If I were to make a list of my all-time favorite recipes, these baked apple cider donuts would be there. I was beyond excited to make these and was thrilled with the results! Apple cider donuts with a glaze? Or apple cider donuts with a sugar coating? Well, I couldn't decide on whether or not to use a sugar coating or a glaze so I decided to do both. They're both equally delicious, and neither will disappoint. Once you make these, you'll be adding them to your fall must-bake list every year. Trust me, apple cider donuts will be your fall go-to.
Ingredients:
Donuts: {adapted from The Farmer's Daughter}
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 eggs, room temperature
2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup apple cider
1/4 cup buttermilk
Apple Cider Glaze: {adapted from Freutcake}
1 cup apple cider
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar {To be honest, I eyeballed this. Better to start with a 1/2 cup and go from there.}
Sugar Topping:
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/4 tbsp cinnamon
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350℉. Grease your donut pan with non-stick baking spray.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, light brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
3. In a medium bowl, mix together the softened butter and eggs until fluffy. {It's important that your eggs are at room temperature and that you're unsalted butter is softened at room temperature! Otherwise, the butter will re-solidify when you add the apple cider and buttermilk.} Add the apple cider and buttermilk and mix well.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just blended. Do not overmix!
5. Place your batter into a pastry bag or a ziploc bag. Then, pipe into the prepared donut pan, filling each mold about 3/4 full.
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
7. Cool on a cooling rack before dipping into the glaze and topping with sugar.
Apple Cider Glaze:
1. Bring the apple cider to a simmer in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer until reduced to about 1/2 cup, about 5-8 minutes. Keep an eye on it! Then, transfer to a small bowl.
2. Add the confectioners' sugar and whisk until smooth.
*The amount of confectioners' sugar is dependent on you. I wanted a thicker glaze so I kept adding a tablespoon of confectioners' sugar at a time til I had my desired consistency. And if at any time the glaze becomes too thick for your liking, just add in a tablespoon of apple cider til you get it where you want it.
Sugar Topping:
1. Mix together the light brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon. Top donuts with sugar after dipping in the apple cider glaze.
