If there was ever a fall recipe to bake, it has to be these doughnuts. I know everyone has an obsession with pumpkin, but I’m happy to be the girl shouting out to embrace the fall apple season too. Don’t get me wrong—I love pumpkin, but apples always fly under the radar every season. And the truth is, a fresh, crisp apple is my favorite!
Apparently, it’s many of your favorites, too, because you’ve all been loving our apple cider candle. It’s been so fun to see so many of you burning your candles this season! So when I said I was excited to bake these doughnuts, I really meant it. I’ve been waiting for weeks to share them. My hope is that you’ll be baking these throughout the holiday season. They’re that good! As mentioned above, the cinnamon crunch adds the sweetest little bit of crunch with every bite, making these just like the classic cider doughnut but even better. You’re going to love them—or at least that’s my hope!
The Details You Should Know
Ingredients
apple cider salted butter vanilla extract eggs dark brown sugar flour baking powder, baking soda, salt cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger Honeycrisp apples cinnamon sugar
Special Supplies
doughnut or muffin pan
Steps
Step 1: boil down the apple cider I recommend finding the best spiced cider with no added sugars. If you can, pick up some fresh apple cider from your local farmers market. Or even better, go apple picking and pick some up! Nothing quite beats really good apple cider. It’s always so flavorful this time of year. To help intensify the apple cider flavor throughout the doughnuts, we’re going to boil down the cider on the stove until reduced. Boiling the cider will concentrate the flavors and make it that much more flavorful. It’s an extra step, but one that I think is worth it. You can also add cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, or cardamon pods to the cider for even more flavor.
Step 2: make the doughnut batter Mix the cider with melted butter, apple butter, eggs, vanilla, and dark brown sugar. Then add all the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Next, stir in a chopped Honeycrisp apple. Adding the apple makes these kind of like apple fritter doughnuts.
Step 3: make the cinnamon crunch The cinnamon crunch topping consists of brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, and butter mixed together until clumps form.
Step 4: bake Divide the batter between doughnut pans (or just a cupcake pan). Then, divide the cinnamon crunch between the doughnuts, lightly pressing the CRUNCH into the wet batter to adhere. As the doughnuts bake, the kitchen will smell like your favorite autumn candle, it’s perfection.
Step 5: the cinnamon sugar Remove the doughnuts from the pan while they’re still warm. Dredge them in sweet cinnamon sugar, just like a classic apple cider doughnut. Is there anything more wonderful in the fall? Serve these with coffee or hot cocoa, or even a steaming mug of cider for the quintessential fall treat!
Looking for apple recipes? Here are a few ideas: Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts with Cinnamon Maple Glaze Baked Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cider Doughnut Holes Brown Butter Apple Blondies with Cinnamon Maple Glaze Haunted Pumpkin Patch Margarita Cinnamon Crunch Apple Butter Soft Pretzel Knots Salted Maple Apple Tarte Tatin with Cinnamon Pumpkin Seeds Cinnamon Spiced Apple Fritters with Vanilla Coffee Glaze Lastly, if you make these Baked Cinnamon Crunch Apple Cider Doughnuts, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
