Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts

These Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts capture the essence of fall with their tangy apple flavor and cinnamon-sugar coating. Baked instead of fried, they offer a lighter take on the classic.

It may seem a smidge early, but this recipe marks the beginning of my fall baking this year. And gosh, are these ever good. Baked apple cider doughnuts are the perfect welcome to September, which is peak apple season.

I’m eager for fall and its comforts. Summer has been an absolute blur. Sometimes life goes so fast, I struggle to feel present in the season I’m living in. But there’s one sure-fire way I can always connect with fall. (Spoiler alert: It’s not pumpkin spice.) I like to keep a big jug of apple cider on hand, for mulling and baking. Gallon jugs are popping up at the market – some filtered to a glowing amber, others cloudy with pulp. Both will work in this recipe. You’ll need a doughnut pan to bake the batter into shape. However, if you don’t have one, you can always use a greased muffin pan for Apple Cider Doughnut Muffins.

The Dry Ingredients

This is a cake doughnut recipe, so frequent cake bakers will find this batter formula familiar. Combine all-purpose flour, baking powder, fine grain sea salt, ground cinnamon, and apple pie spice in a big bowl. Whisk well to combine the mixture, then set it aside.

Apple Pie Spice Substitute: If you don’t have a bottle of apple pie spice, combine 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon round allspice for the 1 teaspoon needed for this recipe. (This info will be in the recipe notes as well.)

The Wet Ingredients

Next, in the bowl of an electric stand mixer, beat together room temperature unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Whip until well combined. This will take about 3 minutes. Once fluffy, add the eggs one at a time. Beat well after each addition. You should see the mixture increase in volume and become even fluffier.

Make a Cohesive Batter

When everything is looking nice and uniform, add the flour and mix on low. I used the paddle attachment but nothing bad will happen if you continue with the whisk attachment on low speed. Once the mixture is thick and just moistened, add in the apple cider with the mixer running on low. Stop to scrape down the beater and the bowl as needed. When it’s looking mostly incorporated, scrape down the bowl and mix together with a large rubber spatula. There’s no better way to feel if the batter is still hiding lumps than by hand mixing.

Spoon or pipe the batter into the cavities of a greased standard size doughnut pan. Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until golden brown and risen. Turn the doughnuts out on a wire rack to cool.

Food Advertisements by

Butter is Key

After the doughnuts cool, brush each one – back and front- with melted butter. This adds flavor and helps the sugar coating to stick. Immediately toss in cinnamon-sugar.

These baked apple cider doughnuts are so tender and the cinnamon-sugar coating gives a satisfying crunch. This recipe makes about 2 dozen doughnuts if baked in a standard size doughnut pan. Since I have three sizes of doughnut pans, I couldn’t help myself! I just had to make them in all sizes. And I’ll tell you this – those mini doughnuts are dangerously easy to eat one after another!

Here are the doughnut pans I used: ,

I must say, the Nordic Ware French Twist pan is quickly becoming a favorite. It never ever sticks and creates a beautiful twist doughnut reminiscent of a cruller.

The texture is so gorgeous – it’s fluffy, cakey, crunchy with cinnamon sugar. The flavor is buttery, spiced, with lingering apple notes. I think you’re going to love this recipe.

Related recipe:

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/SprinkleBakes