Easy Baked Apple Cider Donuts

These homemade baked apple cider donuts are cakey, tender, and full of fall flavor! The cinnamon sugar topping and concentrated cider flavor go perfectly together with this moist cake-like donut. Secretly, I go apple picking this time of year just to get my hands on those fresh apple cider donuts. They taste just as wonderful as they smell. However, most of the time, they are deep-fried and as someone trying to eat cleaner, I wanted to give a baked version a go. And here we are with these super delicious easy baked apple cider donuts.

You can make them at home in under an hour while avoiding the smell and mess of hot oil! These baked donuts are so soft that they melt in your mouth. And your house? It will smell amazing. Truly nothing better than baking during the Fall season! Who’s with me on that?

What you need to know before making these Baked Apple Cider Donuts:

• It is very important that the apple cider is reduced to have a more concentrated flavor. Reducing is simple. You allow for the cider to simmer for about 20 minutes until it has reduced to a smaller more concentrated amount. This will create more depth for your donuts. This step is necessary. You can learn more in the instructions for the recipe.
• I used Spiced Apple Cider from Trader Joe’s. If you can get your hands on spiced or great quality cider then that would be best. Spiced Cider also has flavorings of orange peel, cloves, cinnamon, and more.
• You can technically make these into muffins if you do not have a donut pan. It will however take 5-7 minutes longer to bake.
• Greasing the pan is very important to avoid the cake from sticking. Also, allow for the donut to cool slightly before taking it out of the pan gently.
• I use a variety of spices both in the batter and as the topping. That includes cinnamon, ginger, and chai. If you do not have chai, you can substitute it for ground cardamom. A little goes a long way and will set these apple cider donuts apart!

If you are a fan of recipes centered around apples, then be sure to check these out:

• Homemade Apple Galette with Caramel
• Cinnamon Apple Cake
• Sticky Apple Upside Down Cake
• Apple Crisp (Vegan & GF Friendly)
• Apple Cookies

If you have any questions or comments, leave them below! I would love to hear from you. Also, feel free to share your remakes with me on my Instagram page. I would love to see your creations! Happy Baking!

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

These homemade baked apple cider donuts are cakey, tender, and full of fall flavor! The cinnamon sugar topping and concentrated cider flavor go perfectly together with this moist cake-like donut.

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time45 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple cider donuts, apple recipes, baked apple cider donuts, fall desserts

Servings: 12 donuts

Author: Heifa

Ingredients

• 1 Stick Butter, Unsalted & room temperature
• 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
• 1/4 cup White Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 1 tsp Vanilla Flavoring
• 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1.5 tbsp Baking Powder
• 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp Ground Chai or use 1/4 tsp cardamom instead + 1/4 extra tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp Ground Ginger
• 1/4 cup Milk any kind. Dairy or non-dairy
• 1.5 cups Apple Cider reduced to 1/2 cup of cider * I used spiced apple cider for more flavor

Topping

• 1/4 cup Unsalted Butter, melted
• 1/2 cup Granulated White Sugar
• 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp Ground Chai or use 1/4 tsp cardamom instead + 1/4 extra tsp cinnamon

Instructions

• First, the apple cider needs to be reduced. Take the 1.5 cups of cider and add it to a pot and let this simmer for about 15-20 minutes until it is reduced to about 1/2 cup. This will make the apple cider flavor more concentrated when added to the batter and is a necessary step.
• Let the reduced cider cool for 15 min room temp. Meanwhile, begin working on the batter for the donuts.
• In a bowl or kitchenaid with a paddle attachment, add the butter and sugars. Cream the two together.
• To this, add the eggs and vanilla and mix it all together well.
• Begin adding the dry ingredients such as flour, baking powder, cinnamon, chai, and ginger. Mix all together.
• To this, slowly add in the cider and milk until you have a creamy cohesive batter. Do not overmix.
• Spray your donut pan with nonstick spray very well to avoid the cake sticking.
• Fill a piping bag with the batter and fill the donut pan 3/4 of the way evenly. You can make a makeshift piping bag by using a ziplock and cutting it in the corner.
• Bake in a 350 F preheated oven for just about 15 minutes till baked through.
• While they bake, mix together the cinnamon, sugar, and chai seasoning for the topping in a shallow bowl.
• Allow for the donuts to cool slightly to avoid breakage while taking out of the pan.
• Dip each donut in the melted butter. Shake off the excess butter then dip in the cinnamon sugar topping on both sides.
• Repeat and enjoy these donuts fresh! They are best served right away. They keep well room temperature in a ziplock for one day. After that, it would be best to freeze them and thaw then microwave to warm them.

Notes

These can be made into muffins if you do not have a donut pan. Bake 5-7 minutes longer.

The type of milk used does not matter. Dairy or non-dairy or even buttermilk.