Description
These Baked Apple Cider Donuts are a delightful autumn treat featuring warm spices and tangy apple cider reduced into a syrup to infuse the cake with rich flavor. Lightly baked to perfection and coated with a buttery spiced sugar mixture, these donuts offer the perfect balance of moistness, spice, and sweetness in every bite.
Ingredients
Apple Cider Reduction
- 1.5 cups Apple cider
Donut Batter
- 1 Large Egg
- 1/3 cup Granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup Brown sugar
- 3 tbsp Unsalted butter, melted (can also use melted coconut oil)
- 1/2 cup Milk (Whole or 2%)
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 tsp Baking powder
- 1/2 tsp Baking soda
- 1 tsp Cinnamon powder
- 1/4 tsp Nutmeg powder
- 1/8 tsp Cardamom powder
Spiced Sugar Coating
- 1 cup Granulated sugar
- 1 tsp Cinnamon powder
- 1/2 tsp Nutmeg powder
- 1/2 tsp Cardamom powder
- 1/2 cup Unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Reduce the Apple Cider: Pour 1.5 cups of apple cider into a nonstick saucepan and cook over medium heat without a lid until it reduces to about 1/3 cup and thickens into a syrup. Set aside to cool completely.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the egg, granulated sugar, brown sugar, melted butter, milk, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and homogenous.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom to evenly distribute the spices and leavening agents.
- Combine Batter: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients along with the cooled reduced apple cider syrup. Gently fold the mixture until just combined, making sure not to over-mix to keep the donuts tender.
- Prepare Donut Pan: Grease a donut pan lightly. For ease and neatness, transfer the batter into a piping bag and pipe it into the pan cavities, filling each about halfway.
- Bake Donuts: Place the pan in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) and bake for approximately 10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a donut comes out clean.
- Cool Donuts: Remove the donuts from the oven and allow them to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before carefully removing them onto a wire rack to cool slightly but remain warm.
- Prepare Spiced Sugar Mix: While the donuts cool, combine the granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom in a wide bowl for coating.
- Coat Donuts: Brush each warm donut generously with melted butter. Then roll the donut in the spiced sugar mixture to coat evenly, allowing the sugar to stick well.
- Serve: Serve the donuts immediately for the best experience and enjoy the warm, spicy flavors that celebrate the season.
Notes
- Reducing the apple cider is essential for concentrating flavor and ensuring the liquid doesn’t make the batter too wet.
- Do not over-mix the batter to maintain a light, cakey texture and avoid dense donuts.
- Using a piping bag to fill the donut pan helps create uniform donuts and results in less mess.
- If you do not have a donut pan, you can use a muffin tin, but the shape will differ.
- Donuts are best enjoyed fresh and warm, but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Substitute melted coconut oil for butter if you prefer a dairy-free option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
