Description
Spiced Apple Cider Donuts bring autumn warmth to your kitchen. Learn my simple recipe for these tender, cinnamon-sugar coated treats. Perfect for fall mornings!
Ingredients
Scale
- Dough Essentials:
- 2 ½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- ½ cup (120ml) reduced apple cider (from 1 cup original)
- ¼ cup (56g) unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup (60ml) whole milk
- Flavor Boosters:
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- Frying & Coating:
- 6 cups (1.4L) vegetable oil, for frying
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar (for coating)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (for coating)
Instructions
- Reduce the Apple Cider for Intense Flavor:: This first step? Non-negotiable for truly flavorful Spiced Apple Cider Donuts! Pour your apple cider into a small saucepan and bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Let it bubble gently, reducing by about half, until it’s thick and syrupy, roughly 1/2 cup. This concentrating process is where the deep apple flavor truly comes from. The scent of it simmering down fills my kitchen, making it smell like autumn itself. Don’t rush it! I always set a timer, because I’ve scorched it before, and that’s just a sad smell. Let it cool completely before using.
- Whisk the Dry Ingredients for Spiced Apple Cider Donuts:: In a large bowl, whisk together your all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and all those glorious spices—cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. This is the aromatic core of your Spiced Apple Cider Donuts. Make sure everything is really well combined; you want those flavors distributed evenly. I once didn’t whisk enough, and had a bite of pure baking soda in a donut, not fun! A good whisk ensures a consistent texture and taste.
- Combine Wet Ingredients and Form Dough:: In a separate medium bowl, whisk your large egg, that glorious cooled reduced apple cider, melted unsalted butter, and whole milk. Once combined, pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Mix *just* until combined. Honestly, this is where I mess up sometimes – overmixing leads to tough donuts, and nobody wants a rubbery Spiced Apple Cider Donut! A few lumps are totally fine; it means you haven’t overworked the gluten. The batter will be thick, almost like a cake batter, but that’s what we’re looking for.
- Chill the Dough for Easier Handling:: Cover your donut dough with plastic wrap and pop it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, or even an hour. This step is a game-changer for Spiced Apple Cider Donuts. It lets the gluten relax, makes the dough much easier to handle when you roll it out, and helps the flavors meld together beautifully. I used to skip this, thinking ‘who has time?’ but trust me, it’s worth it. It’s less sticky and easier to cut, saving you a headache later when shaping.
- Fry the Spiced Apple Cider Donuts to Golden Perfection:: Heat about 2-3 inches of vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven to 350-360°F (175-180°C). While the oil heats, roll out your chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/2-inch thickness. Cut out your donuts using a donut cutter or two different-sized round cutters. Carefully drop a few donuts into the hot oil. Don’t crowd the pot, seriously, I’ve tried to fry too many at once, and the oil temperature drops, making greasy donuts. Fry them for about 1-2 minutes per side, until they’re golden brown and puffed up. They’ll smell incredible, filling your whole house with that classic Spiced Apple Cider Donut aroma. Use a slotted spoon to transfer them to a wire rack set over paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Coat with Cinnamon Sugar While Warm:: While the Spiced Apple Cider Donuts are still warm, but cool enough to handle, toss them generously in that cinnamon sugar coating. I usually have a shallow dish ready with the mixture. Roll them around until they’re completely coated; the warmth helps the sugar stick. This is the absolute best part, seeing those Spiced Apple Cider Donuts transform into their final, glorious form. I always steal one right here, still warm, still sticky, a little messy. Yum! Serve them immediately for the best experience.