The Best Homemade Apple Cider Donuts (Baked, Soft & Coated in Cinnamon Sugar!)
Nothing says crisp fall mornings, cozy sweaters, and apple-picking season like a warm apple cider donut. This beloved treat — fragrant with cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove — captures the very essence of autumn in every soft, cake-like bite. Whether you’ve enjoyed them at apple orchards, fall festivals, or farm stands, there’s something wonderfully nostalgic about biting into a freshly made cider donut coated generously in cinnamon sugar.
But here’s the best part:
You can make them at home, and they’re WAY easier than you think.
This recipe uses a baked method (not fried), so you don’t have to deal with hot oil, deep fryers, or splattering. Yet, you still get that perfect apple cider donut flavor thanks to two tricks:
- Reduced apple cider for concentrated apple flavor
- Warm fall spices that fill your kitchen with that iconic donut aroma
These donuts come together quickly, bake in about 10 minutes, and finish with a warm dip in melted butter followed by a cinnamon-sugar coating that sticks beautifully. Soft, fluffy, warmly spiced — it’s impossible to eat just one.
This recipe is perfect for fall breakfasts, holiday brunches, weekend baking, Halloween parties, Thanksgiving dessert spreads, or simply cozy afternoons with a hot drink. And because they’re baked, you can enjoy them with less fuss and less mess.
Let’s dive into everything you need to make truly amazing homemade apple cider donuts!
Why You’ll Love These Apple Cider Donuts
✔ Big apple flavor thanks to reduced cider
✔ Baked, not fried — easier, cleaner, healthier
✔ Ready in under 30 minutes
✔ Soft, moist, cake-style crumb
✔ Perfectly coated in cinnamon sugar
✔ Smells like a fall festival in your kitchen
✔ Delicious warm or at room temperature
If fall had a mascot, it would be these donuts.
What Makes Apple Cider Donuts Special?
Apple cider donuts are iconic in American fall food culture. Traditionally found at orchards and pumpkin patches, they’re known for:
- A dense yet soft cake donut texture
- Warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, or cloves
- A coating of cinnamon sugar
- A subtly tangy apple flavor
The key secret is reduced apple cider. When boiled down, the cider intensifies, creating a sticky, aromatic, apple-rich syrup that infuses the batter with its signature flavor.
You can reduce cider ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to a week — making this recipe even faster.
Ingredients for Apple Cider Donuts
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ⅛ tsp cloves (optional but gives depth)
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup reduced apple cider (start with 1.5 cups and simmer until thickened)
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 4 tbsp melted butter for dipping
How to Make Apple Cider Donuts (Step-by-Step)
1. Make the Reduced Apple Cider
Pour 1½ cups apple cider into a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until reduced to ¾ cup. This takes about 10–15 minutes and gives you that concentrated apple flavor.
2. Prep Your Donut Pans
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease two 6-cavity donut pans.
3. Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Set aside.
4. Combine the Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk melted butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla. Stir in the reduced apple cider once slightly cooled.
5. Make the Batter
Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix gently until just combined. Do not overmix — this keeps the donuts soft and tender.
6. Fill the Donut Pans
Transfer batter to a piping bag or zip-top bag with the corner snipped. Pipe batter into donut molds about ¾ full.
7. Bake
Bake 10–12 minutes, or until donuts spring back when touched. They should be lightly golden.
8. Coat in Cinnamon Sugar
Mix sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl. Brush warm donuts with melted butter, then dip both sides in cinnamon sugar until fully coated.
9. Enjoy Warm!
Apple cider donuts taste best warm and freshly coated — but they stay soft for days.
Apple Cider Donuts
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease donut pans.
- Simmer apple cider until reduced to 3/4 cup. Cool slightly.
- In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
- In another bowl, mix melted butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, and reduced cider.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients until just mixed. Do not overmix.
- Pipe batter into donut pans about 3/4 full.
- Bake 10–12 minutes until donuts spring back when touched.
- Dip warm donuts in melted butter, then coat in cinnamon sugar.
Notes
Tips for the Best Apple Cider Donuts
Reduce Your Cider — Don’t Skip This
This is the secret to flavor. Without reducing the cider, you won’t get that iconic taste.
Don’t Overmix
Overmixing makes dense donuts. Mix only until you no longer see flour streaks.
Coat While Slightly Warm
The cinnamon sugar sticks best when the donuts are warm and lightly brushed with butter.
Use Fresh Spices
Spices lose intensity over time. Fresh cinnamon and nutmeg = the BEST fall flavor.
Try Different Coatings
- Cinnamon + brown sugar
- Pumpkin spice sugar
- Powdered sugar
- Maple glaze
Variations
Brown Butter Apple Cider Donuts
Use browned butter in place of melted butter for an extra nutty richness.
Apple Cider Donut Holes
Bake batter in a mini muffin tin and roll in cinnamon sugar.
Maple-Glazed Apple Cider Donuts
Mix powdered sugar + maple syrup for a sticky glaze.
Apple Chunk Donuts
Fold in finely diced apples for more texture.
Serving Suggestions
Serve warm with:
- Hot apple cider
- Pumpkin spice latte
- Chai tea
- Vanilla ice cream
- Fresh apple slices
Perfect for:
- Fall breakfasts
- Halloween parties
- Thanksgiving brunch
- Weekend baking
- School bake sales
Storage Info
Room Temperature: 2–3 days in airtight container
Refrigerator: 5–6 days
Freezer: Up to 2 months (freeze uncoated; coat after reheating)
To reheat: Warm in microwave for 8–10 seconds.
