Apple Cider Donut Recipe

Here’s a comprehensive guide to making apple cider donuts with various options including baked, fried, air fryer, sourdough, vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free, donut cake, and muffins.

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Ingredients

• Dry Ingredients:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Wet Ingredients:
  • 1 and 1/2 cups apple cider (reduced to about 1/2 cup)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar (or sugar substitute for sugar-free)
  • 1/4 cup melted butter (or coconut oil for dairy-free)
  • 2 large eggs (or flax eggs for vegan)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Reduce the Apple Cider:

In a saucepan, simmer the apple cider over low heat until reduced to about half its volume (approximately 20 minutes). Let it cool slightly.

Preheat Oven:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a donut pan.

Mix Dry Ingredients:

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.

Combine Wet Ingredients:

In another bowl, mix the reduced apple cider, sugar, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla until well combined.

Combine Mixtures:

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Avoid overmixing.

Fill the Pan:

Spoon or pipe the batter into the donut pan, filling each cavity about halfway.

Bake:

Bake for about 10-12 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Coat (Optional):

For added flavor, dip warm donuts in melted butter and then in a mixture of sugar and cinnamon.

Fried Apple Cider Donuts

Ingredients

Use the same ingredients as above but add:

• Oil for frying

Instructions

Prepare the batter as above. Heat oil in a deep fryer or heavy pot to about 375°F (190°C). Drop spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil and fry until golden brown on both sides.

Drain on paper towels and coat with cinnamon sugar if desired.

Air Fryer Apple Cider Donuts

Instructions

Prepare the batter as for baked donuts. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Place the filled donut pan in the air fryer basket.

Cook for about 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Allow cooling slightly before coating with cinnamon sugar.

Vegan Apple Cider Donuts

Substitutions

• Use flax eggs in place of regular eggs.
• Substitute melted coconut oil or applesauce for butter.

Gluten-Free Apple Cider Donuts

Substitutions

Use gluten-free all-purpose flour blend in place of regular flour.

Sourdough Apple Cider Donuts

Instructions

Use your sourdough starter in place of some of the flour and liquid in the recipe.Adjust hydration based on your starter’s consistency.

Apple Cider Muffins

Follow the baked donut recipe but pour the batter into muffin tins instead of a donut pan.Bake at the same temperature for about 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Donut Cake

Instructions

Prepare batter as for baked donuts but pour it into a greased cake pan. Bake at the same temperature for approximately 25-30 minutes or until done.

This versatile recipe allows you to enjoy apple cider donuts in various forms while catering to dietary preferences!

Best way to store leftover apple cider donuts

For storing leftover apple cider donuts, it’s best to keep them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’re typically best enjoyed within a day or two, but can last for up to 3 days. Some sources suggest they can last 5 to 7 days when stored properly at room temperature.

Storing them in the refrigerator can extend their life up to 4 days. However, if you’re not planning to eat them right away, freezing is an option for longer storage, up to 3 months. Be aware that any sugar coating may dissolve from moisture, so consider not coating them until serving or freezing them without the coating.

To reheat, you can let them sit at room temperature, microwave them, or warm them in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 5 minutes. For apple cider donut bread pudding, keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

How to reduce apple cider quickly

To reduce apple cider quickly, bring 3 cups of apple cider to a simmer in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally. Simmering the cider will allow it to reduce.

Other tips for reducing apple cider:

Boil cider in a pot over high heat, stirring occasionally, until reduced to the desired amount. Reduce the heat as the cider begins to thicken to avoid scorching. The bubbles will get smaller, and the boil will look somewhat “foamy”. Be sure to use unfiltered, preservative-free, organic apple cider for best results.

Monitor the cider’s progress using a skewer to measure how far down the cider has evaporated. When done, the volume should be about ⅛ of its original height. For a smaller batch, simmer 1/2 cup of apple cider with cinnamon, orange juice, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice for 20-30 minutes until it reduces to half its size and turns a dark amber color.

How to make these donuts less sweet?

To make apple cider donuts less sweet, consider a few adjustments. You can reduce the overall amount of sugar in the recipe, and try using a combination of granulated and brown sugar to balance the sweetness.

Some recipes suggest using unsweetened applesauce to add sweetness and moisture naturally, which can reduce the need for as much added sugar. For the topping, instead of a traditional cinnamon-sugar coating, you can use a mixture of cinnamon and a sugar substitute, or even a light dusting of apple pie spice.

Additionally, some recipes suggest grinding freeze-dried apples with sugar for a more natural apple flavor that isn’t overly sweet. When using sugar substitutes, be mindful of their sweetness levels and how they might affect the donut’s texture and browning.

Balancing Sweetness & Flavor

To balance sweetness and flavor in donuts, consider these tips:

Add a touch of acidity to the glaze or donut itself, such as lemon zest or juice, to offset the sweetness. Citric acid can make flavors brighter and less overwhelmingly sweet. Incorporate a pinch of salt into the glaze or donut dough.

Salt balances sweetness and acidity, enhancing overall flavor. Some discovered by accident that salt in cinnamon sugar created a “lovely kind of salty sweet balance. Pair sweet donuts with slightly bitter beverages like coffee or tea.

Experiment with contrasting flavors by pairing sweet donuts with tangy or sour beverages like lemonade or tart fruit juice. Make the donut base less sweet so it complements the glaze.Consider adding spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice to the donut or glaze.

Incorporate unsweetened applesauce to give the donuts a naturally sweet flavor. Instead of traditional icing sugar-based glazes, explore options like ganache or nappage (apricot jelly). Introduce contrasting textures, such as pairing a soft donut with a crunchy topping like nuts or granola.

Strawberry jelly can add a guaranteed bit of sweetness and a unique salt-and-pepper sugar. Use a good quality maple syrup for a glaze with caramel and hickory tones that balances sweetness.