There’s nothing quite like the smell of warm apple cider donuts fresh from the kitchen — cozy, sweet, and perfectly spiced! These donuts capture all the comforting flavors of fall: crisp apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar. Whether you’re baking them for breakfast, dessert, or a festive treat, this recipe guarantees soft, flavorful donuts with a slightly crisp sugar coating.
Let’s make the best apple cider donuts ever — no trip to the orchard needed! 🍏✨
🍩 Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Donuts:
1 cup apple cider (reduced to ½ cup)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp salt
2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
½ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
1 large egg
½ cup buttermilk (or milk + 1 tsp lemon juice)
1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Cinnamon Sugar Coating:
¼ cup melted butter
½ cup granulated sugar
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
🍏 Step 1: Reduce the Apple Cider
Pour 1 cup of apple cider into a small saucepan.
Simmer over medium heat until it reduces to about ½ cup — this concentrates the flavor.
Let it cool completely before adding to the batter.
💡 Pro tip: Don’t skip this step! The reduced cider gives your donuts that deep, authentic apple flavor.
🥣 Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together:
Flour
Baking powder
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Salt
Set aside.
🧈 Step 3: Mix the Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together:
Melted butter
White and brown sugar
Egg
Buttermilk
Vanilla extract
Cooled reduced apple cider
Whisk until smooth and creamy.
🧁 Step 4: Combine & Fill the Pan
Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined — don’t overmix!
Grease a donut pan lightly with butter or oil.
Spoon or pipe the batter into each donut mold, filling about ¾ full.
🔥 Step 5: Bake to Perfection
Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Allow donuts to cool for about 5 minutes before removing them from the pan.
🍯 Step 6: Coat in Cinnamon Sugar
Melt butter in a small bowl.
In another bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon.
Dip each warm donut in butter, then roll generously in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
💡 Optional: For a bakery-style glaze, whisk together 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tbsp apple cider, and a pinch of cinnamon — drizzle over the donuts once cooled.
🎃 Bonus Tips for Extra Flavor
Make them spicier: Add a pinch of allspice or cloves.
Cider boost: Brush baked donuts with warm cider before coating in sugar for a juicy burst.
Air fryer option: Air fry at 350°F for 5–6 minutes for a slightly crispier texture.
🍩 Storage
Store at room temperature for 2–3 days in an airtight container.
To reheat, warm for 10 seconds in the microwave or 3 minutes in the oven — they’ll taste freshly baked again!
Conclusion: Sweet, Cozy, and Perfectly Autumn 🍎
With their fluffy centers, warm spice aroma, and sweet sugar coating, these apple cider donuts taste like a hug from fall itself. 🍂
Serve them with a mug of hot apple cider, chai latte, or coffee — and you’ve got the perfect cozy treat any time of year!