Apple Cider Donuts

If fall had a smell, it would 100% be apple cider and cinnamon sugar. These baked Apple Cider Donuts are everything you love about a crisp fall morning — cozy, sweet, and totally worth licking your fingers for.

They’re kid-approved, toddler-helper tested, and guaranteed to come with a side of chaos.
⚠️ Fair warning: your little one might insist on taking over the entire process, from pouring the flour to “taste-testing” the sugar mix. (Ask me how I know.)

Whether you’re baking for a family breakfast, a playdate, or just because it’s finally below 80° (Florida moms, I see you 👋), this recipe will make your kitchen smell like a cider mill, and your kiddos will be running back for seconds.

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🍎 The Flavor-Boosting Trick You’ll Love

Here’s the secret to that real apple-cider flavor. It’s all in the reduction!
In this recipe, you’ll simmer your apple cider until it becomes beautifully concentrated. That little step is what transforms the flavor from “oh, that’s good” to “wow, these taste like fall in donut form!”

By reducing the cider, you’re creating a rich, flavor-packed base that gives each donut that cozy, apple-orchard warmth. Skip it, and you’ll still get sweet donuts, but not that deep, cozy, apple-cider magic we’re going for.

Mom Tip: You can absolutely reduce the cider ahead of time and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. It’ll save you some time — and keep your littles from getting impatient while you “make the magic happen.” 🍎✨

🍩 Why You’ll Love These Apple Cider Donuts

✨ Baked, not fried — less mess, same cozy flavor
🍎 Real apple cider reduction for that authentic fall taste
🧈 Soft, fluffy, and rolled in cinnamon sugar (the best part!)
👩‍👧‍👦 Kid-approved — they disappear fast
☕️ Perfect with your morning coffee… or a chai latte if you’re feeling fancy

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🧁 Your Cozy Fall Baking Essentials

✅ Donut Pan
✅ Whisk
✅ Mixing Bowls
✅ Cooling Rack
✅ Cinnamon Sugar Shaker

🍎 How to Make Them

1. Reduce the cider (aka make your kitchen smell amazing).
   Pour that apple cider into a small saucepan and let it simmer until it’s down to about ¼ cup. This is where the flavor magic happens; your house will smell like a fall candle, and your toddler will probably ask if it’s snack time.
2. Mix the dry stuff.
   In a big bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Bonus points if your little “helper” actually keeps the flour in the bowl.
3. Mix the wet stuff.
   In another bowl, whisk together the melted butter, egg, brown sugar, white sugar, buttermilk, and that cozy, concentrated apple cider. It should smell like autumn in a mixing bowl.
4. Combine the two.
   Slowly add your dry mix into the wet and stir until just combined. The batter should be thick but smooth; if it looks like cookie dough, add a splash more buttermilk. No need to overmix; we’re baking donuts, not doing arm day. 💪
5. Fill the pan.
   Spoon or pipe the batter into your greased donut pan, filling each mold about ¾ full. Don’t stress about perfection, they puff up beautifully in the oven.
6. Bake.
   Pop them in the oven at 350°F for about 10–12 minutes, or until they spring back when gently poked.
7. The fun part.
   While the donuts are still warm, roll them in your cinnamon sugar mixture. Expect giggles, crumbs, and at least one sticky finger sneaking a “taste test.”

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🧁 Troubleshooting Tip

If your batter looks like it’s refusing to cooperate — don’t panic, mama! It probably just needs a little extra love (aka moisture). Add a tablespoon or two of buttermilk or milk until it’s smooth and spoonable. The batter should be thick but easy to work with, kind of like your toddler’s patience level before snack time. 😉

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🍩 Pro Tip

For the fluffiest, bakery-style donuts, don’t overmix the batter — stir just until everything’s combined. Overmixing can make them dense (and nobody wants that). If you have a few extra minutes, let the batter rest for 5–10 minutes before baking. It gives the flour time to relax, just like you finally get to after the kitchen cleanup. 😉

🧡 Wrap-Up

See? Totally doable, even with little hands “helping.” 😉
These Apple Cider Donuts come together fast, fill your home with that cozy fall scent we all love, and might just become your new favorite baking tradition. So tie up that messy bun, grab your whisk, and get ready to make a little chaos (and a whole lot of sweetness).

Whisking Through the Chaos, One Donut at a Time

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🍎 The Recipe

Print Recipe

🍎 Apple Cider Donuts

Soft, spiced donuts rolled in cinnamon sugar — the perfect fall treat.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time12 minutes mins

Total Time32 minutes mins

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Donuts, Fall Baking, Oven Bake

Servings: 12 Donuts

Equipment

• Saucepan (to reduce cider)
• Mixing bowls
• Whisk
• Donut pan
• Piping bag or zip-top bag (to fill donut pan)

Ingredients

• 1 cup apple cider
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter melted
• 1 egg
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup buttermilk
• Topping: ½ cup sugar + 1 Tbsp cinnamon

Instructions

• Simmer apple cider until reduced to ¼ cup. Cool.
• Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
• In another bowl, whisk butter, egg, sugars, buttermilk, and reduced cider.
• Fold in dry ingredients until just combined.
• Pipe into greased donut pan. Bake at 350°F for 10–12 min.
• Toss warm donuts in cinnamon sugar.

Notes

Best eaten the same day for peak freshness, but you can store in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days.

Re-warm in the microwave for 10–15 seconds to refresh.

Try dipping in caramel sauce for a fun twist!

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💡 Mom Tips

• Let them help (just maybe not with the sugar bowl). Kids love mixing the dry ingredients and shaking the donuts in a bag of cinnamon sugar — it’s messy fun, but it keeps them engaged.
• Make it a memory. Turn on some fall music, light a candle, and make it a cozy baking morning together.
• Little hands, little donuts. If you have a mini donut pan, let your kiddos make their own bite-size versions!
• Storage tip: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days and reheat for 10 seconds. They’ll taste fresh again in no time. Let your little ones help by shaking the donuts in the cinnamon sugar bag, messy but memorable!
• Want to impress guests? Add a drizzle of caramel sauce or glaze. My toddler wanted sprinkles.

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☕️ The Chaos-Free Way to Enjoy Them

Grab your coffee, take a deep breath, and ignore the trail of cinnamon sugar your toddler just left across the kitchen. These Apple Cider Donuts are best enjoyed warm, with your favorite mug in hand and zero guilt about the mess.

Because here’s the truth, the chaos means they helped. The sugar storm, the sticky fingers, and the flour explosion? That’s the magic part. You just made a memory (and some seriously delicious donuts).

So cozy up, mama. You’ve earned this one and maybe another donut or two while nobody’s looking. ❤️