Make these delicious homemade apple cider donuts anytime of the year with this easy recipe. Baked and not fried!
Making Cider Donuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare donut pan by spraying with non-stick cooking spray or grease with vegetable oil/lard and set aside.
Place apple cider or apple juice in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce heat and simmer until the liquid has reduced down to 1/2 cup of cider (about 7-10 minutes). Remove from heat and add butter to warm reduced cider and allow mixture to cool. Remove 2 Tablespoons of apple cider and set aside for the topping.
Combine the cooled cider/butter mixture with granulated sugar, egg, milk and vanilla extract and whisk together until smooth.
In a large bowl combine baking powder, brown sugar, salt, flour, cinnamon and baking soda. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir to combine.
Spoon batter into prepared donut pan about 2/3’s full in each tray. Bake in preheated oven for about 10 to 12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the thickest portion comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow donuts to rest for about 5 minutes then turn them out onto a cooling rack.
Making the Topping and Coat Donuts
Combine granulated sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl and set aside. Melt butter and add to the 2 Tablespoons of apple cider reduction. Using a pastry brush, brush a light coating of the cider/butter mixture onto both sides of the donuts. Then place donut in the sugar/cinnamon mixture making sure both sides of the donut are coated with extra sweetness. Serve donuts warm and store any leftovers in a closed container.