Homemade Baked Apple Cider Donuts – Easy Recipe

This easy recipe for Baked Apple Cider Donuts using fresh ingredients and tangy apple cider with a cinnamon sugar coating!

I originally intended to post this recipe in September, but I just can’t wait any longer! I’m so ready for fall, I’m sharing this Baked Apple Cider Donut recipe a bit early. It’s dang near 100 degrees outside here in Missouri, but fall is just around the corner. I’m ready for recipes with cinnamon and apple flavor!

My son and I take a visit to the apple orchard every year. While we always do some apple picking, but I have to admit that we both just use it as an excuse to get some fresh apple cider doughnuts! These doughnuts at the orchards are usually a cake donut, but still have a light and fluffy texture. Most of them are rolled in cinnamon sugar (like this one), but some have an apple cider glaze, which is also delicious.

Here in Kansas City, most of the orchards are at least 30 minutes away from our house. This Apple Cider Donut recipe is a great way to get that apple cider flavor at home without the crowds. All you need is a doughnut pan and a few basic ingredients!

I prefer to bake donuts. It’s less work and WAY less mess than frying them and dealing with hot oil!

Recipe Substitutions and Additions

• If you don’t have a donut pan, you can try making donut holes! Use a greased muffin tin and place balls of dough in the bottom of each muffin cavity, or a prepared baking sheet.
• Instead of the cinnamon and nutmeg, feel free to use apple pie spice.
• Instead of apple cider, feel free to use apple juice.
• Instead of the sour cream, feel free to use plain Greek yogurt.

Serving Suggestions

I think these apple cider donuts are perfect for a fall breakfast! Double up on the fall flavors by serving alongside other yummy fall treats like my Baked Pumpkin Spice Donuts, these yummy Pumpkin Maple Scones or Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls!

Add some protein to the mix with my Easy Million Dollar Bacon recipe, or this delicious Sausage Egg Casserole with Tator Tots!

If you have apple butter, it’s absolutely delicious smeared on the top of these donuts when they are warm! You can also sprinkle powdered sugar over the top instead of the cinnamon sugar mixture.

Storing Leftover Apple Donuts

You can store these delicious donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

I hope you really loved these baked apple cider donuts! If you make them, I’d love to hear how it went in the comments below.

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Yield: 12 donuts

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Additional Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Author: Michelle Goth

This easy recipe for Baked Apple Cider Donuts using fresh ingredients and tangy apple cider with a cinnamon sugar coating!

5 from 4 ratings

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Ingredients

 

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• ▢ 1 cup of apple cider, reduced and cooled (see instructions)
• ▢ 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ▢ 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ▢ 2 teaspoons cinnamon, ground
• ▢ 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, ground
• ▢ ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
• ▢ ½ cup white granulated sugar
• ▢ 1 large egg, beaten
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ ½ cup whole milk, or sour cream or plain Greek yogurt

For the Cinnamon Sugar Topping:

• ▢ 1 cup white granulated sugar
• ▢ 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ▢ ½ cup butter, unsalted, melted

Equipment

• ▢
  Wilton Non-Stick 6-Cavity Donut Baking Pans, 2-Count

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a donut pan by greasing with butter or nonstick spray. Set aside.
• In a small sauce pot, make an apple cider reduction by simmering the apple cider over medium high heat until it is reduced to about ½ cup. This will take about 10 minutes of active simmering. Remove from heat and cool until it returns to room temperature.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients, flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, light brown sugar and white sugar until well incorporated.
• In a separate bowl, combine wet ingredients, egg, vanilla milk and cooled cider reduction.
• Slowly mix flour mixture into wet ingredients. Stir just until combined. Batter will be thick.
• Scoop or pipe the donut batter into the prepared baking pan, filling each mold halfway full. Gently pat the sides of the donut tray to help the batter level out.
• Bake for 10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Turn out the doughnuts onto a wire rack or parchment paper to cool.
• While the doughnuts are cooling, prepare the cinnamon sugar coating by mixing the white sugar with cinnamon.
• Dip each cooled doughnut in the melted butter and then into the cinnamon sugar mixture.
• Serve warm with chilled apple cider.

Serving: 1donut, Calories: 298kcal, Carbohydrates: 53g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 35mg, Sodium: 145mg, Potassium: 81mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 36g, Vitamin A: 275IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 75mg, Iron: 1mg

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I hope you enjoy this fantastic recipe! If you love it, I think you’ll also enjoy:

• Baked Strawberry Donuts
• Baked Pumpkin Donuts
• Air Fryer Glazed Donuts