Apple Cider Donuts

Apple Cider Donuts – fall is for apples, apple cider, and donuts!  These Apple Cider donuts are just like the ones at the orchard. Full of apple flavor and dusted with cinnamon and sugar. 

Have you ever gone apple picking or to an orchard where they sell lots of apple treats?  I grew up in Wisconsin where there were lots of orchards with fresh cider, apple bars for sale and they all had apple cider donuts.  It was the best thing about fall!

Now that we live in Colorado, apple orchards are not nearly as popular.  It is so dry, apples just don’t grow the same as they did in the Mid West.  Apples and sweet corn are pretty much the only 2 things I miss about living in the Mid West.  But now that I can make apple cider donuts at home, I am missing them less.

This apple cider donut recipe is pretty easy to make. It gets all the apple flavor from cider that you cook down until it is syrupy and the flavor is really concentrated.  There is no other chopping or peeling of apples.  And these homemade donuts don’t have any yeast!  So you don’t have to worry about letting them rise or messing them up. Super low stress and easy homemade donuts.

I have made Nutella donuts before that use biscuit dough and they are so easy, flakey and delicious.  But these apple cider donuts are denser and more like a cake donut.  I like to toss them in cinnamon and sugar before serving. But you could put on a vanilla glaze or even a maple glaze would be delicious.

How to Make Apple Cider Donuts

The first step is to boil apple cider until it is half what you started with.  Then you just mix up the batter like you would a cake or muffins.  The flour, sugar, spices, and baking powder all get whisked together in a bowl.  I like to use a liquid measuring cup to whisk together the apple cider, eggs, and melted butter. Then you just mix everything together until it is just combined.

You want to let the dough chill in the fridge for at least and hour so that you can roll it and cut into donuts.  Once you can do that, it is time to fry them up!  You will want to use a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature of the oil.  Between 325-350 degrees is where you want to be. It takes 2-3 minutes per side to get the donut cooked in the center, if you go too hot with your oil the outside will burn before the center is cooked.

Let them drain some of the oil off and get cool enough for you to handle, then roll them through a cinnamon and sugar mixture.  They are best eaten right away or the same day.  Just like any donuts, they are not the best the next day. But nothing beats a fresh warm homemade donut!

So this fall be sure to pick up some fresh apple cider from the local orchard or even your grocery store. Trust me, you will love these donuts!  They come together way faster than you think and just scream fall.  Enjoy with a glass of warm apple cider for the perfect weekend morning.

If you are looking for more apple treats to try Caramel Apple Pie Bars are one of my favorites.  They are pretty much like and apple pie, but in bar form.  And Apple Blondies are another fun treat. So many delicious things to make with apples in the fall.

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5 from 9 votes

Print

Apple Cider Donuts

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

40 mins

Chill Time

1 hr

Total Time

55 mins

 

Apple Cider Donuts - fall is for apples, apple cider, and donuts!  These Apple Cider donuts are just like the ones at the orchard. Full of apple flavor and dusted with cinnamon and sugar. 

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple cider donuts

Servings: 12

Calories: 318 kcal

Ingredients

• 2 cups apple cider
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp allspice
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 Eggs
• 6 Tbls butter melted and cooled
• Oil for frying

Topping

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 Tbls cinnamon

Instructions

1. In a saucepan bring apple cider to a boil.  Cook for about 15 minutes, or until it is reduced by half.  Cool completely.

2. In a large bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda and spices. Set aside

3. In a small bowl mix together cooled cider, eggs, and melted butter. 

4. Add apple cider mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just combined. Cover and place in fridge for about an hour until it is firm enough to roll out.

5. Heat oil in a large stock pot to 325 degrees.  

6. Roll the dough on a floured surface, until about 1/2 thick.  Use a donut cutter to cut into 12 donuts. 

7. Mix together cinnamon and sugar. Set aside.

8. Fry donuts 2-3 at a time, being sure not to crowd the pan.  Donuts will take 2-3 minutes per side to cook, the donut holes will take about 1 minute per side. 

9. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels.  Once cool enough to handle roll through cinnamon and sugar mixture. Set on wire rack until ready to serve.

Recipe Notes

Recipe Adapted from Taste of Home

Nutrition Facts

Apple Cider Donuts

Amount Per Serving

Calories 318 Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 6g 9%

Saturated Fat 3g 15%

Cholesterol 15mg 5%

Sodium 257mg 11%

Potassium 184mg 5%

Total Carbohydrates 62g 21%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 32g

Protein 3g 6%

Vitamin A 3.7%

Vitamin C 0.4%

Calcium 7%

Iron 11.1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.