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–+ servings
four apple cider doughnuts stacked on top of one another
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5 from 12 votes

Small Batch Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Bake homemade Apple Cider Donuts with our easy recipe. Enjoy a small batch of six spice-infused, cakey donuts that will melt-in-your-mouth.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Diet: Low Salt, Vegetarian
Keyword: apple cider, apple cider donuts, apple cider reduction, apple donuts, apple orchard, baked apple cider donuts, baked donuts, cider donuts, donuts, doughnuts
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Joanie Zisk

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1¼ cup apple cider
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter , melted
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk

For the topping

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
US - Metric

Instructions

  • Reduce the apple cider: Pour 1 ¼ cups apple cider into a small saucepan.
    Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then simmer on medium-low for 15-20 minutes until reduced to ¼ cup.
    Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally until reduced to ¼ cup, about 15-20 minutes.
    Cool for 10 minutes.
    Pro Tip: This step can be done ahead of time to streamline your baking process. Simply store the reduced cider in the fridge until you're ready to use it.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Spray donut pan with non-stick spray. Set aside.
  • Make the donuts: In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt.
  • In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, egg yolk, vanilla, reduced apple cider, and milk.
    Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and whisk everything together until smooth and combined.
  • Fill the donut pan:
    Option 1: Using a spoon, fill a lightly greased donut pan with batter, about ⅔ of the way in each cup.
    Option 2: If you have a piping or pastry bag, it can be used for an even and smooth distribution.
    Option 3: No pastry bag? No problem! Just use a medium-sized zip-top bag. Place the bag in a tall glass, folding the top edge over the rim, making it easy to fill. Spoon the batter into the bag, squeeze out excess air, then cut off a corner at the bottom. Now, you can pipe the batter into each donut cup just like a pro.
  • Bake for 15-17 minutes or until the edges and tops are lightly browned.
    Pro Tip: To test to see if the donuts are ready, press your finger into the top of the donut. If the donut bounces back, they're done.
  • Cool the donuts for 5 minutes.
  • Make the topping: Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together granulated sugar and cinnamon. When the donuts are cool enough to handle, dip both sides of each donut in the melted butter, then generously in the cinnamon sugar topping.
  • These apple cider donuts are best enjoyed immediately.

Notes

Expert Tips
  • Avoid Vinegar: Do NOT use apple cider vinegar. It's not interchangeable with apple cider, which gives the donuts their characteristic taste.
  • Topping Choice: Authentic apple cider donuts feature a cinnamon sugar topping. You can omit this if reducing sugar, but the classic taste will be altered.
  • Mixing Caution: Do not overmix the batter. Doing so leads to dense and gummy donuts, which is not the desired texture.
  • Flour Measurement: Don't scoop the flour with a measuring cup directly. Stir to loosen, then spoon into a dry measuring cup, leveling with a flat knife edge.
  • Oven Accuracy: Check your oven's temperature. Ovens may heat differently than set, affecting your donuts. Investing in an oven thermometer ensures accurate baking.
Other Ways To Enjoy Apple Cider Donut Batter
Have you got apple cider donut batter but no donut pan? No worries, this fabulous apple cider donut batter is incredibly versatile, allowing you to experiment with different forms of baked goods, like muffins and cake. Though created for donuts, you can still enjoy the apple cider flavor in these variations. Just note that the texture may change slightly due to the longer baking time.
  • Apple Cider Muffins: Transform the batter into muffins by pouring it into lightly greased muffin tins (or use liners) and filling them ¾ full. Bake at 350 F (177 C) for about 18-20 minutes. You'll have enough for 4-5 scrumptious muffins.
  • Mini Apple Cider Cake: Use a 5x5-inch baking dish and bake at 350 F (177 C) for 25-27 minutes. Small 10-ounce ramekins or mini loaf pans are also suitable.
  • Cinnamon Sugar Topping (Highly Recommended): For that extra touch, brush melted butter over the muffins or cake, and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. It enhances the flavor and adds a delightful crunch.
While the batter is ideally suited for donuts, these options provide great alternatives if you want to explore different apple cider delights. Enjoy the flexibility and savor the delicious flavors in various forms!

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 218kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 138mg | Potassium: 91mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 283IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 1mg

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