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Cozy Baked Apple Cider Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar

baked apple cider donuts - featured image
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These baked apple cider donuts are tender, moist, and coated in a crunchy cinnamon sugar layer. Made with reduced apple cider for intense flavor, they come together in under 30 minutes and are perfect for fall mornings or cozy gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (240 ml) apple cider (unfiltered, such as Martinelli’s)
  • 1 ¾ cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup (50 g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 3 tablespoons (42 g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) buttermilk, room temperature
  • For the cinnamon sugar coating:
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • 4 tablespoons (56 g) unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

  1. Reduce the apple cider: Pour 1 cup apple cider into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about ¼ cup. Set aside to cool slightly.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a standard 6-well donut pan with butter or non-stick spray.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
  4. In another bowl, whisk together egg, melted butter, vanilla extract, buttermilk, and the reduced apple cider until smooth.
  5. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Fold gently with a rubber spatula until just combined (a few lumps are okay). Do not overmix.
  6. Transfer batter to a piping bag or zip-top bag with corner snipped. Pipe batter into donut wells, filling each about ⅔ full.
  7. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the thickest part comes out clean. Cool in pan for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
  8. While donuts cool slightly, melt 4 tablespoons butter in a small bowl. In a shallow bowl, mix ½ cup sugar with 2 tablespoons cinnamon.
  9. When donuts are warm (about 5 minutes out of pan), brush each generously with melted butter, then dip into cinnamon sugar mixture, turning to coat all sides. Tap off excess.
  10. Serve warm for best texture.

Notes

Don’t skip reducing the apple cider—it concentrates the flavor. Room temperature ingredients prevent dense donuts. Overmixing leads to tough donuts. For best coating, brush donuts with butter while still warm. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Freeze uncoated donuts for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://siennaspoon.com/cozy-baked-apple-cider-donuts-with-cinnamon-sugar/