Baked Apple Cider Donuts
These tender, moist Apple Cider Donuts are baked instead of fried, which makes them super easy! Dusting them in cinnamon sugar adds the perfect finishing touch.
There’s nothing in this world like a warm apple cider donut! While I do love Air Fryer Donuts and my Classic Vegan Donuts too, if you’re looking for a donut with cozy fall flavour, apple cider donuts can’t be beat. Although apple cider donuts are often fried, I’ve found that this is a type of donut that tastes every bit as good when it’s baked in the oven since it has a cake-y texture. Which is good news because that means you can make them at home with no muss or fuss!
What Makes These Apple Cider Donuts the Best Ever
You’re going to want to make these donuts all fall long—and maybe even into the winter months too! Here’s what makes them a favourite.
- Easily vegan. The only vegan substitute needed here is vegan butter. No expensive egg substitutes or anything like that!
- No yeast. These apple cider donuts aren’t yeasted, which means there’s no proofing and rising time, so this recipe for apple cider donuts is easy!
- Fresh flavour. A warm apple cider donut from a bakery is a real treat, but the ones that sit in clamshell containers at the grocery store for days or even weeks are often a disappointment. But bake them yourself at home and they’re warm, tender, and perfectly spiced.
Notes on Ingredients
If you bake a lot of fall treats, you probably have many of these ingredients on hand already! Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
- All-purpose flour – To make gluten-free apple cider donuts, substitute a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour.
- Brown sugar – I like to use light brown sugar for this recipe.
- Baking powder and baking soda
- Salt
- Spices – Ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, and ground cardamom.
- Apple cider – Be sure to use apple cider, not apple juice. Apple cider is refrigerated and has a darker, more opaque colour than apple juice.
- Unsweetened applesauce – Use a smooth applesauce, not chunky!
- Vegan butter – I like to use my homemade Vegan Butter.
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon sugar topping – This is made with sugar, ground cinnamon, and melted vegan butter.
How to Make Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Here’s a step-by-step view of the process of baking apple cider donuts.
- Prepare. Preheat your oven to 350ºF and grease a donut pan with oil or nonstick spray.
- Reduce the apple cider. Simmer the cider in a small pan set over medium heat until it reduces to 3/4 cup. Let it cool before adding it to the recipe.
- Mix the dry ingredients. Whisk the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices in a bowl.
- Mix the wet ingredients. Whisk the apple cider, applesauce, melted vegan butter, and vanilla extract in another bowl.
- Combine wet and dry. Fold the wet mixture into the dry ingredients just until combined.
- Bake. Divide the batter into the donut pan, either using a spoon or piping bag. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then finish cooling on a wire rack.
- Coat the donuts. Brush the donuts with the melted vegan butter, then roll them in cinnamon sugar.
Tips for Amazing Apple Cider Donuts
Follow these pointers and you can’t go wrong with these baked apple cider donuts!
- Reduce the apple cider. No, it’s not necessary, but I do recommend it because doing so really concentrates the cider and gives the donuts a more robust apple flavour, rather than simply tasting like cozy spices with a hint of apple.
- Use a silicone donut pan. Baked donuts are SO much easier to remove from a silicone pan! They make homemade donuts a breeze. If you have a metal pan, just be sure to grease it very well.
- Don’t over-fill the pan. Three-quarters full is perfect. If you fill a donut pan too high, you won’t end up with nicely shaped donuts.
Perfect Pairing Ideas
These baked apple cider donuts are a fun snack, but if you’re making them for breakfast, pair them with something savoury and protein-packed like Fluffy Tofu Scramble. Having a fall party? These donuts would be a hit with Hot Spiced Apple Cider!
How to Store
- Room temperature: Transfer the cooled apple cider donuts to an airtight container or bag and store at room temperature for 3 to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze these donuts in a freezer bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw them at room temperature or in the microwave.
More Fall Treats to Try
Enjoy friends! If you make this baked apple cider donut recipe, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!
Baked Apple Cider Donuts
Ingredients
For the Donuts
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, 240g
- ½ cup packed brown sugar, 100g
- 1 teaspoon baking powder, 5g
- 1 teaspoon baking soda, 5g
- ¼ teaspoon salt, 1.5g
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 3g
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 3g
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ~1g
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom, ~1g
- 1 ½ cup apple cider, 355mL
- ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce, 80g
- ⅓ cup melted vegan butter, 75g
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 5mL
For the Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- ¾ cup granulated sugar, 150g
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 3g
- 3 tablespoons melted vegan butter, 45g
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a donut pan with oil or non-stick spray.
- Reduce the apple cider (optional but recommended): In a small saucepan, simmer the apple cider over medium heat until it reduces to about 3/4 cup (175 milliliters). This intensifies the apple flavor. Let it cool slightly before using. Measure exactly 3/4 cup for mixing in the next steps. If you evaporated it too much add apple cider.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cardamon.
- In another bowl, whisk the reduced apple cider, applesauce, melted vegan butter, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and gently fold until just combined. Do not overmix; the batter should be slightly thick.
- Spoon or pipe the batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each cavity about ¾ full.
- Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the donuts cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
- In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon. Brush each warm donut with melted vegan butter, then roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture until well coated.
Notes
- Room temperature: Transfer the cooled apple cider donuts to an airtight container or bag and store at room temperature for 3 to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze these donuts in a freezer bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw them at room temperature or in the microwave.
Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
