Description
Delicious homemade Apple Cider Donuts with warm spices and a sweet apple cider glaze. These soft, moist donuts combine reduced apple cider, shredded apple, and a blend of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and other spices, baked to perfection and finished with a flavorful glaze for an irresistible treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Donuts
- 2 cups apple cider (reduced to ½ cup)
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon (plus more for garnish)
- ½ teaspoon clove
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon cardamom
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 1 large egg (room temperature)
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup whole milk (room temperature)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup shredded apple
Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ packet apple cider drink mix
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 6 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Reduce Apple Cider: Bring 2 cups of apple cider to a rolling boil in a small saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30-50 minutes until reduced to ½ cup, stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool.
- Prepare Apple: Peel a large apple and shred it using a cheese grater. Squeeze out some excess juice from the shredded apple.
- Preheat Oven & Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a donut pan with nonstick spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, clove, allspice, nutmeg, cardamom, and salt until evenly combined.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk melted butter, egg, brown sugar, whole milk, vanilla extract, and shredded apple until smooth.
- Combine Batter: Add the wet ingredients and the reduced apple cider into the dry ingredients. Whisk everything together until the batter is smooth with no lumps.
- Fill Donut Pan: Using a piping bag with the tip cut off or a spoon, fill each cavity of the donut pan about halfway with batter.
- Bake Donuts: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. To test doneness, gently tap the top of a donut; if it bounces back, they are ready. Remove from oven and cool in the pan for 2-3 minutes.
- Cool Donuts: Remove donuts from pan and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before glazing.
- Prepare Glaze: In a bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, apple cider drink mix, vanilla extract, and milk until smooth.
- Glaze Donuts: Dip one side of each cooled donut into the glaze, allowing excess glaze to drip back into the bowl.
- Garnish: Optionally dust the glazed donuts with additional cinnamon for extra flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Reducing the apple cider intensifies the flavor and adds moisture to the donuts.
- Squeezing excess juice from shredded apple prevents the batter from becoming too wet.
- Use a piping bag or spoon to fill donut cavities for even cooking and shape.
- Donuts should bounce back lightly when tapped to ensure they are fully baked.
- Glaze adds sweetness and a subtle apple cider flavor that perfectly complements the spices.
- Store donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days for best freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Apple Cider Donuts, Baked Donuts, Spiced Donuts, Fall Recipes, Autumn Desserts
