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Best Easy Baked Apple Cider Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar

baked apple cider donuts - featured image
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These baked apple cider donuts are incredibly soft, moist, and coated in a crackly cinnamon sugar layer. Made with reduced apple cider for intense flavor, they come together in one bowl and bake in under 15 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (240 ml) apple cider
  • 1 3/4 cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup (50 g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1/3 cup (80 g) plain Greek yogurt
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • For the cinnamon sugar coating:
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons melted butter (for brushing)

Instructions

  1. Reduce the apple cider: Pour 1 cup apple cider into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about 1/3 cup (12-15 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a standard 6-cavity donut pan with butter or nonstick spray.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  4. In a separate small bowl, whisk the egg until frothy. Add Greek yogurt, melted butter, vanilla extract, and cooled reduced cider. Whisk until smooth.
  5. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir gently with a spatula until just combined (a few lumps are fine).
  6. Transfer batter to a piping bag or Ziploc bag with corner snipped. Pipe batter into donut cavities, filling about 3/4 full.
  7. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in pan for exactly 2 minutes.
  8. While donuts bake, mix coating sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a separate bowl.
  9. Turn donuts out onto a cooling rack. While still warm, brush each donut with melted butter, then dip into cinnamon sugar mixture to coat all sides.
  10. Place coated donuts back on rack to set for a few minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Don’t skip reducing the apple cider—it concentrates the flavor and prevents a watery batter. Use room temperature ingredients for best texture. Overmixing will make donuts tough. Cool in pan for exactly 2 minutes to prevent sticking. Coat donuts while warm for the best cinnamon sugar adhesion. For a gluten-free version, use a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend. For dairy-free, use coconut oil or vegan butter and dairy-free yogurt.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked apple cider donuts, cinnamon sugar donuts, easy fall donuts, baked donuts, apple cider donuts

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