Drinks & Beveragescarlsbadcravings
Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Baked Apple Cider Donuts are everything you love about fall — warm, cakey, and bursting with real apple flavor! These irresistible donuts pack the MOST apple flavor thanks to a triple dose of apple goodness: reduced apple cider, applesauce, and caramelized apples. They’re baked, not fried, for a soft, tender crumb with a lightly crisp sugar coating that’s pure autumn comfort. See the post for tested tips and tricks to make these bakery-worthy donuts right in your own kitchen!
👥 16 Servings⏱️ Prep & Cook: 1h⏳ Prep: 35 min🔥 Cook: 25 min👤 Jen📖 carlsbadcravings
🥘 Ingredients
Check off ingredients as you prepare them:
🍳 Cookware
- pan
- oven
- saucepan
- skillet
- bowl
- whisk
- spatula
📝 Preparation Steps
1
REDUCE APPLE CIDER
2
Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease two (6-cavity each) donut pans (these are the exact ones I use) with non-stick spray WITH FLOUR. Set aside.
3
Reduce Apple Cider: Simmer the apple cider in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring often, until it reduces to 1/2 cup. This should take ⏱️ 10-15 minutes. Set aside to cool. Meanwhile, caramelize the apples.
4
CARAMELIZE APPLES
5
Prepare Apples: Peel them, then cut them into four slices around the core to remove it. Dice into ½ inch cubes.
6
Cook Apples: Melt one tablespoon of butter over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet. Stir in the apples and cook for 3–⏱️ 4 minutes until they start to soften. Sprinkle in the brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Cook for an additional ⏱️ 5 minutes over medium-low heat, or until the apples are tender.
brown sugar1 tablespooncup light brown sugar, (packed)1/2teaspoon ground cinnamon1/2ground cinnamon1 teaspoonPinch of salt
7
Add Flour: Transfer the apples to a bowl and toss them with two teaspoons of flour. Set aside.
8
Make BATTER
9
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spices. Set aside.
baking powder1 teaspoon
10
Combine Wet Ingredients: In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about ⏱️ 3 minutes. Mix in the applesauce, then add the eggs one at a time, mixing just until barely incorporated after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract.
large eggs, (at room temperature)2vanilla extract1 teaspoon
11
Add Dry Ingredients and Cider: Alternately add the flour mixture and apple cider in thirds on low speed until a few flour streaks remain. Add the caramelized apples, and use a spatula to fold them in gently, being careful not to overmix. The batter will be very thick.
12
Bake Donuts
13
Add Batter to Pans: Transfer the batter to a large freezer bag and cut a 1-inch opening in the corner (Note: this is 1-inch total, about ½-inch wide). Fill the donut pans about ⅔ full — this should be roughly one solid piping circle per donut.
14
Bake: Bake for 12 to ⏱️ 15 minutes, until the donut bounces back when pressed and a toothpick inserted into the thickest part comes out clean. Cool the donuts for ⏱️ 2 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack. Meanwhile, while baking, make the topping:
15
MAKE THE TOPPING:
16
Prepare Bowls: Melt the butter in a shallow dish or bowl. Whisk the remaining Topping Ingredients in a separate small bowl.
17
Dunk Donuts: While the donuts are still warm, dip both sides in the melted butter, then coat with the Cinnamon Sugar. Best enjoyed immediately or within 1-2 days.
teaspoon ground cinnamon1/2ground cinnamon1 teaspoon
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