12 servings

Apple Cider Donuts

Recipe by: True Taste Buds

This easy Apple Cider Donuts Recipe delivers that perfect bakery-style flavor right in your own kitchen. There is nothing quite like a warm, cinnamon-sugar coated treat fresh from the oven on a crisp autumn morning.

★★★★★ 4.87 from 281 votes
PREP TIME 20 mins
COOK TIME 20 mins
TOTAL TIME 40 mins
SERVINGS 12
Apple Cider Donuts

Ingredients

  • 2 cups apple cider
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar, divided
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and divided
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Remaining granulated sugar
  • Remaining ground cinnamon
  • Remaining melted unsalted butter
  • 4 cups vegetable oil (for the optional frying method)

Instructions

  1. Boil the cider in a small saucepan until it reduces down to half a cup. Let it cool completely before using.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices.
  3. Beat the melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until it looks like wet sand. Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until smooth.
  4. Alternate adding the dry flour mixture and the reduced apple cider milk mixture to the butter. Stir gently just until the batter comes together.
  5. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour so the dough becomes firm enough to handle.
  6. Turn the dough out onto a heavily floured surface and pat it to about half an inch thick. Use a donut cutter to stamp out your rings and holes.
  7. Heat the vegetable oil in a heavy pot to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Fry a few donuts at a time for about two minutes per side until golden brown.
  8. Let the donuts drain on a wire rack for one minute. Toss them generously in the cinnamon sugar mixture while they are still warm.

Notes

Do not skip the chilling process, or your dough will be incredibly sticky and fall apart when you try to cut out the shapes. Overmixing your dough will consistently lead to tough and dense donuts. Store leftover donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days.

Nutrition

Calories: 280 kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 150mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g