Apple Cider Donuts
Baked cake-like apple cider donuts are so easy to make at home! Baked with an apple cider reduction to intensify the apple flavor and topped with a crunchy cinnamon-sugar coating, they are the perfect fall-inspired breakfast or afternoon treat.
My daughters and I went to the Belmar Cider Days festival this year to make our own apple cider. I purchased about 8 lbs. of various apples to take because it takes about 8 – 10 lbs of apples for one gallon of apple cider.
The process was fascinating to watch as the kids used an old-fashion cider press to press all the liquid from the apples. We loved the raw, unfiltered cider that we got as a result.
If you don’t have your own cider press or apple tree for that matter, you can buy fresh unfiltered apple cider at Safeway in the produce department. Safeway sells several flavors of pure apple cider under the Signature Farms and O Organics brands.
- Signature Farms Honeycrisp Apple Cider is pure unfiltered Honeycrisp apple juice with nothing added.
- Signature Farms Spiced Apple Cider which has unfiltered apple juice, lemon juice, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, lemon peel and orange peel, and orange oil
- O Organics Organic Apple Cider has pasteurized organic unfiltered apple juice
I went with the Honeycrisp apple cider as it has a sweeter flavor and was the perfect compliment for my apple cider donuts. The spiced cider would be an amazing option for these donuts and would intensify the spice flavor when reduced.
Ingredients
- 1 and 1/2 cups pure apple cider
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- non-stick cooking spray
** you can also substitute packaged apple pie spice for the cardamom, ginger, nutmeg if you have it. You will use 1 teaspoon apple pie spice if you are substituting.
Coating
This recipe calls for coating just the tops of the donuts with a cinnamon sugar spice coating. I like to use turbinado sugar to give extra crunch and texture to the donuts. If you prefer plain white granulated sugar, you can use that instead and coat the whole donut
- 1/2 cup turbinado sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
How to Make Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Start by reducing the apple cider in a small saucepan over medium heat. Pour 1 and 1/2 cups into the small saucepan. Heat for about 15 minutes until the apple cider is reduced to about 1/2 cup. Remove from the heat once it’s reduced and allow it to cool.
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Spray the donut pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set it aside.
Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking dosa, cinnamon, cardamom, ground ginger, nutmeg and salt in a large bowl.
In a separate medium bowl, stir together the melted butter, egg, brown sugar, granulated sugar, milk and vanilla extract.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients bowl and whisk together until combined.
Next place the batter into the prepared donut pan. You can either spoon the batter into the pan with a tablespoon, or you can pour the mixture into a gallon size zip top bag and snip the corner of the bag to pipe the batter into the donut pans. Fill the donut pan about halfway for each mold.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the tops are lightly browned. Test for doneness with a knife or toothpick.
Allow the donuts to cool in the pan for 1-2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
While the donuts are baking, prepare the sugar topping by combining the turbinado sugar with the cinnamon and stirring until mixed.
Once the donuts are cooled, dip the top of the donut into the melted butter, then place it into the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Set back on the wire rack to dry.
Ingredients
- Ingredients
- 1 and 1/2 cups pure apple cider
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- non-stick cooking spray
Coating
- 1/2 cup turbinado sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Instructions
- Start by reducing the apple cider in a small saucepan over medium heat. Pour 1 and 1/2 cups into the small saucepan. Heat for about 15 minutes until the apple cider is reduced to about 1/2 cup. Remove from the heat once it's reduced and allow it to cool.
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. Spray the donut pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set it aside.
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking dosa, cinnamon, cardamom, ground ginger, nutmeg and salt in a large bowl.
- In a separate medium bowl, stir together the melted butter, egg, brown sugar, granulated sugar, milk and vanilla extract.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients bowl and whisk together until combined.
- Next place the batter into the prepared donut pan. You can either spoon the batter into the pan with a tablespoon, or you can pour the mixture into a gallon size zip top bag and snip the corner of the bag to pipe the batter into the donut pans. Fill the donut pan about halfway for each mold.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the tops are lightly browned. Test for doneness with a knife or toothpick.
- Allow the donuts to cool in the pan for 1-2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- While the donuts are baking, prepare the sugar topping by combining the turbinado sugar with the cinnamon and stirring until mixed.
- Once the donuts are cooled, dip the top of the donut into the melted butter, then place it into the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Set back on the wire rack to dry.
Additional Apple Cider Recipes
Vanilla and Cinnamon Hot Apple Cider With Toasted Pecans
Pork Shoulder With Apple Cider Chimichurri
SuperSafeway is a blog devoted to helping you find the best deals at Safeway in the Denver division. Every week we slice and dice the ad and tell you the best deals at Safeway with and without coupons. For more low prices, check out Super Safeway’s weekly ad coupon matchup page. Would you like to stay updated on the best deals? If so, make sure to like Super Safeway on Facebook, join our Facebook group, follow us on Twitter, subscribe to our Instagram, or head over to Pinterest. Also, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter.
* Please note – Savings information is based on Colorado pricing and the Safeway Coupon Policy for the Denver Division which includes Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Wyoming and South Dakota. Your market may vary. Prices may vary per location*
