Apple Cider Doughnuts

By Charlie

Published Oct. 6, 2025

This is a recipe for a classic, baked apple cider doughnut. A fall staple.

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Apple Cider Doughnuts

Servings: 12 doughnuts

Equipment

  • doughnut pan

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 10 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp allspice
  • 3/4 cup apple cider

Cinnamon-Sugar Topping

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F. Allow the butter and egg to reach room temperature.
  • Cream the butter with the brown sugar and granulated sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing between additions. Add the vanilla extract.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice.
  • Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix until incorporated. While mixing, add the apple cider.
  • Bake at 350F for 12-15 minutes, until doughnuts are light brown in appearance. Allow doughnuts to cool.
  • For the topping, mix together the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Brush the doughnuts with the melted butter, and dip each one into the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Notes

  • Coating the doughnuts with too much butter in the final step can lend a strong buttery taste to the coated doughnuts. I recommend using only a small amount of butter with each doughnut. High quality or fresh butter can make a difference here.