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Baked Cinnamon Crunch Apple Cider Donuts – made with mulled spiced cider, apple butter and cinnamon. Before baking, the donut dough is topped with a homemade cinnamon CRUNCH topping. Once baked, each warm donut is coated in cinnamon sugar, just like a classic apple cider donut, but more delicious. The cinnamon topping adds a delicious little something special to every spiced cider doughnut. They are the perfect way to celebrate the fall apple season!
If there is one fall recipe to cook, it should be these donuts. I know everyone is obsessed with pumpkins, but I’m happy to be the girl clamoring to embrace the fall apple season.
Don’t get me wrong – I love pumpkin, but apples always fly under the radar every season. And the truth is, fresh, crisp apples are my favorite!
Looks like it’s more than your favoritesand also because you all loved ours apple cider candle. It’s been fun to see so many of you burn candles this season!
When I said I was excited to make these donuts, I really meant it. I’ve been waiting weeks to share them. I hope you’ll be baking these all holiday season. They are very good!
As mentioned above, the cinnamon topping adds the sweetest crunch with every bite, making them like a classic cider donut, but even better. You’ll love them – or at least that’s my hope!
Details you need to know
Composition
- apple juice
- salted butter
- vanilla extract
- egg
- dark brown sugar
- flour
- baking powder, soda, salt
- cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger
- Apple with honey
- cinnamon sugar
Special Supplies
Steps
Step 1: boil apple juice
I recommend finding the best flavored water without any added sugar. If you can, pick up some fresh cider at your local farmers market. Or better yet, go apple picking and get some! Nothing beats a really good cider. This time of year is always delicious.
To help enhance the apple cider flavor throughout the donuts, we’ll simmer the juice until reduced.
Boiling the juice will concentrate the flavors and make it tastier. It’s an extra step, but I think it’s worth it. For even more flavor, you can add cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves or cardamom pods to cider.
Step 2: make donut batter
Mix the cider with the melted butter, apple butter, eggs, vanilla and dark brown sugar. Then add all the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and salt.
Then mix in chopped Honeycrisp apples. If you add apples, this kind of apple stew is similar.
Step 3: make cinnamon crisp
Cinnamon Crunchy Topping consists of brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, and butter mixed together until lumps form.
Step 4: to cook
Divide the dough between them donut pans (or just a cupcake pan). Then divide the cinnamon batter between the doughnuts, pressing the CRUNCH lightly into the wet batter to adhere.
As the donuts bake, the kitchen will smell like your favorite fall pine, it’s perfection.
Step 5: cinnamon sugar
Remove the donuts from the pan while they are still warm. Dip them in sweet cinnamon sugar, just like a classic apple cider donut.
Is there anything better than autumn?
Serve these with coffee or hot cocoa, or even a steaming mug of cider for the quintessential fall feast!
Looking for apple recipes? Here are some ideas:
Baked apple cider donuts with cinnamon maple syrup
Baked Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cider Donut Holes
Brown butter apple brownies with cinnamon maple syrup
Haunted Pumpkin Patch Margarita
Cinnamon Crunch Apple Butter Soft Pretzel Knots
Salted Maple Apple Tarte Tatin with Cinnamon Pumpkin Seeds
Cinnamon Apple Fritters with Vanilla Coffee Frosting
Finally, if you make these Baked Cinnamon Apple Cider Donuts, be sure to leave a comment and/or rate this recipe! Above all, I love hearing from you and I do my best to respond to every comment. And of course, if you make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking at the photos of the recipes you all make is my absolute favorite!
Baked Cinnamon Apple Cider Donuts
Portions: 16 donuts
Calories per serving: 231 kcal
Nutritional information is an estimate only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a 6-cup donut pan or 12-cup muffin tin with melted butter.2. Bring the apple cider vinegar to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until reduced by about 1/2 cup. Remove from heat. Mix with butter. Cool down.3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup of the mulled cider, eggs, apple butter, vanilla, and brown sugar until combined. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and salt. Mix until just combined. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of cinnamon sugar over the apples, then mix the apples into the batter.4. To shred. Mix brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and oil. 5. Distribute the batter evenly into the prepared pan, filling each cavity halfway. Cover the dough with cinnamon crackers. Bake for 13-14 minutes until done. Remove and cool for 5 minutes, then run a knife around the edges to release and invert the pan.6. Coat warm donuts in cinnamon sugar, tossing back and forth in sugar to coat generously. These are best eaten slightly warm, so enjoy!
