Apple Cider Donuts
If you're unable to get to the apple orchard this year, you can prepare these sweet homemade Apple Cider Donuts in the comfort of your kitchen. These moist and flavorful treats are made with spice and everything nice!
LEVEL: Intermediate
Ingredients
Ingredients for Donuts
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup apple cider
Ingredients for Topping
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 stick butter, optional
Method of Preparation
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 2, 6-cavity doughnut pans (or a 12-cup muffin tin) with nonstick spray. In a medium bowl, add the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg and whisk to combine. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time and mix until well incorporated after each addition, scraping the bowl as necessary. Beat in the vanilla extract.
- Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until incorporated. With the mixer running, add the apple cider in a slow, steady stream and mix to combine. Scrape the bowl well to make sure the batter is homogeneous.
- Spoon the batter into prepared doughnut pans, filling them about 2/3 of the way full (you can also do this using a disposable piping bag or a resealable plastic bag with a 1/2-inch opening cut from one corner). Bake until evenly golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the thickest portion comes out clean, 12 to 15 minutes. Rotate the pans halfway through baking. (If you are making muffins, divide batter evenly between the prepared cups and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, rotating halfway through.)
- While the doughnuts bake, whisk the granulated sugar, brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon together in a small bowl to combine.
- If you roll the donuts in the sugar mixture while they are still hot, no butter is necessary. If the donuts have already cooled off, melt one stick of butter and gently brush over the donuts before rolling in cinnamon sugar.
- Let the doughnuts cool for 5 minutes after baking.
Chef Tip: Reduce 1 cup of apple cider on stove top to ½ cup for a stronger flavor