baking

Baked, Not Fried: Apple Cider Donuts That Taste Like Fall

Pam 2026
Baked, Not Fried: Apple Cider Donuts That Taste Like Fall

Ingredients

Ingredients

Makes 12 donuts.

For the Donuts:

  • 1 cup apple cider, reduced to ½ cup
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ cup melted butter
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating:

  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • ¼ cup melted butter (for dipping)

Apple cider donuts are fall’s greatest gift. And you don’t need a deep fryer or an apple orchard to make them. These are baked (not fried), packed with concentrated apple cider, warm spices, and rolled in cinnamon sugar. They’re soft, cakey, and dangerously poppable. Weekend project? Or Tuesday project. No judgment. Let’s bake.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1

Reduce the Cider

Simmer 1 cup apple cider in a small saucepan over medium heat until reduced to ½ cup (about 10-15 minutes). Cool slightly.

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a donut pan.

2

Mix Dry Ingredients

Whisk flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.

3

Mix Wet Ingredients

In another bowl, whisk eggs, melted butter, milk, vanilla, and reduced apple cider.

4

Combine and Bake

Pour wet into dry. Stir just until combined (don’t overmix).

Spoon batter into donut pan, filling ¾ full.

Bake 10-12 minutes until springy to the touch.

5

Coat and Devour

Cool donuts 5 minutes. Mix cinnamon and sugar in a bowl.

Dip each warm donut in melted butter, then in cinnamon sugar.

Eat immediately. Repeat. Hide some for later (good luck).

Summary

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 12 minutes | Total Time: ~30 minutes

Yield: 12 donuts

Difficulty: Easy

Storage Notes

Store coated donuts in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in microwave for 10 seconds or 300°F oven for 5 minutes. Freeze uncoated donuts for 3 months—thaw, reheat, then dip in butter and cinnamon sugar. Don’t coat before freezing (sugar gets weird). Reduced apple cider can be made ahead and kept in the fridge for 2 weeks. Make extra for cider cocktails or oatmeal.

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