Fall Is In the Air... Sort Of. - Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Do these pictures look familiar? This post originally appeared on my old blog, Quarter Life (Crisis) Cuisine, which I unfortunately let expire. I'm posting some of my favorites on this blog so that I don't lose them forever.

Okay so, for the first time in my four years of living in Austin, it feels like fall outside. I need a light jacket when I step outside in the morning. On my newsfeed, my Massachusetts friends are starting to look all cozy in their fall-wear as they attend the fairs and begin enjoying New England's best season.

I almost expect to turn a corner and see an apple tree heavy with fruit, or a pile of crisp leaves pushed to the center of a neighbor's yard. I can almost smell that cool, autumnal air...



But then I remember that I'm in Texas, and it is not to be. By noon, it's hit 80 degrees and I remember the perpetual summer I live in. But, that's okay with me, because while fall is lovely and wonderful and magical in my old home, it basically just means that winter is right around the corner. And winter in New England is the. worst. Losing fall is a small price to pay to skip the harshest part of the year.



Still, there's nothing better than an Apple Cider Donuts, the official New England Food of Fall. I loved getting them fresh from Atkin's Farm, but now I must make do with making my own.

And I don't do too badly of a job. These are pretty damn good.


Texans just don't know. The last time I made these, my coworker said "these are kind of like churros..." eek! Tracking down apple cider in and of itself is a feat, and forget about finding fresh pressed. But I make do with the over-priced plastic jugs I can find.

These baked apple cider donuts are baked, so they're slightly better than fried varieties but by no means a low cal snack. 


Baked Apple Cider Donuts
(Adapted from Foodie MisAdventures)
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup apple cider
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp butter, melted
Topping
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp apple cider
  • 1/2 stick butter, melted
-Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray or butter a donut pan, or line two muffin tins with cups.

-Over high heat, reduce the apple cider to 1/2 cup*.

-In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, spices, and salt. 

-Create a well in the middle of the dry ingredients about a cup deep. Crack the eggs into this well and gently whisk them. Add in the cider reduction, milk, vanilla, and melted butter.

-Gently fold the dry into the wet ingredients until just mixed.

-Fill donut cups or muffin cups 3/4ths full. Bake for ten minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the donut comes out clean. Let cool to room temperature.

-In a bowl, mix together the sugar, cider, and cinnamon for the topping.

-Dip each donut in the butter, then roll in the cinnamon sugar until well coated.

*Alternatively, you can use a half cup of cider and skip this step, but your donuts will not be quite as apple cider-y.



Comments

  1. Oh yum!! Apple cider donuts are delicious, and so easy to make. I think I may make some this week.

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  2. These sound so delicious. I love making fall treats, so I will definitely have to try them!

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  3. Apple cider donuts are the best donuts. They are a perfect food for cooler weather.

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  4. My husband is obsessed with apple cider donuts. We are lucky and have a couple of great apple orchards we go to every year for self-picking where we can get fresh pressed apple cider - the real stuff - for making apple cider donuts! I haven't baked them before though!

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  5. You had me at "fall is in the air" - here in Phoenix, its still in the 100s, but I can dream, right? I'd love to try these, i'm yet to have one, ever!

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  6. How intriguing, ground coriander! I am glad that you reposted the recipe, the donuts do look like something i must make soon!

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  7. These look amazing. I love that you used apple cider in the batter and in the topping. For me, as cider-y as possible, please. Great recipe.

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  8. Oh this sounds so delicious!! Apple Cider!! Yum! I made doughnuts this week after so many months. My son is crazy about them.!! I must try these next

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  9. Oh that looks delicious! In my part of the world we have only 2 climates summer and somewhat winter! But I don't mind the weather much to enjoy such scrumptious doughnuts 😍

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  10. Haha, love the title of this post! So ready for fall. And these look AMAZING!

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  11. Yummmm!! I can smell the delicious aroma now. That smell of cinnamon reminds me of Fall. I love apple cider and you're right, it can be expensive if you find the "good stuff". My favorite season is Autumn but I'm like you, I simply hate winter. I'll be trying out your recipe.

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  12. Oh wow, never thought of making doughnuts with apple cider! What a great way to use it, and how perfect for the fall. These would be so good with some spiked apple cider on the side

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