Baked Apple Cider Donuts are the ultimate fall treat: soft, fluffy, and rolled in spiced cinnamon sugar with just the right hint of apple cider. They're cozy, aromatic, and so easy to make at home, so you can bake a fresh batch whenever the craving hits.
Apple cider donuts are a seasonal classic, showing up at pumpkin patches, apple orchards, and fall festivals. But here's the secret: they're just as good (maybe better) baked right in your own oven. You don't need a fryer, and the reduced apple cider gives them that rich, concentrated flavor that makes every bite taste like autumn.
This apple cider donut recipe pairs perfectly with a mug of Chai Tea Latte for the coziest fall snack ever. If you liked this recipe, you should try our Homemade Glazed Donuts or Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Muffins next.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Baked, not fried. Forget messy hot oil, these donuts are baked in a simple donut pan. They're still soft, fluffy, and perfectly golden, with way less fuss (and way less cleanup).
- Packed with cozy fall flavor. Reducing the apple cider concentrates its flavor, then pairing it with warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves makes these donuts taste like pure fall in every bite.
- That cinnamon-sugar coating. The donuts are brushed with melted butter and rolled in spiced sugar for that bakery-style finish. It's crunchy, sweet, and gives the perfect contrast to the soft donut inside.
- Easy and foolproof. The batter comes together quickly with pantry staples and bakes up in just 10 minutes. Even if you've never made donuts before, this recipe is simple enough to nail on your first try.
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Ingredients and Substitutions
To make these easy and delicious baked apple cider doughnuts, you will need the following ingredients (see recipe card below for quantities):
- apple cider - The star flavor! Reduce it to concentrate the flavor and give the donuts a bold apple punch.
- all-purpose flour - The base of the donuts, giving them structure and a tender crumb.
- baking powder + baking soda - Work together for lift and lightness.
- kosher salt - Enhances all the warm spice flavors.
- spices - cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, and nutmeg adds warmth and fall flavor. Nutmeg is in the batter only, while the rest are used in both the donuts and the sugar coating for double the cozy spice. For a shortcut, swap the spices with 2 teaspoon of apple pie spice.
- butter - Unsalted butter is melted into the batter for richness, and also used for brushing the donuts before coating them in spiced sugar.
- brown sugar - Sweetens the donuts and adds a caramel-like note. We use light brown sugar, but feel free to use dark brown sugar if that's what you have on hand.
- sour cream - Keeps the donuts moist and tender, adding a little tang. Greek yogurt can be substituted.
- unsweetened apple sauce - Boosts the apple flavor and helps keep the donuts light and soft.
- egg - Provides structure and helps bind the batter.
- vanilla extract - Adds warmth and rounds out the sweetness.
- granulated sugar - Used in the spiced sugar coating for a crisp, sweet finish.
Equipment
You'll also need measuring cups and spoons, a medium saucepan for reducing the cider, a whisk, two mixing bowls, a rubber spatula, a 6-cavity donut pan, and a pastry brush for applying the melted butter before coating the donuts.
Instructions
Step 1: Make the Apple Cider Donuts
- Reduce the cider. Pour the apple cider into a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then continue boiling until reduced to ½ cup, stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool for 15 minutes.
- Mix dry ingredients. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg until well combined.
- Mix wet ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the cooled reduced apple cider, melted butter, brown sugar, sour cream, apple sauce, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
- Combine wet and dry. Add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, then whisk until just combined and smooth (do not overmix).
- Fill the pans. Prepare 2 doughnut pans by lightly spraying with cooking spray. Transfer the batter into a piping bag and pipe evenly into each donut cavity, filling each about ¾ full.
- Bake the donuts. Bake in a 350°F preheated oven for 10-11 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Step 2: Make the Spiced Sugar Coating
- Mix the coating. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together white sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves until evenly combined.
- Coat the donuts. Once donuts are cool enough to handle, brush with melted butter using a pastry brush. Immediately toss in the spiced sugar mixture until coated, then return to the cooling rack.
- Repeat. Repeat with remaining donuts.
Expert Tip: Reduce the Apple Cider for Intense Flavor
Don't skip this step! Boiling down the apple cider concentrates its flavor, which is what makes these donuts taste so rich and seasonal. Start with 1 ½ cups and simmer until reduced to about ½ cup - that's where the magic happens.
More Tips and Tricks
- Use a piping bag. For neat donuts, spoon the batter into a piping bag (or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped) and pipe it into the donut pan. This avoids mess and gives evenly shaped rings.
- Don't overmix. Stir the batter until just combined to keep the donuts tender. Overmixing will make them dense and chewy instead of soft and fluffy.
- Generously coat with butter. When brushing the donuts before rolling them in sugar, be generous with the butter. It helps the coating stick and gives that classic bakery-style crunch.
- Cool slightly before coating. Let the donuts rest for 1-2 minutes out of the pan before brushing with butter and rolling in sugar. If they're too hot, the sugar melts instead of sticking.
- Switch up the coating. Instead of cinnamon sugar, try powdered sugar, maple glaze, or even a drizzle of caramel sauce for a fun twist.
Recipe Variations
- Make donut holes. Make the batter in a mini muffin pan to create donut holes. Roll them in the same spiced sugar for bite-sized treats.
- Add a glaze. Skip the sugar coating and dip in a simple apple cider glaze made with powdered sugar, cider, and vanilla for a shiny, sweet finish. See our Homemade Glazed Donuts.
- Add pumpkin. Double up on the fall flavor by adding pumpkin! Add ¼ cup pumpkin puree to the batter along with a little extra cinnamon for a pumpkin-spice upgrade.
- Make them vegan. Swap the sour cream for vegan yogurt and the egg for a flax egg. Use plant-based butter for the coating.
- Dip in chocolate. After baking, dip the cooled donuts halfway in melted dark chocolate and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar for a decadent twist.
- Stuff them. Pipe apple butter or jam into the donuts for a surprise filling. It's like a handheld apple pie! See our Baked Jelly Donuts with Strawberry Jam.
Storage
How to Store
Keep cooled donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
How to Reheat
Warm in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or in a 300°F preheated oven for 5 minutes to refresh softness. Roll in extra sugar if needed.
How to Freeze
Freeze cooled, uncoated donuts in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature, brush with butter, and roll in spiced sugar just before serving.
How to Serve
These baked apple cider donuts are the definition of cozy. They're perfect as a grab-and-go breakfast, a sweet snack with coffee, or the star of your fall dessert table. Serve them fresh and warm for maximum apple-cider magic.
These are my favorite recipes to pair with these apple donuts:
Fall Desserts
Why not create a full autumn dessert spread? Pair these with pumpkin muffins, caramel apple pie, pecan bars, or cinnamon cookies for a cozy, seasonal treat table. These desserts complement each other perfectly with warm fall flavors and a mix of soft, crunchy, and gooey textures.
FAQ
Absolutely! Baking donuts in a donut pan gives them a soft, cake-like texture without needing to deep fry. While fried donuts are more yeasty and chewy, baked donuts are fluffier and lighter. They're also easier, faster, and a little less indulgent, making them perfect for home bakers.
Yes! Traditionally, many apple cider donuts are fried, but this recipe bakes them in the oven. You'll still get soft, fluffy donuts with a spiced sugar coating, but without the mess of hot oil. Baking also makes them easier to prepare at home, especially if you don't have a deep fryer.
Apple cider donuts are a fall classic because they capture everything we love about the season in one bite: warm spices, cozy apple flavor, and that nostalgic orchard treat vibe. Reducing apple cider concentrates its flavor, making each donut taste sweet, spiced, and perfectly autumnal. They're basically fall wrapped in cinnamon sugar.
Baked apple cider donuts are a bit lighter than fried donuts since they're made without hot oil. They still taste indulgent but aren't as heavy or greasy. That said, they're still a sweet treat, so enjoy them in moderation. The good news is you can enjoy two without feeling weighed down the way fried donuts sometimes do.
Yes, though the apple cider flavor is more subtle than drinking apple cider straight. Reducing the cider intensifies the apple flavor and pairs beautifully with cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. The result is a donut that tastes warmly spiced with a gentle apple tang, rather than overwhelmingly sweet. It's balanced and comforting.
The name comes from the main ingredient: apple cider, which is boiled down to infuse flavor into the donuts. When apple orchards in the U.S. began selling fall treats, apple cider donuts became their signature. The cider gives them a unique taste that sets them apart from plain cake donuts.
Apple cider donuts are said to have originated in the northeastern United States, where apple orchards and cider mills are abundant. They became especially popular in New England as a seasonal treat during fall harvests. Today, they're a staple at orchards, fairs, and pumpkin patches all over the country.
More Apple Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
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Recipe
Baked Apple Cider Donuts
- Total Time: 31 minutes
- Yield: 12 donuts
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the flavors of fall with these delicious baked apple cider donuts coated in spiced cinnamon sugar. An easy to make and cozy fall treat!
Ingredients
For the apple cider donuts:
- 1 ½ cups (360 grams) apple cider
- 1 ½ cups (180 grams) all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- pinch of ground nutmeg
- 3 tablespoons (42 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup (110 grams) light brown sugar
- ¼ cup (60 grams) sour cream
- 2 tablespoons (30 grams) applesauce, unsweetened
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
For the spiced sugar coating:
- 1 cup (200 grams) white sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
Make the apple cider donuts:
- Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare 2 donut pans by lightly spraying with cooking spray.
- Add apple cider to a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then continue boiling until reduced to ½ cup, stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool for 15 minutes.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg until well combined.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cooled reduced apple cider, melted butter, brown sugar, sour cream, apple sauce, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
- Add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, then whisk until just combined and smooth (do not overmix).
- Transfer the batter into a piping bag and pipe evenly into each donut cavity, filling each about ¾ full.
- Bake for 10-11 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Make the spiced sugar coating:
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together white sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves until evenly combined.
- Once donuts are cool enough to handle, brush with melted butter using a pastry brush. Immediately toss in the spiced sugar mixture until coated, then return to the cooling rack. Repeat with remaining donuts.
Notes
How to store: Keep cooled donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
How to reheat: Warm in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes to refresh softness. Roll in extra sugar if needed.
How to freeze: Freeze cooled, uncoated donuts in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature, brush with butter, and roll in spiced sugar just before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
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