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A Nerd Cooks » Breakfast » Donuts

Apple Cider Donuts

Oct 2, 2018 · Modified: Feb 26, 2023 by Lauren Pacek · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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If Apple Cider Donuts don't say "Fall", then I don't know what does.

These donuts have a lot going for them: lightly tangy apple cider flavor, dense cake-y texture, and crunchy cinnamon sugar coating. There's no wrong way to eat them, but trust me when I say that these donuts are at their best when eaten fresh and hot.

Apple Cider Donuts | A Nerd Cooks

If you're wary of making fried donuts at home, don't be!

I've shied away from making fried donuts in the past because, frankly, I was a little intimidated. I stuck to baking my donuts in a donut pan. Not that there's any shame in doing that. Baked donuts are great, too!

But I'm here to tell you that frying your own hot, crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside donuts at home really isn't a big deal! There's a little bit of forethought involved, since you need to prep the dough, let it chill, and cut out the donuts. But once you're past that, it's pretty simple and everything comes together quickly.

How do these donuts come together?

First, you heat canola oil in a heavy bottomed pot (Dutch ovens work well here) until your candy thermometer lets you know you've reached the desired temperature. Gently add the donuts (avoid splashing the hot oil!), flipping them a couple of times over the course of 2-3 minutes so that they cook evenly on both sides. Let the cooked donuts drain a little before tossing them in a big dish of cinnamon and sugar. And there you have it!

Hot, delicious, homemade donuts.

Apple Cider Donuts | A Nerd Cooks

Looking for other donut recipes?

I've shared baked donuts with you before. Check out these (aptly named) Easy Chocolate Cake Mix Donuts and Pumpkin Streusel Donuts for a a couple of examples.

This Apple Cider Donuts recipe is ever so slightly adapted from Table for Two.

✨ Recipe

Apple Cider Donuts | A Nerd Cooks

Apple Cider Donuts

Lauren Pacek
These donuts have a lot going for them: lightly tangy apple cider flavor, dense cake-y texture, and crunchy cinnamon sugar coating. There's no wrong way to eat them, but trust me when I say that these donuts are at their best when eaten fresh and hot.
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Chilling dough 3 hours hrs
Total Time 3 hours hrs 45 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 donuts + donut holes
Calories 305 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the donuts

  • 2 cups apple cider
  • 3.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • ⅔ cup brown sugar packed
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 eggs
  • 6 tbs unsalted butter melted and cooled
  • 1 qt canola oil for frying

For the cinnamon-sugar coating

  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1.5 tbs ground cinnamon

Instructions
 

To prepare the donut dough

  • In a small saucepan, bring the apple cider to a boil. Cook over high heat until the cider reduces by half. Allow it to cool completely.
  • While the cider reduces, whisk the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, kosher salt, baking soda, and spices together in a large bowl.
  • In a medium-sized bowl or a large measuring cup, whisk the eggs, cooled butter, and cooled cider together.
  • Make a well in the dry ingredients then pour the liquid ingredients into the well. 
  • With a spatula, fold the flour into the liquid ingredients. Once a sticky dough comes together, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours (overnight would be ideal).

To make the cinnamon-sugar coating

  • On a plate or in a shallow container (I used a pie dish), thoroughly combine the sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.

To fry the donuts

  • Once ready, divide dough in half then on a well-floured surface, roll out the dough into ½-inch thickness and use a donut cutter to cut the dough (see notes).
  • Heat the canola oil in a heavy-bottom pot (I use a Dutch oven) to 375 degrees F. 
  • Fry the donuts, 2-3 at a time, until they are golden brown (about 2-3 minutes on each side).
  • Place the fried donuts onto a paper towel to drain for a minute. Then immediately toss them in the cinnamon sugar mixture.

Notes

Notes:
  • I don't have a donut cutter, so I used two round cookie cutters of different sizes to cut the outline of the donut and then to cut the donut hole.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 305kcalCarbohydrates: 56gProtein: 5gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 297mgFiber: 2gSugar: 27g

Disclaimer: Nutritional information is a generated estimate and is not guaranteed to be accurate.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Apple Cider Donuts | A Nerd Cooks

Pin this recipe for later!

Apple Cider Donuts | A Nerd Cooks

More Donuts

  • Chocolate Cake Mix Donuts | A Nerd Cooks
    Chocolate Cake Mix Donuts
  • Chocolate Peppermint Cake Donuts | A Nerd Cooks
    Chocolate Peppermint Cake Donuts
  • Pumpkin Streusel Donuts | A Nerd Cooks
    Pumpkin Streusel Donuts

I love it when you share my recipes!

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    5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Melissa

    October 03, 2018 at 10:56 am

    5 stars
    So funny, I saw the picture and thought, Oh those are perfect for fall! Then I read the first line of your post. I would like a dozen, please!

    Reply
  2. Melissa

    October 03, 2018 at 10:56 am

    5 stars
    So funny, I saw the picture and thought, Oh those are perfect for fall! Then I read the first line of your post. I would like a dozen, please!

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Lauren! I'm the recipe developer, photographer, and writer here at A Nerd Cooks. I'm a 30-something wife, mom, and scientist with a passion for mixing cocktails, brewing buzzy coffee drinks, and making other delicious beverages at home.

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