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Home » Recipes » Desserts & Baking

baked apple cider donuts (tons of apple cider flavor!)

September 13, 2023 46 Comments

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Apple Cider Donuts are the ultimate fall treat! Reducing the cider into a concentrated syrup (hands-off time!), and combining this with apple butter produces a deep apple cider flavor in these easy baked donuts. Warm donuts are brushed in a mixture of apple butter & reduced cider, and coated in apple pie spice sugar. Dare I say, they’re even better than ones from the apple orchard!

A stack of apple cider donuts coated in apple pie spiced sugar and drizzled with salted caramel sauce. this recipe

This recipe was originally published in Sept of 2018 as a fried donut recipe, but I just updated it in Sept 2023 with new photos and a baked donut recipe. The apple cider flavor is also much stronger in these! Please feel free to reach out via the contact form (found in the header of the website) if you would like the old recipe.

It never feels like fall until you’ve made the annual pilgrimage to the apple orchard for a paper bag filled with warm apple cider donuts, a steaming cup of cider, oh – and some apple picking. If you feel like every apple donut you’ve ever had is lacking in true apple flavor, prepare to have your faith in this fall treat restored with these homemade donuts!

Why you’ll love these Apple Cider Donuts:

  • Apple Cider Flavor – Unlike most cider donuts, these actually do taste like apple cider! Starting with more cider than most recipes, reducing it down to a syrupy consistency, and using a little bit of apple butter has proven to be the perfect formula for apple cider donuts that actually taste like their namesake!
  • Easy Baked Donuts – This easy donut batter comes together in just one bowl, with no mixer! These baked donuts are full of incredible flavor, and there’s no hot oil, messy paper towels, or frying to deal with.
  • Fluffy, Moist Donuts – This simple batter produces light, fluffy, and moist donuts that hold up for a few days in an airtight container!
A vintage tray with the baked apple cider donuts.

Ingredient Overview:

As always, the full recipe with measurements & directions can be found at the bottom of this post.

  • All-purpose flour – Spoon your flour into the measuring cup, then level it with a flat utensil for best results, or use a scale. Scooping the measuring cup directly into your flour will lead to too much flour, and a potentially dry bake.
  • Apple Cider – Do NOT use apple cider vinegar. Apple Cider and Apple Cider Vinegar are VERY different – one is apple cider like you get at the apple orchard, and the other one is just what the name says – vinegar.
  • Apple Butter – Apple butter is essential for amping up the apple flavor in these donuts, so I highly recommend making or buying some.
  • Butter – I always use salted buter for the best flavor, but feel free to use unsalted butter if you prefer.
  • Eggs – Use large eggs, at room temp.
  • Sour Cream – Use full fat sour cream, at room temp.
  • Milk – I used 2% milk, at room temperature.
  • Vanilla extract – Use real vanilla extract.
A stack of halves of the baked apple cider donuts.

Ingredient Substitutions:

  • Dairy-free – Use your favorite, trusted dairy-free sour cream and butter to make this recipe dairy-free.
  • Gluten-free – I have not tested a gluten-free version of this recipe. Let me know if you do!
  • Boiled Cider – If you don’t want to boil your own cider, you can purchase boiled cider online.

How to Make this Apple Cider Donut Recipe Step-by-Step:

Step 1: Reduce the Cider. Reducing apple cider is a simple process that’s literally just heating apple cider on the stove, stirring it occasionally, until it cooks down into boiled cider. Boiled apple cider has an almost syrupy consistency and a much more concentrated flavor. This step is essential to tasting any apple cider flavor in your baked goods!

A measuring cup full of syrupy reduced apple cider.

Step 2: Make the Donut Batter. This is a simple, one-bowl donut batter! Start with the wet ingredients. Whisk together melted butter, sugars, eggs, apple butter, reduced apple cider, sour cream, and vegetable oil in a large bowl.

A bowl of the wet ingredients whisked together.

Stir in the dry ingredients last, until just combined. Don’t over mix once the flour mixture has been added!

A bowl of the slightly lumpy batter.

Step 3: Bake the Donuts. Pipe the batter into pans that have been generously sprayed with cooking spray. Bake as directed in the recipe card below for best results.

A donut pan filled with the batter.

Let doughnuts cool in the pans for about 2 minutes, then use a butter knife to gently loosen them, and invert onto a greased cooling rack so they don’t stick.

A donut pan with the baked donuts.

Step 4: Brush Donuts with Cider & Dunk in Apple Pie Spice. We’re brushing a mixture of boiled cider and apple butter over our donuts for one last punch of apple cider flavor, and dunking them not just in plain ‘ol cinnamon sugar, but in apple pie spice sugar! Hellooo, flavor town!

Baked donuts on a wire rack, some coated in apple pie spice sugar.

Step 5: Optional – Salted Caramel Drizzle. If you, like me, can’t resist drizzling salted caramel sauce over anything and everything each fall, it pairs beautifully with these apple cider donuts! My 10-minute Salted Caramel Sauce recipe is easy and no-fail.

A close-up on an apple donut drizzled with caramel.

Serving + Storing this Recipe:

Enjoy these donuts while they’re still a little warm from the oven! These are best on the first day, but will hold up well in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.

Expert Success Tips:

  • Oven Thermometer – An oven thermometer will tell you if your oven is actually running at the temperature you set it to. Your oven may not be accurate. Accurate oven temperature is crucial for most bakes, so I leave an oven thermometer in at all times to keep an eye on my oven’s calibration.
  • Kitchen Scale – A food scale is the best way to make sure your flour is at the proper weight, since amounts will vary SO widely based on how you measure it, as well as the measuring cup you use, as they are not standardized.
  • Boiled Cider – You can do this 1-2 days ahead to break up the steps in this recipe a bit. Store it in a jar in the fridge until ready to use. It does need to come back to room temperature along with the other cold ingredients when making the batter.
A close-up on a cinnamon sugar coated donut with a bite missing.

FAQs:

Can I halve or double this recipe?

Yes you certainly can! I think you could double it as well, but you’d need quite a large mixing bowl and a very large pot for the cider. It might be easier to just make two separate batches of batter.

What are baked donuts like?

Baked donuts (not to be confused with cake donuts, which are a type of fried donut) have the texture of a moist, tender cake or muffin. They taste incredible and are made without the fuss of deep frying!

Do these donuts actually taste like apple cider?

Yes, they do! Reducing the cider to 1/8 of it’s original volume, or concentrating it by 8x ensures an apple cider flavor in the donuts! If you have tried recipes in the past that only have you reduce your cider by half, for example, that’s not going to be concentrated enough for the flavor to come through. Using apple butter in the donuts also brings out the apple flavor beautifully!

Recipe Variations:

  • Salted Caramel – My salted caramel sauce recipe pairs beautifully with these baked donuts!
  • Cinnamon Sugar – If you don’t want to use the apple pie spices in your spiced sugar, you can just use regular cinnamon sugar.
A close-up on two halves of an apple cider donut, showing the fluffy insides.

Special Tools:

  • Doughnut Pans – To make the donuts in the size pictured, use this slightly larger baked donut pan. To get slightly more yield from this recipe, use this standard size donut pan.
  • Liquid Measuring Cups – Did you know that liquid and dry measuring cups are not interchangeable? I highly recommend getting a set of glass measuring cups for all liquid measuring.
  • Donut Holes – If you want to make donut holes, try these adorable donut hole pans!

More Apple Recipes to Love:

  • Caramel Apple Cider Cookies
  • Salted Caramel Apple Galette
  • Cranberry Apple Crisp
  • Homemade Apple Fritters
  • Honeycrisp Apple & Kale Fall Salad
  • Caramel Apple Crumb Cake
  • Apple Cider Old Fashioned Cocktails
  • The Best Recipes to Make During Apple Season

Did you make this recipe? Snap a photo and leave a comment! 

Be sure to follow bluebowlrecipes on instagram and tag #bluebowlrecipes with your photo! You can also post a photo of your recipe to the bluebowlrecipes Facebook page. I’d love to see what you make!


A stack of apple cider donuts coated in apple pie spice sugar and dripping in caramel sauce.

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Apple Cider Donuts are the ultimate fall treat! Reducing the cider into a concentrated syrup (hands-off time!), and combining this with apple butter produces a deep apple cider flavor in these easy baked donuts. Warm donuts are brushed in a mixture of apple butter & reduced cider, and coated in apple pie spice sugar. Dare I say, they're even better than ones from the apple orchard!
5 from 15 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Dessert
Keyword: Apple Cider Donuts, Baked Donuts
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 38 minutes
Servings: 16 donuts
Calories: 328kcal
Author: Stephanie Simmons

Ingredients

For the Reduced Apple Cider

  • 7 and 1/3 cups apple cider This is NOT the same as apple cider vinegar – see note.

For the Donut Batter:

  • 1/2 cup salted butter, melted 113 grams, or 8 tablespoons
  • 1 cup granulated sugar 220 grams
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed 108 grams
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 2/3 cup reduced apple cider 226 mL
  • 1/4 cup apple butter, at room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup full fat sour cream, at room temperature
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned & leveled 325 grams
  • 4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg

For Brushing:

  • 1/4 cup reduced apple cider
  • 3 tbsp apple butter

For the Apple Pie Spice Sugar

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 5 and 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp allspice
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves

Optional, for Topping:

  • 1 batch salted caramel sauce recipe linked below

Instructions

  • Reduce the Apple Cider: Add the apple cider to a pot over medium high heat, and let it cook, stirring occasionally, for 35-45 minutes, until reduced to x amount
  • Prep: Preheat your oven to 350℉. Spray your donut pans well with nonstick spray. Set out a couple of cooling racks, placed inside of baking sheets to catch any cinnamon sugar.
    NOTE: Give your cooling racks a spray with nonstick spray before inverting the baked donuts onto them. This prevents the donuts from sticking to the racks – trust me on this.
  • Make the Batter: Melt butter in a large mixing bowl. Add the sugars and whisk until well combined. Whisk in the the eggs, apple cider, apple butter, vanilla, sour cream, and oil and mix until just combined. Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and spices and fold in with a spatula, just until the last streaks of flour disappear.
    Add batter to a piping bag or ziploc bag with the tip snipped off.
  • Bake: Pipe batter into the pans, filling only about 2/3 of the way full. Bake for 8-9 minutes. (See next step for while the donuts are baking.) A toothpick inserted will pull out some moist crumbs. Set pans on wire racks, and run a butter knife around the edges of the donuts, then let rest in the pans for 2 minutes before inverting onto the greased wire rack.
  • Coat the Donuts: While the donuts bake, stir together the apple cider and apple butter for brushing. Stir together the sugar and spices. Let the donuts cool just until you can handle them, but are still warm, then brush with the cider mixture and dunk in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
  • Serve + Store: Enjoy warm! Drizzle with homemade caramel sauce for extra deliciousness! Store cooled donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. Caramel sauced donuts need to be kept in the fridge.

Notes

Apple Cider: Please do not use apple cider vinegar, unless you want the most disgusting tasting baked good ever! Apple cider vinegar is just what it’s called – vinegar. We’re using apple cider – like you get from the apple orchard, or in a big jug at the grocery store. Apple juice is not quite the same but I suppose you could try it in a pinch. Get 100% apple juice if using instead of cider – you can check this at the top of the nutrition label on the bottle. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1donut | Calories: 328kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 243mg | Potassium: 172mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 46g | Vitamin A: 239IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 1mg

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. This in no way affects the cost of the items for you. It simply allows us to earn a small commission if you purchase an item using that link. Thanks for supporting Blue Bowl!

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Comments

  1. Tiffany says

    September 13, 2023 at 12:13 pm

    5 stars
    These were absolutely delicious and full of apple cider flavor, as promised!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      September 13, 2023 at 12:24 pm

      Thanks so much, Tiffany!

      Reply
  2. Cassandra says

    October 18, 2019 at 6:05 pm

    So excited about this recipe, but my dough came out on the runny side and all of my ingredients were in the right ratio. Should I have added more flour? If I add more flour, then I would wonder if I need to add an additional ratio of sugar as well? Would love to know your thoughts. Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Jamie says

    October 10, 2019 at 12:58 pm

    Hi,

    Looks delicious! Is it possible to make the dough ahead of time and then fry in the morning? If so, what do you recommend?

    Thank you,
    Jamie

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      October 10, 2019 at 1:00 pm

      Hi Jamie! Since this dough has yeast in it, I do NOT recommend making the dough and keeping it overnight – I think the yeast would die off and they wouldn’t turn out. For this recipe, follow the directions given for the best results! ? Hope you enjoy these!

      Reply
  4. Kelly Julien says

    October 06, 2019 at 6:03 pm

    Can you make this recipe the night before and chill the dough over night?

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      October 06, 2019 at 6:10 pm

      Hi Kelly! I can’t say for sure because I haven’t tried it – I’m sorry! My instinct says no (I’m afraid they might not puff up as nicely when you fry them) but let me know how it goes if you do try it.

      Reply
  5. Natalie says

    September 23, 2019 at 10:57 pm

    Can you make the dough the night before and leave in the fridge all night?

    Reply
  6. Renee says

    September 09, 2019 at 9:22 pm

    Has anyone tried these in an airfryer? I’m curious how they would turn out.

    Reply
  7. Chef Mireille says

    September 28, 2018 at 10:51 am

    5 stars
    I always get apple cider donuts when I visit the local farmers market here – the amish at the market always have them – now you are tempting me to make my own!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      October 03, 2018 at 4:05 pm

      Oo yes the farmers market ones are so good too! Hope you give these a try ☺️

      Reply
  8. April says

    September 26, 2018 at 12:37 am

    5 stars
    These were amazing! Apple cider donuts are my fav! The bowl in the bottom pic looks very familiar. Is it from Crate and Barrel?

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      October 03, 2018 at 4:08 pm

      Is it the brown bowl? I actually found it at a thrift store! And the white mixing bowl is from hearth and hand at Target.

      Reply
  9. Michelle says

    September 25, 2018 at 10:11 am

    5 stars
    I love anything with apple cider. I try to take it every day also, one tablespoon a day keeps the doctor away! I wonder if one donut a day does the same thing 🙂

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      October 03, 2018 at 4:08 pm

      Haha I love that idea Michelle!

      Reply
  10. Adriana Lopez Martin says

    September 25, 2018 at 12:19 am

    5 stars
    Wow what a decadent treat, my family loves donuts I might surprise them with homemade donuts following your recipe. Looks so yummy and then the sauce I need some!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      October 03, 2018 at 4:08 pm

      Thanks Adriana! I bet they would love that!

      Reply
  11. Cames says

    September 23, 2018 at 11:59 am

    UM OK, get these in my belly NOW! Thanks for sharing this recipe. It looks yummy!!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      October 03, 2018 at 4:08 pm

      Haha thanks! ??

      Reply
  12. Jacqui says

    September 23, 2018 at 4:47 am

    5 stars
    I love this recipe because it brings back so many memories of the time I spent travelling. I had so many donuts during the trip that it felt like I couldn’t live without them. It turned out that I could. But I do make some from time to time and these were amazing!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      October 03, 2018 at 4:09 pm

      Thanks Jacqueline! ❤️

      Reply
  13. Shernell P Cooke says

    September 22, 2018 at 10:02 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks for sharing the step by step process of these beautiful donuts. They tasted great!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      October 03, 2018 at 4:09 pm

      Thanks Shernell!

      Reply
  14. Kelly Anthony says

    September 22, 2018 at 3:27 pm

    5 stars
    I made these this morning!!! What a great day to celebrate the first day of fall!!!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      September 22, 2018 at 3:28 pm

      Horray! Enjoy! ❤️?

      Reply
  15. Sharon says

    September 22, 2018 at 2:42 pm

    5 stars
    Oh I absolutely love homemade donuts and I love them paired with caramel sauce. These were delicious and worth the effort!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      September 22, 2018 at 3:28 pm

      Thank you Sharon! Enjoy ❤️

      Reply
  16. Amanda says

    September 22, 2018 at 11:35 am

    5 stars
    That caramel sauce just puts these doughnuts over the top. They were seriously incredible!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      September 22, 2018 at 3:28 pm

      Right!? So good! ❤️

      Reply
  17. Gloria says

    September 22, 2018 at 8:32 am

    5 stars
    I have been craving some homemade donuts. These were delicious…and addictive. I just might have to make them again!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      September 22, 2018 at 3:30 pm

      Haha they are a little addictive! Enjoy ??

      Reply
  18. Stine Mari says

    September 22, 2018 at 4:24 am

    5 stars
    I’ve been craving normal Norwegian crispy and fluffy doughnuts for months now, but it’s a Christmas thing so I kind of should wait. But THEN this recipe appeared and I suddenly have the best excuse ever to make doughnuts now. This looks FANTASTIC!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      September 22, 2018 at 3:29 pm

      Haha glad I could give you an excuse to make donuts! ?❤️ Enjoy!

      Reply
  19. Vanessa says

    September 21, 2018 at 10:27 pm

    Thanks for the clear instructions and encouragement that doughnuts are easy to make at home! Dough doesn’t even need yeast? I didn’t know that! The caramel sauce is winner.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      September 22, 2018 at 3:30 pm

      Thanks Vanessa! Glad you found this helpful!! There are yeasted donuts but I didn’t use it for these ? Enjoy! ❤️

      Reply
  20. Aaron (@1dish4the4road) says

    September 20, 2018 at 12:23 pm

    These look so amazing. I just wanna eat the photos! And perfect for the fall..

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      September 22, 2018 at 3:30 pm

      Haha same here! Enjoy! ???

      Reply
  21. Sam says

    September 20, 2018 at 9:54 am

    5 stars
    Um, these were AMAZING! Thanks for sharing such delicious treats. 🙂

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      September 22, 2018 at 3:30 pm

      Thanks Sam! Glad to hear that – enjoy! ??

      Reply
  22. Rachel says

    September 20, 2018 at 9:34 am

    I’m so excited for fall and these look delicious. I love that they don’t use yeast!

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      September 22, 2018 at 3:31 pm

      Thanks Rachel! ❤️??

      Reply
  23. John S says

    September 20, 2018 at 9:09 am

    Those were amazing! Thanks for sharing this recipe.

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      September 22, 2018 at 3:31 pm

      Thank YOU! Enjoy! ???

      Reply
  24. Zdravka says

    September 20, 2018 at 8:52 am

    5 stars
    So delicious, I’ll be making these again.

    Reply
  25. Nicolas Hortense says

    September 17, 2018 at 8:38 pm

    These photos are making me salivate!! Absolutely amazing! (:

    Reply
    • Stephanie Simmons says

      September 22, 2018 at 3:31 pm

      Haha thank you!! ??

      Reply

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