Do you really need an excuse to eat a good donut. Do you prefer cake or fried donuts? Growing up in the midwest, I am definitely a cake donut gal. In fact, when I learned you can bake them in donut pans.

I have had fun creating some unique flavors for the family. They are baked so no guilt, haha. This is the first year we have not gone to an apple orchard and indulge in their Apple Cider Donuts. 

So we decided to make our own version of baked apple cider doughnuts that we prepped at night for a quick weekday breakfast treat. 

Apple Cider Baked Donuts Recipe 

Baked doughnuts should not only be a weekend treat.  With a little preparation the night before you can make these apple cider doughnuts in the time needed to preheat your oven.  

HOW TO PREP DOUGHNUTS TO MAKE LATER

REDUCE YOUR APPLE CIDER. 

For the most robust flavor, you will want to boil down your apple cider.  This recipe calls for 1/2 cup of apple cider.  We recommend adding 1 cup of cider to a sauce pan and allow it to boil to half.  This took about 15 minutes and a few times measuring!

Allow to cool slightly, cover and put in fridge to make the next day. (you can cool it and use it the same day but we are sharing how I made this make ahead doughnuts)

HOW LONG CAN BUTTER SIT ROOM TEMPERATURE

Butter can sit at room temperature for 2 days, so placing it out before heading up to bed is acceptable. 

Measure out dry ingredients. 

Measure out the sugar and flour mixtures in bowls and simply cover and allow to sit on the counter. 

MAKE THE DOUGHNUT BATTER WHILE OVEN PREHEATS

There is no magic way to make donut batter.  It comes together quickly as you wait for the oven to preheat. 

BEST WAY TO FILL A DONUT PAN

When we make muffins I like to use a Cookie Scoop.  When I make baked donuts, the best method is putting the batter in a piping bag or ziploc bag.

Pipe the batter into the tins and tap the pan on the counter to flatten them out.  Simple and foolproof.

Bake the donuts per the directions and allow to rest for about 10 minutes. 

BAKED 

Unmold the doughnuts and put them on a baking rack.  Immediately baste the doughnuts with some melted butter and dip into the sugar/cinnamon mixture.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO EAT A HOMEMADE BAKED DOUGHNUT

I tried one right after I dipped it and it was still warm and one cooled.  Personally I think you get more of the cider flavor by letting them cool.

For your sweet Donut Day celebrations, first, make some homemade donut recipes like these Simple Cinnamon Baked Doughnuts Recipe or Triple Chocolate Coffee Cake Donuts Recipe and who can resist these fried short cut Peanut Butter Jelly Donuts.

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Apple Cider Baked Donuts Recipe

Yield: 12 donuts

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

This recipe yields the classic flavor of baked cider doughnuts dusted in cinnamon sugar mixture

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Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), at room temperature (divided)
• ¾ cup light brown sugar
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup apple cider reduced to 1/2 cup

Instructions

1. Boil 1 cup of cider to Reduce to 1/2 cup of cider.

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 2 6-cavity doughnut pans with nonstick spray. In a medium bowl, add the flour, baking powder, salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and nutmeg and whisk to combine. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream 10 tablespoons butter, brown sugar and 1/4 cup granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time and mix until well incorporated after each addition, scraping the bowl as necessary. Beat in the vanilla extract.

Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until incorporated. With the mixer running, add the apple cider in a slow, steady stream and mix to combine. Scrape the bowl well to make sure the batter is homogeneous.

Fill doughnut pan with batter, filling them about 2/3 of the way full (you can also do this using a disposable piping bag or a resealable plastic bag with a 1/2-inch opening cut from one corner). Bake until evenly golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the thickest portion comes out clean, 12 to 15 minutes. Rotate the pans halfway through baking.

While the doughnuts bake, whisk the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon together in a small bowl to combine. In a separate small bowl, melt the remaining 6 tablespoons of butter in the microwave.

Let the doughnuts cool for 5 minutes after baking, then unmold them from the pans, brush with the melted butter and dredge them in the cinnamon sugar while they are still warm. Serve immediately, or let cool to room temperature.

Notes

TO prep these the night before, reduce your cider, measure out the dry ingredients and allow the butter to sit out overnight.

Recommended Products

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• 
  Wilton Non-stick 6-Cavity Donut Baking Pans, Multipack of 2

Nutrition Information

Yield 12 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 313Total Fat 16gSaturated Fat 10gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 72mgSodium 201mgCarbohydrates 39gFiber 1gSugar 25gProtein 3g

All information and tools presented and written within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on stayingclosetohome.com should only be used as a general guideline.