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Bet you’ll love these light and spongy baked Apple Cider Doughnuts with plenty of intense apple cider flavor and loads of warm cinnamon spice inside and out. They’re the perfect fall treat!
Our favorite Apple Cider Doughnuts
Without a doubt, I prefer our baked doughnuts to frying. The end results is a more cake like doughnut that’s light and taste great without being greasy or heavy. And of course it’s so much easier than making a big mess frying in the kitchen. For our recipe you don’t even need a mixer!
However, you will need a donut pan (affiliate link) to achieve that perfect donut shape. If you don’t want to buy one feel free to make these into regular size muffins or mini-muffins to look like donut holes.
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Ingredients Overview
For the doughnuts:
- ground cinnamon
- salt
- baking powder
- all-purpose flour
- vegetable oil
- large eggs at room temperature
- granulated sugar (or half granulated and half brown sugar)
- unsweetened applesauce
- reduced apple cider
- vanilla extract
Cinnamon sugar topping:
- ground cinnamon
- granulated sugar
- reduced apple cider for brushing on warm doughnuts
How to make our Apple Cider Donut Recipe
1. First make the apple cider reduction
Place the apple cider in a deep saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the cider is reduced to half its original volume. Boiled cider can be made a day or two ahead of time then refrigerated until needed.
2. Next make the doughnuts
Preheat the oven and lightly grease a donut pan.
In a small bowl whisk together the dry ingredients: cinnamon, salt, baking powder and flour.
In a medium bowl combine the wet ingredients: oil, eggs, sugar, applesauce, one-half cup of the reduced cider and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and stir until just combined.
Fill each doughnut well with one-fourth cup of batter. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes. While the doughnuts are baking mix together the cinnamon and sugar coating.
3. Coat the doughnuts
Brush the warm doughnuts with the remaining half of reduced cider then toss in the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat. Place on a wire rack to set or eat warm and enjoy!
Tips for delicious Apple Cider Donuts:
- In a pinch you can use plain, unreduced apple cider in this recipe but the flavor will not be as intense. Do not substitute apple juice for the cider as it has added sugar which is not needed in this recipe.
- Drizzle icing on the doughnuts instead of coating in cinnamon and sugar if preferred. Skip brushing the apple cider on the warm doughnuts and allow them to cool. Whisk together a tablespoon of cider with 1/2 cup of powdered sugar and drizzle on the cooled doughnuts.
- I own a 6-well doughnut pan so I bake in three batches. If reusing the pan as I have done, wipe it out with a paper towel and re-coat with vegetable cooking spray between bakes.
- If you don’t have a doughnut pan and don’t want to buy one, make muffins instead! You should get 12 muffins from this recipe. Bake about 23-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.
- These doughnuts have a deliciously light and spongy texture and nice bite from the apple cider and are terrific served warm or room temperature. However, they are best eaten the day they’re made. They become a little moist, but not wet, from the sugar coating after sitting overnight but are still delicious to eat.
Donut or Doughnut? Check out this fun and interesting article about the spelling debate and a possible history behind the origin of the word donut.
Boiled Apple Cider
When cider is boiled and reduced it creates an intense apple flavor.
Boiled cider is typically made by reducing apple cider to one-fourth its original volume. You can boil four cups of cider down to one cup to achieve this ratio. It also thickens to a syrup or molasses consistency.
For this recipe we boil the cider until it’s reduced by half.
This intensifies the flavor and reduces the amount of liquid needed to get all that apple cider flavor. The more you reduce the cider the more intense the flavor will become.
When you boil the cider your house will smell amazing! But be sure to watch it closely as you don’t want it to boil over on your stovetop.
All about Apple cider
Apple cider is pretty amazing stuff. Whether adding to sweet or savory recipes it’s a must for fall cooking and baking. During apple season many grocery stores carry fresh apple cider so be on the lookout for this magic elixir in the produce section.
Natural cider is typically raw, unprocessed, unfiltered and unsweetened juice made from apples pressed to extract the juice and some pulp. Apple cider is a non-alcoholic beverage not to be confused with hard cider.
Hard cider is pretty great, but probably not for baking doughnuts. It’s more like a cross between juice and beer and is only for the grownups.
Cider is not the same as apple juice which is sweetened, filtered and almost clear with a golden color.
Some apple cider is pasteurized (cooked) which will extend the shelf life but it also mildly affects the sweetness. Pasteurized cider will work fine in this recipe because we’re cooking it down anyway so no worries.
Check your local grocery store or apple orchard for fresh pressed apple cider. It’s great to drink straight from the jug or can be warmed and enhanced with fresh fruit, spices and sugar. It can also be served with or without bourbon or rum. Hot Spiced Apple Cider is a great seasonal favorite!
Apple Cider Doughnuts
Ingredients
For the apple cider reduction:
- 2 cups apple cider (16 ounces)
For the doughnuts:
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (252g)
- ½ cup vegetable oil (4oz)
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar (222g)
- 1 cup unsweetened apple sauce (256g)
- ½ cup reduced apple cider (see notes)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
For cinnamon sugar topping:
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- â…“ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup reduced apple cider for brushing on warm doughnuts
Instructions
To make the apple cider reduction for this recipe:
- Place 2 cups apple cider in a deep saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Adjust the temperature to medium and continue cooking until the cider is reduced by half, to one cup, about 20 minutes. Don’t walk away, you’ll want to keep an eye on the cider so it doesn’t boil over. Set aside to cool. Can be made the day before and refrigerated until needed. Half the reduced cider will be added to the batter, the other half will be used to brush on the doughnuts when they come out of the oven. (See NOTES below for tips)
To make the doughnuts:
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Lightly grease a donut pan with vegetable cooking spray. Set aside. Place a cooling rack over a piece of parchment, wax paper or set it inside a large baking sheet.
- In a small bowl whisk together the cinnamon, salt, baking powder and flour.
- In a medium mixing bowl combine the oil, eggs, sugar, apple sauce, ½ cup of the reduced apple cider and vanilla. Whisk until smooth and well blended. Add the flour mixture and blend with a spatula until smooth, with a few small lumps, do not over-beat.
- Fill each doughnut pan well with ¼ cup of batter. They should be almost full. Bake for 14-16 minutes. While the doughnuts are baking, mix together the cinnamon and sugar for the topping in a small bowl.
- Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center. It should come out clean. Allow the donuts to rest in the pan for 2-3 minutes then remove to a wire rack. Brush the warm donuts with the remaining ½ cup of reduced cider, then toss in the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat. Return the doughnuts to the wire rack to set, or eat warm and enjoy!
- Before baking the next batch of doughnuts, wipe out and respray the pan for easy removal.
Recipe Notes
- Be sure to re-spray your doughnut pan in between batches for easy removal.
- PRO TIP: Here’s an easy tip for knowing when the apple cider is reduced to one cup. Pour 1-cup of the cider into the saucepan. Place a wooden skewer straight down into the pan and mark how far up the skewer the cider comes. Add the remaining cider to the saucepan and cook as directed. Once reduced you can test by placing the wooden skewer into the pan. If it comes to the same level as marked on the skewer, it’s reduced enough for this recipe. If reduced too much, it’s okay, just add more fresh apple cider to make one cup.
- To make muffins instead of doughnuts, fill each muffin well until about 3/4 full and bake for 23-24 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Makes 18 doughnuts.
Nutrition
Here are a few more of our favorite “doughnut” recipes you might also like:
Pumpkin Doughnuts with Caramel Icing & Toasted Pecans
Try these lovely baked pumpkin doughnuts with a wonderful texture and terrific flavor.
View this Recipe
Apple Cider Donut Cake
Moist, tender and loaded with fall flavors from the cinnamon, reduced apple cider and applesauce
View this RecipeOriginally published September 2018, updated October 2023
mckenzie
These are so light, fluffy and packed with flavor!!!!
Tricia Buice
Thanks so much McKenzie! We appreciate you trying our recipe and for taking the time to come back and comment. I can’t wait to make these doughnuts again now that apple season is on the way!
Marjorie
Cant wait to try this recipe
Tricia Buice
Thanks Marjorie – let us know how it goes!
Dawn Harriman
Hi Tricia, My donuts are in the oven baking but I did have some questions maybe for the next time I bake these. I was afraid to over mix my batter which seemed quite liquidy. Using a rubber spatula I developed small to rather large lumps (like walnut sized). I squished some of them on the side of my bowl with the spatula but as I said, I was afraid (always on the first round of a new recipe). So pouring my batter with a 1/4 cup into each donut slot, there were the large lumps, too! Don’t know how this will turn out but can you tell me if I did anything wrong so far? Thanks!
Tricia Buice
Hi Dawn – I don’t think you did anything wrong at all – maybe just smush the lumps a little more next time. Hope they turned out for you! They are really delicious and unique.
Dawn Harriman
Hi Tricia, Thanks for getting back to me. Well, I am amazed by your donut recipe! You are so right that they are delicious. I can’t, of course, eat them all to see what happened to those lumps, but so far, I haven’t noticed any! Odd how that happens but I will take your advice and smush the larger ones a bit next time…even though. Hahaha. I wish I could send you a picture of what they looked like cooling on a rack but don’t know how to do that. Again, thanks for your advice!
Pat Ohlhoff
These are delicious! I’ve never had an apple cider donut with this much apple (and apple cider) flavor! Thanks Tricia. Just love it when I see your email with a new recipe to try!! ?
Tricia Buice
Thanks so much Dawn, you made my day!!! Thank you for making the recipe and for taking the time to come back and let us know what you thought. These are a favorite for sure 😉
2 Sisters Recipes
Amazing !! I love a great donut and baked is even better! Great post !! Can’t wait to try this recipe, thanks Tricia!
Tricia Buice
Thank you Anna – you’re so sweet!
John / Kitchen Riffs
Apple cider doughnuts? Why haven’t I had these! Terrific idea — and what a super recipe. I do like fried doughnuts, but they’re such a pain to make. Your baked version is much, much better. Healthier too. Thanks!
Tricia Buice
You’re going to love them John. They’re such a great Autumn treat – especially the baked ones 🙂 Have a lovely week and thanks.
Pam
Woo hoo, Tricia! Your doughnuts look awesome! The farmers’ market we go to started making apple cider doughnuts a couple of weeks ago. There’s always a long line for them and no one minds waiting while they make them. Like that yours are baked. Thanks for sharing!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Pam – you won’t have to stand in line if you make these at home – so good!
Larry
They look delicious Tricia. While in Door County, WI, the ladies made several trips to Wood Orchards to buy their cider donuts so I’ll be sure Bev sees this.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Larry – these have all the great apple cider flavor without being deep fried. We love them!
Chris Scheuer
These beautiful donuts are calling my name! I love that you’ve come up with a baked version. Sadly, I love the fried ones as well but these would be so much healthier (everything is relative, right?).
Tricia Buice
You bet Chris – thanks!
sheenam | thetwincookingproject.net
These Donuts look great! Amazing recipe.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Sheenam
Gerlinde
Tricia, I just love your photos and the doughnuts of course. They are such a special treat. Pinned
Tricia Buice
Thank you very much Gerlinde. Special indeed – we just love that apple cider 😉
Susan
I do believe I see a doughnut (loved the article) baking pan in my future! I know my store will have apple cider soon (if not already) and I’d love to make these 🙂 The crumb looks moist and delicious and I can already imagine how tasty they are! Doughnut Sundays in the fall? Sounds good to me!
Tricia Buice
Be sure to try one warm from the oven Susan – they’re just delicious! This is a great weekend baking project and it’s easy too. Enjoy and thank you so much!
sue | the viewfromgreatisland
I’ll take a dozen, do you deliver??
Tricia Buice
For you … yes I do!
Bonnie Hunter
Tricia: You have gone too far this time! The recipe is printing out right now. I cannot wait!! Thank you!!
Best,
Bonnie
Tricia Buice
Thanks so much Bonnie – and I’m sorry? Maybe just a little 🙂 Enjoy! Hope you are doing great – it’s terrific to hear from you.
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
It’s apple picking season here, so I’m all about the apples and the cider. These look like the perfect way to enjoy the season 🙂
Tricia Buice
Great apple flavor going on here Jennifer – thank you and enjoy your amazing apple season!
angiesrecipes
They look sensational coated with cinnamon sugar plus they are super adorable!
Tricia Buice
Thank you Angie – so addicting 😉