Apple Cider Donuts: The Ultimate Fall and Holiday Treat

There’s nothing quite like biting into a warm, cinnamon-sugar coated apple cider donut fresh from the oven. These homemade Apple Cider Donuts capture all the cozy flavors of fall and transform them into the perfect holiday treat. Whether you’re planning your Christmas dinner ideas or looking for festive holiday baking projects, this recipe delivers bakery-quality results right in your own kitchen.

Why You’ll Love This Apple Cider Donuts Recipe

Apple cider donuts are an autumn classic that translates beautifully into holiday baking. The concentrated apple cider flavor, warm spices, and tender cake-like texture make these donuts absolutely irresistible. Unlike yeast donuts that require hours of rising time, these baked beauties are ready in about 30 minutes from start to finish.

You’ll love that this recipe uses real apple cider reduced down to intensify the apple flavor. The secret is simmering the cider until it’s concentrated and syrupy, which infuses every bite with authentic apple goodness. Plus, baking instead of frying means less mess and a lighter texture that’s perfect for holiday food spreads.

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Apple Cider Donuts

Main Ingredients Table

Topping Ingredients

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preparing the Apple Cider

The most crucial step in making exceptional apple cider donuts is reducing your apple cider. Pour 1.5 cups of apple cider into a small saucepan and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally. You’re aiming to reduce it down to about 1/2 cup, which typically takes 20 minutes. This concentration process intensifies the apple flavor dramatically. Once reduced, set it aside to cool for 10 minutes while you prep the other ingredients.

Mixing the Batter

Preheat your oven to 350°F and generously spray your donut pan with non-stick spray. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, apple pie spice, and salt. This ensures even distribution of leavening agents and spices.

In a separate bowl, whisk the melted butter, egg, brown sugar, granulated sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Pour this wet mixture into your dry ingredients, add the cooled reduced apple cider, and whisk until you have a smooth, slightly thick batter. The batter should be thicker than pancake batter but still pourable.

Filling and Baking

For the easiest filling method, transfer your batter to a large zip-top bag. Snip off one corner and pipe the batter into each donut cavity, filling them about halfway. This prevents overflow and ensures perfectly shaped donuts.

Bake for 10-11 minutes until the edges and tops are lightly browned. Test doneness by gently pressing the top of a donut if it springs back, they’re ready. Let them cool in the pan for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Re-grease your pan and bake any remaining batter.

Creating the Perfect Coating

While your donuts cool slightly, prepare the coating by mixing granulated sugar, cinnamon, and apple pie spice in a medium bowl. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a separate shallow dish. Once the donuts are cool enough to handle but still warm, dunk each donut in melted butter on both sides, then immediately roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. The butter helps the coating stick beautifully.

Expert Tips for Bakery-Quality Results

Measure Flour Correctly: Use the spoon-and-level method to avoid dense donuts. Scooping directly from the bag packs in too much flour.

Don’t Skip the Reduction: Unreduced apple cider will make your batter too thin and result in less apple flavor. Be patient with this step.

Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your egg and milk are at room temperature for better incorporation and a smoother batter.

Don’t Overfill: Fill donut cavities only halfway to prevent the signature hole from disappearing during baking.

Coat While Warm: The butter and sugar coating adheres best when donuts are still warm but cool enough to handle safely.

Use Fresh Spices: Fresh ground cinnamon and apple pie spice make a noticeable difference in flavor intensity.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

Apple cider donuts are absolutely best served fresh and warm, ideally within hours of baking. However, you can store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate them for up to 5 days. To refresh stored donuts, warm them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.

For make-ahead preparation, you can reduce the apple cider up to 2 days in advance and store it in the refrigerator. You can also prepare the dry ingredient mixture ahead of time. However, the batter should be made fresh and baked immediately for best results.

Variations and Substitutions

Gluten-Free: Substitute with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend.

Dairy-Free: Use almond or oat milk and substitute butter with melted coconut oil.

Maple Glaze: Instead of cinnamon-sugar coating, dip in a glaze made from powdered sugar and maple syrup.

Apple Chunks: Fold in 1/2 cup finely diced apples for extra texture.

Pumpkin Spice: Replace apple pie spice with pumpkin pie spice for a different holiday flavor profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these without a donut pan?
Yes! You can use a muffin tin instead. The recipe will yield about 12 muffins. Baking time may increase by 2-3 minutes.

What’s the difference between apple cider and apple juice?
Apple cider is unfiltered and has a more robust, complex apple flavor. Don’t substitute with apple juice as it’s too mild and won’t provide the same depth of flavor.

Why do I need both baking soda and baking powder?
The combination creates the perfect rise and texture. Baking soda reacts with the acidic apple cider while baking powder provides additional lift.

Can I freeze apple cider donuts?
Yes, freeze uncoated donuts in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw, warm slightly, then coat with butter and cinnamon-sugar before serving.

My donuts turned out dense. What happened?
This usually results from overmixing the batter or using too much flour. Mix just until combined and measure flour carefully using the spoon-and-level method.

Can I double this recipe?
Absolutely! Double all ingredients and bake in batches. Just make sure to reduce the full amount of apple cider proportionally.

Why These Are Perfect for Holiday Gatherings

Apple cider donuts bring nostalgic fall flavors to your holiday celebrations. They’re ideal for Christmas morning breakfast, holiday brunch spreads, or as a sweet addition to your Christmas party food table. The warm spices complement other holiday treats beautifully, and they’re substantial enough to satisfy without being overly heavy.

These donuts also make wonderful homemade gifts. Package them in cellophane bags tied with festive ribbon for a thoughtful holiday present that shows you care.

The Perfect Holiday Baking Project

Making apple cider donuts is an excellent holiday baking activity to share with family. Kids love helping pipe the batter and coating the finished donuts in cinnamon-sugar. The relatively quick prep and baking time means you can enjoy warm donuts without dedicating your entire day to the kitchen.

Ready to fill your home with the irresistible aroma of fresh-baked apple cider donuts? Gather your ingredients, preheat that oven, and treat yourself to these spectacular holiday treats. Your family and friends will be asking for this recipe all season long!

Apple Cider Donuts: The Ultimate Fall and Holiday Treat

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These homemade Apple Cider Donuts are soft, fluffy, and coated in warm cinnamon-sugar. Made with reduced apple cider for intense apple flavor, they’re the perfect fall and holiday treat ready in just 30 minutes.

• Author: Alex
• Prep Time: 10
• Cook Time: 20
• Total Time: 30
• Yield: 12
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

1 and 1/2 cups (360ml) apple cider

2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon apple pie spice

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 Tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter, melted

1 large egg, at room temperature

1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar

1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar

1/2 cup (120ml) milk, at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Topping:

1 cup (200g) granulated sugar

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon apple pie spice

6 Tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, melted

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Instructions

1. Stirring occasionally, simmer the apple cider in a small saucepan over low heat until you’re left with about 1/2 cup (about 20 minutes). Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.

2. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Spray donut pan with non-stick spray.

3. Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, apple pie spice, and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside.

4. Whisk the melted butter, egg, brown sugar, granulated sugar, milk, and vanilla extract together. Pour into the dry ingredients, add the reduced apple cider, and whisk everything together until smooth and combined.

5. Spoon the batter into the donut cavities using a large zipped-top bag. Cut a corner off the bottom of the bag and pipe the batter into each donut cup, filling about halfway.

6. Bake for 10-11 minutes or until the edges and tops are lightly browned. Cool donuts for 2 minutes then transfer to a wire rack. Re-grease the pan and bake the remaining donut batter.

7. Combine the granulated sugar, cinnamon, and apple pie spice together in a medium bowl. Once cool enough to handle, dunk both sides of each donut in the melted butter, then generously in the apple spice topping.

Notes

Donuts are best served immediately. Leftovers keep well covered tightly at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

For best apple flavor, don’t skip reducing the apple cider. This concentrates the flavor significantly.

Use the spoon-and-level method to measure flour to avoid dense donuts.

Room temperature egg and milk incorporate better into the batter.