Baked Apple Cider Donuts

by | Oct 20, 2025 | Recipes, Snacks & Sweets | 14 comments

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These baked Apple Cider Donuts captures the feeling of autumn perfectly. The mix of apple and cinnamon is the kind of scent that instantly makes your home feel cozy. I first came across apple cider donuts through the American tradition, where they’re a classic at apple orchards and festivals. This baked version brings the same warm, cozy feeling without the need for frying – just simple ingredients, the oven on and your home smelling like cinnamon and apples in the best possible way.

Apple Cider Donuts

Why I Love These Donuts

Some recipes are just made for slowing down. You know, the kind you bake not because you need something sweet, but because you want your home to smell like cinnamon and apples for the rest of the day. These bakes apple cider donuts are exactly that – soft in the middle, slightly crisp on the edges and full of warm autumn flavor.

A Few Tips

✔ Don’t live in the US? Use cloudy apple juice – it gives a richer, more authentic apple flavor, closer to what they do in the US. When Americans say “apple cider”, they mean a non-alchoholic, fresh-pressed, often unfiltered apple juice – basically cloudy apple juice. It’s tangy, slightly sweet, and very flavorful, and it’s what traditionally used for apple cider donut.

✔ Don’t skip reducing the cider – letting it simmer down intensifies the flavor and makes the donuts extra cozy.

✔ Watch the edges – baking at a slightly higher temperature at the end gives crispy edges while keeping the inside soft and chewy.

✔ Serve warm – these donuts are best right out of the oven with a hot drink. If you have leftovers, reheat gently for that fresh-baked feeling.

Fall in Every Bite

These baked apple cider donuts are the kind of recipe that feels like fall in every bite – sweet, spiced, and perfectly cozy. Whether you’ve tried the American version before or not, I think you’ll fall in in love with this homemade, oven-baked twist.

If you tried this recipe, let me know what you think in the comments below.
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Apple Cider Donuts

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Soft and fluffy baked Apple Cider Donuts with crispy edges and warm notes of cinnamon and apple. Inspired by the American fall classic, these donuts fill your kitchen with the coziest autumn scent - no frying needed.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Total Time 34 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 14 mini donuts

Ingredients
  

For the donuts:

  • 1 cup apple cider
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ⅔ cup granulated sugar (cane or white)
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ¼ cup neutral oil
  • 2 tbsp vegan butter
  • ½ cup unsweetened plant milk
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the coating:

  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • Melted vegan butter for brushing

Instructions
 

  • Reduce the apple cider: In a small saucepan, simmer apple cider until reduced to about ½ cup, 10-15 minutes. Let it cool.
  • Preheat oven & prepare pan: Heat oven to 190℃ (375℉). Grease your donut pan well with oil or vegan butter.
  • Make vegan "buttermilk": Stir vinegar into the plant milk and let sit for about 5 minutes.
  • Mix dry ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  • Mix wet ingredients: In another bowl, combine reduced apple cider, oil, melted vegan butter, "buttermilk" and vanilla.
  • Combine & fill pan: Stir wet into dry until just combined. Batter will be thick. Spoon or pipe into donut pan, filling each cavity about ¾ full.
  • Bake (crispy edge trick): Bake 8 minutes at 190℃℃ (375℉), then increase oven temp to 200℃ (390℉) for the last 4-6 minutes. This gives you a golden, slightly crisp outside while keeping the inside moist and chewy. They're done when a toothpick comes out clean and edges are lightly browned.
  • Cool slightly & coat: Let cool 5 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a wire rack. While still warm, brush with melted vegan butter and dip in cinnamon sugar.

Notes

Keyword apple bake, apple cider donuts, apple cider recipe, apple cinnamon, apple dessert, autumn baking, autumn flavor, baked donuts, cinnamon sugar, cozy baking, cozy fall recipe, easy fall recipe, homemade donuts, oven baked, spiced donuts, vegan donuts

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