Name: Amazing Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts in 30 Minutes
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 cup granulated sugar; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 cup apple cider; 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted; 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; For the topping:; 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Oh, fall! It’s my absolute favorite time of year, and you know what that means – all things apple cider! If you’ve been dreaming of warm, cozy doughnuts that taste like autumn in a bite, then you’ve landed in the right place. These Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts are seriously a game-changer. Forget the mess of frying; we’re going for pure, unadulterated deliciousness with a simple bake.

I remember the first time I perfected this recipe. My kitchen was filled with the most incredible aroma of cinnamon and sweet apples, and it just felt like pure comfort. These aren’t just doughnuts; they’re little hugs in cake form. They’re packed with that amazing apple cider flavor without being fussy or complicated. Trust me, once you try these baked beauties, you’ll wonder why you ever bothered with anything else!

Gather Your Ingredients for Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts

Alright, let’s get our little baking station ready! Having all your ingredients prepped beforehand makes whipping up these doughnuts a breeze. We’re going for that perfect balance of cozy spices and sweet apple flavor here. Trust me, using fresh ingredients for things like your spices and good quality apple cider really makes a difference. Don’t worry if you don’t have everything *exactly* to the gram; baking is also about feel, but these measurements will get you spot on!

Dry Ingredients for Your Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts

First up, the dry stuff! This is where we build the structure and all those warm, autumnal flavors. We’ve got 2 cups of all-purpose flour for our base, 1 cup of granulated sugar to sweeten things up, and then the magic trio: 2 teaspoons of baking powder to give them a nice lift, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon for that classic cozy spice, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg to add a little depth. Oh, and don’t forget a pinch of 1/4 teaspoon salt to balance all that sweetness!

Wet Ingredients for Your Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts

Now for the moistening agents that bring it all together! This is what makes our doughnuts tender and flavorful. You’ll need 1 cup of apple cider – the star of the show, really! Then, we have 1/4 cup of unsalted butter that’s been melted, 1 large egg to bind everything, and a splash of 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract for that extra touch of sweetness. Whisk these babies together until they’re nicely combined.

Ingredients for the Cinnamon Sugar Topping

And for that irresistible coating that makes these doughnuts truly sing! It’s super simple: 1/4 cup of unsalted butter, melted so it coats nicely, along with 1/2 cup of granulated sugar and a generous 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Just mix these together in a little bowl while your doughnuts cool, and get ready for that perfect crunchy, sweet, spicy finish!

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts

Alright, let’s get down to business! Making these baked apple cider doughnuts is so much fun, and honestly, pretty straightforward. You’ll feel like a baking pro in no time. Just follow these steps, and you’ll have a batch of warm, spiced goodness ready before you know it!

Preparing Your Doughnut Pan and Oven

First things first, let’s get our oven preheated to 350°F (175°C). This is super important for getting that perfect bake. While it’s heating up, grab your doughnut pan. You’ll want to grease and flour it really well. I like to use a little cooking spray and then a light dusting of flour, making sure to get into all those nooks and crannies. This step is crucial, trust me – nobody wants their beautiful doughnuts sticking!

Combining the Dry Ingredients

Now, grab a big bowl. We’re going to whisk together all our dry ingredients: the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and that little pinch of salt. Whisking them together really well ensures that the baking powder and spices are evenly distributed. This way, every single doughnut gets that perfect lift and cozy flavor. No one wants a bland bite!

Combining the Wet Ingredients

In a separate, smaller bowl, let’s get our wet ingredients ready. Just give the apple cider, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract a good whisk. You want it all to be nicely combined, no streaks of egg yolk or anything. This makes it easier to incorporate into the dry ingredients without overmixing.

Mixing the Doughnut Batter

Here comes the fun part! Pour those lovely wet ingredients right into the bowl with your dry ingredients. Now, gently mix them together until they’re *just* combined. Seriously, don’t go crazy with the mixing! Overmixing develops the gluten too much, and we want tender, cakey doughnuts, not tough ones. A few little lumps are totally fine; they’ll bake out.

Filling the Doughnut Pan

Time to fill those prepared doughnut molds! You can use a spoon, but I find piping the batter in from a piping bag (or even a Ziploc bag with a corner snipped off) gives you the cleanest results. Fill each cavity about two-thirds full. They’ll puff up a bit as they bake, so don’t overfill them, or you’ll end up with doughnut blobs instead of cute rings!

Baking Your Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts

Pop that pan into your preheated oven and let them bake for about 10 to 12 minutes. How do you know they’re ready? The easiest way is the toothpick test! Stick a toothpick right into the center of a doughnut. If it comes out clean, they’re done. If there’s wet batter, give them another minute or two and check again. We want them perfectly cooked through.

Cooling and Topping Your Doughnuts

Once they’re baked, let the doughnuts cool in the pan for just a few minutes – maybe 5 minutes? This helps them firm up a little. Then, carefully invert the pan and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. This is important! You don’t want to dip warm doughnuts into the topping; they’ll fall apart. While they’re cooling, mix up that melted butter, sugar, and cinnamon for the topping. Once the doughnuts are totally cool, just dip each side into that glorious mixture. Best part!

Tips for Baking Perfect Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts

Okay, so you’ve made them, and they’re wonderful, right? But sometimes, you want to take things just a little bit further, or maybe you hit a tiny snag. Don’t you worry! I’ve got a few little tricks up my sleeve to make sure your baked apple cider doughnuts are absolutely perfect every single time. These are the little things that make a big difference!

Enhancing Apple Flavor in Your Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts

If you’re a serious apple flavor fan, like me, you can really amp things up! The secret is to reduce your apple cider. Just pour about 2 cups of cider into a small saucepan and simmer it over medium heat until it’s reduced by about half. It’ll get thicker and more concentrated. Let it cool completely before using it in the recipe. Trust me, this makes the apple flavor in your baked apple cider doughnuts sing! For more baking tips, check out this sitemap.

Adding Texture with Chopped Apples

Want a little something extra in every bite? Try adding some finely chopped apples right into the batter! A small apple, peeled and diced super small, works perfectly. It adds little pockets of soft apple goodness that are just divine. Just make sure they’re chopped really fine so they bake through nicely with the doughnuts.

Ensuring Doughnuts Cool Completely Before Topping

This is a big one, folks! Make sure your doughnuts are *completely* cool before you dip them into that glorious cinnamon sugar mixture. If they’re even a little warm, they can get crumbly and fall apart. Plus, the topping won’t stick as well. Patience here is key for that perfect, beautiful coating!

Frequently Asked Questions About Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts

Got questions about these yummy baked apple cider doughnuts? I totally get it! Baking can sometimes feel like a science experiment, but don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Here are a few things people often ask me!

Can I Make Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts Without a Doughnut Pan?

Absolutely! If you don’t have a fancy doughnut pan, no problem at all. You can totally use a standard muffin tin! Just fill the muffin cups about two-thirds full, just like you would with a doughnut pan. You’ll get cute little cakelets instead of rings, but they’ll taste just as amazing. You might need to bake them a minute or two longer, so keep an eye on them!

How Should I Store Leftover Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts?

These are best enjoyed fresh, honestly! But if you do have leftovers, just pop them into an airtight container at room temperature. They should stay pretty good for about 2-3 days. I wouldn’t recommend refrigerating them, as that can sometimes make them a bit dry. Just keep them covered, and they’ll be a nice treat for a couple of mornings. For more breakfast ideas, explore our site.

Can I Substitute the Apple Cider in This Recipe?

You sure can! If you can’t find apple cider, good quality apple juice is your next best bet. It won’t have quite the same depth of flavor, but it will still work! Just be aware that apple juice might be a bit sweeter, so you might want to slightly reduce the sugar in the doughnut batter if you notice it. Other than that, it should be a pretty straightforward swap!

Nutritional Information for Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts

Just so you know, these numbers are estimates and can vary a bit depending on the exact ingredients you use! But on average, one of these yummy baked apple cider doughnuts has about 250 calories. You’re looking at around 10g of fat, with 6g of that being saturated, and about 38g of carbohydrates. We’ve got about 3g of protein and roughly 25g of sugar per doughnut. Enjoy! For more dessert recipes, check out our other posts.

Share Your Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts Experience

I just LOVE hearing from you all! If you made these delightful Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts, please drop a comment below and let me know how they turned out. Did you love them? Any fun twists you added? Feel free to rate the recipe too! And if you snapped a pic, tag me on social media – I can’t wait to see your beautiful creations!