These homemade apple cider donuts are baked, not fried, cakey and intensely flavoured with fall happiness. These donuts come together easily and the secret to these being packed with flavour is the reduced apple cider. A fall favourite recipe among all.

There is a store in my parent’s hometown that sells apple cider donuts that are coated in cinnamon sugar, and I always make sure to make a stop during the fall to pick up a pack or two. However, I don’t always have the option to stop by every other week to pick some up, so I started to experiment with making them at home. So, what are apple cider donuts? They are cake-like donuts flavoured with cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice (or you can do what I do and just add pumpkin spice) and of course apple cider, all coated in cinnamon sugar. If you are feeling extra indulgent or looking to change things up, I recommend using my brown sugar toffee icing and dipping these donuts in that. They have been a hit at my house!

The apple cider reduction is a must! Reducing the apple cider allowed the flavours to concentrate which allows it to come through in the donuts. If you are looking for the perfect fall treat make these baked apple cider donuts.

12 servings / 40 mins prep time / 1 hr total time

Ingredients

Donuts

1½ cups apple cider reduce to ½ cup

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

¾ tsp baking powder

½ tsp cinnamon

½ tsp pumpkin pie spice

½ tsp salt

2 tbsps butter, melted

½ cup brown sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Cinnamon sugar coating

½ cup butter, melted

¾ cup granulated sugar

1½ tsps cinnamon

Directions

Add the apple cider to a small pot over medium heat and allow it to reduce to ½ cup, this will take anywhere between 20-30 mins. Allow it to cool for 10 mins.

Pre-heat oven to 350°F.

In a medium bowl, add the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin spice and salt). Give it a gentle mix and set aside.

In a different medium bowl, add the melted butter and both sugars (brown and granulated) and mix until the sugars are blended in. Add the egg, milk, and vanilla extract and mix until well incorporated.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients along with the reduced apple cider and mix until combined.

Get your donut pan and spray it with non-stick cooking spray. Fill each donut cup about halfway. I like to pipe it using a zip-lock bag.

Bake for 10-11 mins or if you stick a toothpick in a donut and it comes out clean. Allow to cool before coating the donuts in cinnamon sugar.

To coat the donuts, combine the sugar with cinnamon in a medium bowl. Dunk a donut in melted butter, making sure to get both sides. Then coat in the cinnamon sugar on both sides.

Enjoy!