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    Home » Recipes » Desserts » Baked Apple Cider Donuts

    Baked Apple Cider Donuts

    By Sherri On August 5, 2021, Updated September 27, 2021 4 Comments

    201 shares
    4.67 from 3 votes
    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    stack of five apple cider donuts on silver baking sheet with parchment paper
    a stack of five donuts

    Infused with all the fall flavors of apple cider, cinnamon, and nutmeg, then coated in a cinnamon sugar sprinkle, these baked apple cider donuts are made in a doughnut pan without any deep frying and are so moist and tender!

    Anything apple or cinnamon, or a combination of both is one of my favorite reasons to get out from under the warm blankets in the morning! Apple cinnamon baked oatmeal and apple scones are two of my morning staples throughout the fall. The oatmeal is quick and easy on weekday mornings and the scones are a weekend specialty. These apple cider donuts are for any time in between!

    stack of five baked apple cider donuts on a small silver tray

    Table of contents

    • Simple Baked Donuts
    • Why this recipe works
    • Ingredients/shopping list
    • How to Make Apple Cider Donuts
    • Variations/Substitution
    • Tips
    • FAQ’s
      • Other Breakfast Recipes

    Simple Baked Donuts

    These apple cider donuts are an easy, baked treat that beautifully encompasses all the fall flavors like apple cider and cinnamon spice. This delicious donut is moist and tender like an old-fashioned donut but it’s made without yeast and there is no deep-frying so it’s more cake-like and slightly denser. It is fantastic! I treat it as much like a breakfast pastry as I do as an afternoon snack or dessert!

    One of the most amazing things about this recipe is that it is super simple to come together in a quick 30 minutes or less, all in one bowl! It’s a healthy version of a fried donut but doesn’t skimp on any of the flavors. In fact, it’s loaded with all things apple cinnamon, and spice! It’s made with actual apple cider which only adds to the moisture and depth of autumn essence, so it just oozes comfort and cozy! Homemade baked donuts might just be my new favorite irresistible baked good…and I’m not exactly sure if that’s a good thing or slightly dangerous. That cinnamon sugar coating gets me every time!

    closeup of several baked donuts on a small silver tray

    Why this recipe works

    • Quick and easy. These donuts are a one bowl recipe that are ready to bit into in under 30 minutes.
    • There is never a wrong time to eat them! Eat them with your morning tea or coffee, with a cold glass of milk in the afternoon or with a scoop of ice cream for dessert.
    • Deliciously flavored with warming spices, but nothing overly complicated. All of the ingredients are basic kitchen staples.
    • They’re donuts! They’re baked, healthier versions of the classic kind, but they’re still donuts. Maybe even better!
    • Your house will smell like a bakery. That alone is reason to bake a batch.
    several small glass bowls with ingredients for apple cider donuts

    Ingredients/shopping list

    • All-purpose flour – The foundation of the donut, all purpose is a great choice for structure and works alongside the baking powder to create great texture. Cake flour also works wonderful!
    • Sugar – Needed for sweetness!
    • Baking powder – There is no yeast in these donuts, so the baking powder helps to create the rise needed.
    • Cinnamon & nutmeg – Work in conjunction to give us all the autumn feels.
    • Egg – Used for binding all of the ingredients together and holding the adorable structure of these baked donuts.
    • Whole milk – Full fat is needed for richness and moisture which gives these donuts perfect consistency and texture.
    • Apple cider – Readily available at your grocery store, especially when the cooler weather hits. You can substitute with unsweetened apple juice.
    • Canola oil – As oil does in baking, it helps keep everything nice and moist!
    • Vanilla extract – The perfect flavor that does to sweet ingredients that salt does to savory. It enhances the other flavors.

    How to Make Apple Cider Donuts

    This recipe will come together before the rest of the house wakes up, or before your kids get home from school. Either way, they’ll be ready (and then gone) in no time!

    Step 1: First, combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Then, add in the wet ingredients on top of the flour mixture.

    Step 2: Whisk to combine, just until there are no more lumps. Be careful not to overmix. Overmixing will cause your donuts to be denser than you’d like them to be because you’re getting rid of too much of the air that will keep them light.

    white bowl with flour, white bowl with donut batter and a 6 donut baking tin filled with batter

    Step 3: After preparing the donut muffin tin with nonstick spray, pour ¼ of the doughnut batter in each groove. It should come up to about ¾ full. This Wilton donut pan is my favorite! Don’t have a donut pan. See my notes below on how to make baked donuts in a muffin pan.

    Step 4: Bake for 16-17 minutes until golden brown around the edges. To test it out, use a toothpick and insert it into the thickest part of the donut. If it comes out clean, it’s ready.

    twelve baked donuts on a wire rack

    Step 5: Mix cinnamon and sugar together in a separate small bowl (preferably a shallow one on easier dipping) and once the donuts are out of the oven, dip them into the cinnamon sugar mixture while they are still warm. Place on a wire rack to cool and then dig in!

    Variations/Substitution

    1. Substitute canola oil for vegetable oil.
    2. For gluten free version, substitute one-to-one gluten free flour or oat flour.
    3. Substitute unsweetened applesauce for the oil for a lower calorie option. Apple sauce is a great swap, not only for moisture but even more apple flavor..
    4. Substitute whole milk for low-fat milk or non-dairy milk like almond milk, oat milk, soy milk or rice milk. It will change the texture a bit, but they’ll definitely still be awesome.
    5. Although fresh apple cider is best, you can substitute unsweetened apple juice if needed.
    6. Use brown sugar or coconut sugar instead of white sugar.
    closeup of baked donuts on a baking sheet

    Tips

    • Use a resealable plastic bag and but a corner out or use a piping bag to fill the donut tin with the batter.
    • Dip in a little melted butter before dipping in the cinnamon/ sugar mixture.
    • Dipping in the cinnamon sugar mixture is optional. They’re also great plain or glazed.
    • Serve warm or cooled at room temperature.
    • For a little extra something special, some people enjoy reducing their apple cider to a more concentrated, thicker liquid and using that for a more intense flavor.

    FAQ’s

    How to Store?

    These donuts will keep fresh at room temperature for up to 3 days, in an airtight container for maintaining moisture. They’re also freezer friendly, for up to 2 months stored in a ziplock bag. Separate them with parchment paper, so you can take one out as you want it.

    How to Reheat?

    The quickest and easiest way to reheat these baked gems would be to thaw in the fridge overnight if they are still frozen and then pop in the microwave for 20 seconds at a time.


    Hw to Make Baked Donuts without a Donut Pan?

    If you don’t happen to own a donut pan, you can also use a standard muffin tin along with some aluminum foil. Cut 4-5 inch square pieces of foil and place your finger into the center and wrap the foil tightly around your finger. Carefully slide the foil off of your finger. Then place the foil cup into each hole of the muffin tin a press it into place and curl up the sides a little as well.t.

    Other Breakfast Recipes

    Baked Glazed Vanilla Donuts

    Homemade Crepes

    Protein Waffles

    Pumpkin Waffles

    Sheet Pan Pancakes

    If you like this recipe, please leave us a comment and rate the recipe below. You can also find us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram!

    stack of five apple cider donuts on silver baking sheet with parchment paper

    Baked Apple Cider Donuts

    Infused with all the fall flavors of apple cider, cinnamon, and nutmeg, then coated in a cinnamon sugar sprinkle, these baked apple cider donuts are made in a doughnut pan without any deep frying and are so moist and tender!
    4.67 from 3 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast, brunch, Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 16 minutes
    Total Time: 26 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 193kcal
    Author: Sherri Hagymas

    Ingredients

    • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • 1 large egg
    • ½ cup whole milk
    • ½ cup apple cider
    • 1 tablespoon canola oil
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    For the cinnamon/sugar mixture

    • ½ cup sugar
    • ½ tablespoon cinnamon

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and spray a donut pan with non-stick spray.
    • In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg and stir to combine well.
    • Add in the egg, milk, apple cider, oil, and vanilla extract and whisk just until there are no lumps of flour remaining, careful not to over-mix.
    • Pour approximately ¼ cup of batter in each section of the donut pan, filling it about ¾ full
    • Bake for 16-17 minutes until golden brown around the edges and a toothpick inserted into the thickest section comes out clean.
    • While donuts are baking, mix the sugar and cinnamon together in a small shallow bowl. Dip the warm donuts in the mixture and place them on a wire rack to cool.

    Notes

    Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
    For a gluten free version, use gluten free one-to-one flour or oat flour.
    Substitute canola oil for vegetable oil.
    Substitute unsweetened applesauce for the oil for a lower calorie.
    Substitute whole milk for low fat milk or non-dairy milk like almond milk, soy milk, oat milk or rice milk.
    Substitute unsweetened apple juice for the apple cider.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1donut | Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 119mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 38IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @ToSimplyInspire or tag #ToSimplyInspire!
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    Filed Under: Breakfast, Desserts, Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lynn

      September 11, 2021 at 6:42 pm

      I tried making these with apple juice and almond milk. They seemed like a muffin more than a donut, but that could be b/c of my substitutions or that’s what a baked donut is going to look and taste like. I may have over mixed too. I don’t have a donut muffin pan. I tried the foil technique but they kept falling over. As the donuts cooked I was able to readjust them. Maybe you could post photos or a brief video on how to do this correctly (l.o.l.)?

      Reply
    2. Sharon Lorraine

      August 25, 2021 at 7:57 pm

      4 stars
      Looks great but there are no amounts of any thing. How much Flour. Eggs, vanilla, salt. Oil.

      Reply
      • Sherri

        August 27, 2021 at 8:30 am

        Hi Lorraine, all the ingredients are listed about in the recipe card. 🙂 https://www.tosimplyinspire.com/baked-apple-cider-donuts.html/comment-page-1#recipe

        Reply
      • Wesley

        September 27, 2021 at 7:21 pm

        When I was looking at it bits had all the amount of everything to put into it.

        Reply

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    Hi there! I’m Sherri I love creating a variety of easy recipes that anyone can make and enjoy! From healthy to comforting, I hope you find something that inspires you!.

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