Name: Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 and 3/4 cup flour; 1 1/4 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 tsp cinnamon; 1 tsp apple pie spice; 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter (room temperature); 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1/4 cup sugar; 2 eggs (room temperature); 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1/2 cup apple cider; 4 tbsp unsalted butter (melted); 2/3 cup sugar; 1 tsp cinnamon

These baked apple cider donuts are tasty any time of year, but to me they just scream fall. Apple orchards, fall festivals, and all the apple and pumpkin baking really get me in the autumn mood! With apples three ways in these donuts, you won’t mistake them for anything else! Apple cider, unsweetened apple sauce, and apple pie spice (ok this isn’t technically from an apple…but it’s in the name) bring these donuts to life. YUM!

These are a perfect pairing to your morning coffee, but equally delicious as a little dessert treat, or even a sweet addition to your brunch spread. They are so super fluffy and soft, just the way I like my donuts!

After baking they get brushed with melted butter, which helps all the cinnamon and sugar stick to the outsides. So simple yet so tasty and satisfying! If you don’t have a donut pan you can also make these in a muffin tin, your baking time could be longer. Just check with a toothpick, and make sure they bounce back to the touch. They’re very soft and fluffy, much like a muffin.

Hope you enjoy!

If you’re looking for a fabulous fall recipe, here is my personal favorite, that happens to be a reader favorite too!

Roasted Garlic Butternut Squash Lasagna Roll Ups

I’d love your feedback, ratings, and comments below! Make sure to share and tag on social media for any tasty recipes you’ve enjoyed! Thank you for your support!

5 from 1 vote

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Course Breakfast, Snack

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 12 donuts

Author Laura Doerr

Ingredients

1 and 3/4 cup flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp apple pie spice
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter room temperature
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup apple cider

For the cinnamon sugar topping

4 tbsp unsalted butter melted
2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray donut pans, or muffin tins with nonstick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and apple pie spice.
In a separate medium bowl or stand mixer, cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs and apple sauce, beat until combined. Add in vanilla until combined.
Stir in the dry ingredients and apple cider, alternating back and forth between stirring. Stir just until batter comes together. Spoon or pipe into donut pans. Bake for 15-17 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean, and donuts spring back to the touch.
Cool on a wire rack in the donut pan for about 5 minutes before removing donuts from the pan.
While the donuts are cooling, melt butter in a small bowl. In a separate shallow dish, combine the sugar and cinnamon. Brush donuts with melted butter, and dredge donuts in cinnamon sugar mixture. Enjoy immediately or at room temperature. Best enjoyed the same day!

Recipe Notes

If you do not have donut pans you can use a muffin tin, or mini muffin tin, but your baking times may vary. Be sure to check periodically with a toothpick.