutes. Allow to cool.
02 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 6-cavity donut pans thoroughly.
03 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and salt until evenly distributed.
04 - In a large bowl, whisk reduced apple cider, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, melted butter, buttermilk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
05 - Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture until just combined, taking care not to overmix.
06 - Spoon or pipe batter evenly into prepared pans, filling each cavity approximately three-quarters full.
07 - Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until donuts spring back when lightly pressed and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
08 - Allow donuts to cool in pans for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Combine sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl. Dip warm donuts into melted butter, then coat evenly with cinnamon sugar. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It sneaks in the cozy flavors of apple cider and autumn spices, creating a secret hug in donut form
  • The texture is just right—soft on the inside with a delicate crisp exterior, perfect for dunking in your morning coffee
02 -
  • Don’t skip reducing the cider—this step transforms the flavor from watery to richly spiced and sweet
  • Overmixing the batter makes the donuts tough; gentle folding keeps them tender and soft
03 -
  • Use a piping bag for evenly filled cavities; it ensures all donuts bake uniformly and look pretty
  • The cinnamon sugar topping is best applied while the donuts are still warm so it sticks perfectly

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