Easy Apple Cider Cake Donuts
These Apple Cider Cake Donuts are soft, tender, and packed with cozy fall flavor from reduced apple cider, fresh grated apple, cinnamon, and nutmeg. They're baked until golden, brushed with butter, and coated in cinnamon sugar for a delicious homemade fall treat.
Servings: 12 Donuts
Calories: 220kcal
Ingredients
- For the Donuts
- 1½ cups apple cider
- 1 small apple peeled and finely grated
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup buttermilk
- Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Instructions
- Reduce the cider: Add apple cider to a saucepan and simmer over medium heat for 15–20 minutes, until reduced to about ¾ cup. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Prepare the apple: Peel and finely grate the apple. Gently squeeze out some excess moisture.
- Combine dry ingredients: Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium bowl.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, beat softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and creamy.
- Add eggs: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla.
- Make the batter: Add the cooled cider and buttermilk, alternating with the dry ingredients. Mix just until combined.
- Fold in apple: Gently fold the grated apple into the batter. Do not overmix.
- Fill donut pan: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 12-cavity donut pan. Pipe or spoon batter into the cavities, filling each about ¾ full.
- Bake: Bake for 12–16 minutes, or until lightly golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool: Let donuts cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
- Coat: Mix sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl. Brush warm donuts with melted butter and toss in the cinnamon sugar.
- Serve: Enjoy warm.
Notes
- Reducing the apple cider concentrates its flavor and gives the donuts a stronger apple taste.
- Use apple cider rather than apple cider vinegar.
- Finely grate the apple so it blends evenly into the batter.
- Don't overmix once the flour is added.
- Don't overfill the donut pan.
- Coat the donuts while they're still warm so the cinnamon sugar sticks well.
Nutrition
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 180 mg