These apple cider donuts are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and coated in sweet cinnamon sugar! They use boiled apple cider for a rich and vibrant flavor that can't be beaten. With just one bite of these melt-in-your-mouth doughnuts, you'll be hooked!
Best Apple Cider Doughnuts
I love fall time and all of the classic flavors that come with it! From pumpkin to cranberry to apple, I never find myself short on tasty baking ideas this time of year!
These apple cider doughnuts use stovetop apple cider for an extra rich flavor! Topped with cinnamon sugar, they are truly a treat!
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🥘 Apple Cider Donuts Ingredients
If you enjoy baking at all, you most likely already have the majority of these ingredients! You can buy boiled apple cider or make it yourself!
- Sugar - 1 cup of granulated sugar.
- Butter - 5 tablespoons of softened butter that is at room temperature.
- Eggs - 2 large, room temperature eggs.
- Flour - 3½ cups of all-purpose flour, plus more for your hands and workspace.
- Baking Powder - 2 teaspoons of baking powder.
- Cinnamon - 1½ teaspoons of ground cinnamon.
- Salt - 1 teaspoon of salt.
- Baking Soda - 1 teaspoon of baking soda.
- Nutmeg - ½ teaspoon of ground nutmeg. Use freshly grated for best results.
- Buttermilk - ½ cup of buttermilk.
- Apple Cider - ⅓ cup of boiled apple cider (*see note).
- Vanilla - 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract.
- Oil - Enough cooking oil for frying the donuts.
- Cinnamon Sugar - 1½ cups of cinnamon sugar.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Apple Cider Donuts
Making these apple cider doughnuts is incredibly simple. Just make sure you have some baking sheets, a donut cutter (or cookie cutters), and a large pot for frying!
This recipe will make 18 standard-sized doughnuts!
Prepare Dough
- Cream butter and sugar. In a large mixing bowl (or the bowl of your stand mixer), cream together your 1 cup of sugar and 5 tablespoons of room temperature butter until the combination is light and fluffy, about 4-6 minutes.
- Mix in eggs. Next, add your 2 eggs, one at a time, mixing for one minute in between each addition.
- Add wet ingredients. Pour your ½ cup of buttermilk, ⅓ cup of cider, and 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract into your wet ingredient mixture. Mix well (the batter may appear lumpy).
- Mix. Add the salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg then mix into the wet ingredients until well combined.
- Add flour. Gradually add in your 3½ cups of flour and mix just until combined, being careful not to over-mix the dough.
- Prep and press dough. Prepare 2 baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper and sprinkling them generously with flour. Transfer the dough to one of the baking sheets and gently press it until it is approximately ¾-inch thick.
- Chill. Sprinkle the dough with some more flour and then cover it with plastic wrap. Place the covered pan into the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Cut the donuts. Afterward, remove the dough from the freezer and use a 3-inch donut cutter to cut out your donuts (*see note).
- Chill again. Once your donuts have been cut, place them back into the freezer for another 5 minutes.
Fry The Donuts
- Heat the oil. In a large pot or Dutch oven, add about 3 inches of canola oil and heat it to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry the donuts. Once hot, drop three or four donuts into the oil making sure not to overcrowd the pot. Fry for about 1 minute, or until the donut has turned to a golden-brown color on one side. Then flip the doughnut and cook the other side for an additional minute. Once done, transfer the donuts to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Repeat. Repeat with your remaining donuts (*see note).
- Coat with sugar. Pour your 1½ cups of cinnamon sugar onto a plate. Once your donuts have cooled enough for you to handle them, press them gently into the cinnamon sugar, flip them, and press the second side. Enjoy immediately.
These fall-inspired doughnuts are a tasty treat! For a complete breakfast, pair them with some scrambled eggs and air fryer bacon! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Make sure you use boiled apple cider as it is what gives it the best flavor! You can purchase boiled apple cider at some specialty grocery stores. However, you can also make your own by boiling 1½ cups of fresh apple cider for about 25 minutes, or until it is reduced to ⅓ cup. I also like to toss in a cinnamon stick while it is reducing for some extra flavor!
- If you don't have a donut cutter, you can use two cookie cutters!
- As you are cutting your donuts, you may need to gather up the scraps, press them together, and re-roll them to make as many donuts as possible (possibly needing to re-chill them as well).
- While frying, if you find that your doughnuts are getting too soft and sticky, you can put them back into the freezer for 10 minutes to firm up again.
- Make sure your work area, hands, and rolling pin are all well-floured!
- Melted butter makes the cinnamon sugar mixture stick to the donuts best, simply brush it onto your apple cider donuts before dipping.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Keep your doughnuts at room temperature in an airtight container for 2 days, or in the fridge for 4 days.
Reheating Apple Cider Donuts
Simply pop your doughnuts in the microwave for a few seconds to warm them up!
❓ Recipe FAQs
Can You Bake Apple Cider Donuts?
Yes, you can bake apple cider donuts in a donut pan! Simply bake them at 350°F (175°C) for about 15 minutes.
However, I do think they taste much better when fried!
Can I Frost Apple Cider Donuts?
Sure! If you don't want to coat them in cinnamon sugar, you can always top them with icing (or eat them plain!)
I would recommend trying out my vanilla icing!
Why Are They Called Apple Cider Donuts?
Apple cider donuts are a kind of cake donut (they do not contain yeast). These donuts are unique because they contain actual apple cider! Using reduced, boiled apple cider emphasizes the flavor so that you can taste it in the donut!
🍩 Easy Donut Recipes
- Chocolate Frosted Baked Donuts - These classic baked donuts are topped with a rich chocolate frosting!
- Lemon Raspberry Baked Donuts - For a light and refreshing flavor combination, try out these lemon raspberry donuts!
- Chocolate Baked Donuts - These tasty doughnuts are rich and decadent!
- Peanut Butter Baked Donuts - These donuts include peanut butter in both the dough and the frosting!
- Lemon Sugar Baked Donuts - Lemon zest is the key ingredient in these citrus donuts!
- Blueberry Baked Donuts - These donuts are packed with refreshing blueberries!
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📖 Recipe Card
Apple Cider Donuts
These apple cider donuts are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and coated in sweet cinnamon sugar! They use boiled apple cider for a rich and vibrant flavor that can't be beaten. With just one bite of these melt-in-your-mouth doughnuts, you'll be hooked!
Servings: 18 donuts
Calories: 288kcal
Prep 10 minutes
Cooking 10 minutes
Chill Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
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Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 5 tablespoon butter (softened, at room temperature)
- 2 large eggs (at room temperature)
- 3½ cups all-purpose flour (plus more for work area)
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly grated is best)
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ⅓ cup apple cider (boiled, *see note)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- cooking oil (for frying)
- 1½ cups cinnamon sugar
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl (or the bowl of your stand mixer), cream together your sugar and room temperature butter until the combination is light and fluffy, about 4-6 minutes.
- Next, add your eggs, one at a time, mixing for one minute in between each addition.
- Pour your buttermilk, cider, and vanilla extract into your wet ingredient mixture. Mix well (the batter may appear lumpy).
- Add the salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg then mix into the wet ingredients until well combined.
- Gradually add in your flour mixture and mix just until combined, being careful not to over-mix the dough.
- Prepare 2 baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper and sprinkling them generously with flour. Transfer the dough to one of the baking sheets and gently press it until it is approximately ¾-inch thick.
- Sprinkle the dough with some more flour and then cover it with plastic wrap. Place the covered pan into the freezer for 10 minutes.
- Afterward, remove the dough from the freezer and use a 3-inch donut cutter to cut out your donuts (*see note).
- Once your donuts have been cut, place them back into the freezer for another 5 minutes.
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, add about 3 inches of canola oil and heat it to 350°F (175°C).
- Once hot, drop three or four donuts into the oil making sure not to overcrowd the pot. Fry for about 1 minute, or until the donut has turned to a golden-brown color on one side. Then flip the doughnut and cook the other side for an additional minute. Once done, transfer the donuts to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Repeat with your remaining donuts (*see note).
- Pour your cinnamon sugar onto a plate. Once your donuts have cooled enough for you to handle them, press them gently into the cinnamon sugar, flip them, and press the second side. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Make sure you use boiled apple cider as it is what gives it the best flavor! You can purchase boiled apple cider at some specialty grocery stores. However, you can also make your own by boiling 1½ cups of fresh apple cider for about 25 minutes, or until it is reduced to ⅓ cup. I also like to toss in a cinnamon stick while it is reducing for some extra flavor!
- If you don't have a donut cutter, you can use two cookie cutters!
- As you are cutting your donuts, you may need to gather up the scraps, press them together, and re-roll them to make as many donuts as possible (possibly needing to re-chill them as well).
- While frying, if you find that your doughnuts are getting too soft and sticky, you can put them back into the freezer for 10 minutes to firm up again.
- Make sure your work area, hands, and rolling pin are all well-floured!
- Melted butter makes the cinnamon sugar mixture stick to the donuts best, simply brush it onto your apple cider donuts before dipping.
- To store: Keep your doughnuts at room temperature in an airtight container for 2 days, or in the fridge for 4 days.
- To reheat: Simply pop your doughnuts in the microwave for a few seconds to warm them up!
Nutrition
Calories: 288kcal (14%) | Carbohydrates: 37g (12%) | Protein: 3g (6%) | Fat: 14g (22%) | Saturated Fat: 6g (38%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 44mg (15%) | Sodium: 282mg (12%) | Potassium: 95mg (3%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 18g (20%) | Vitamin A: 139IU (3%) | Vitamin C: 0.05mg | Calcium: 37mg (4%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
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