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Easy Baked Apple Cider Donuts: Best Cinnamon Sugar Recipe

baked apple cider donuts - featured image
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These baked apple cider donuts are soft, cakey, and coated in cinnamon sugar. Made with reduced apple cider for intense flavor, they’re quick, easy, and perfect for cozy fall mornings or holiday brunches.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup apple cider (unfiltered is best)
  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly grated preferred)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup buttermilk, room temperature (or ½ cup milk mixed with ½ tablespoon lemon juice)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar (for coating)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon (for coating)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (for brushing)

Instructions

  1. Reduce the apple cider: Pour the cider into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about ¼ cup (12-15 minutes). It should be thick and syrupy. Set aside to cool.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a donut pan with butter or non-stick spray.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
  4. In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth. Add egg and vanilla, whisk well. Stir in reduced apple cider and buttermilk until smooth.
  5. Pour dry ingredients into wet mixture and stir with a rubber spatula until just combined. Do not overmix; a few lumps are fine.
  6. Transfer batter to a piping bag or zip-top bag with corner snipped. Pipe into prepared donut pan, filling each cavity about ⅔ full.
  7. Bake for 9-11 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in pan for 2 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
  8. While donuts are still warm, brush each with melted butter on both sides. Dip into cinnamon sugar mixture (½ cup sugar + 1½ teaspoons cinnamon), pressing gently to coat. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Don’t rush the cider reduction; keep at a gentle simmer to avoid burning. Fill donut pan to ⅔ full only. Let donuts cool in pan for exactly 2 minutes before removing. For extra-thick coating, let buttered donuts sit for 30 seconds before dipping. The flavors deepen after a day.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://goldensimmer.com/easy-baked-apple-cider-donuts-best-cinnamon-sugar-recipe/