Baked Spiced Apple Cider Donuts

These spiced apple cider baked donuts are the perfect autumn breakfast or dessert! Made with real cider and coated in sweet cinnamon sugar, they’re easy, healthy, and packed with cozy fall flavor. Save this recipe for your next fall baking day! Perfect for Thanksgiving brunch, bake sales, or a weekend treat. 

When autumn arrives and the air turns crisp, nothing feels more comforting than the aroma of freshly baked apple cider donuts. Yes, that’s my yearly fall tradition – to either eat or bake some cinnamon-sugared donuts full of delicious fall spices! This year, with the help of my daughter, we decided to bake some! Oh, they’re so yummy!

These Spiced Apple Cider Baked Donuts combine the warmth of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice with the tangy sweetness of reduced apple cider. Unlike traditional fried donuts, these are oven-baked, making them lighter yet just as indulgent.

This recipe is perfect for cozy weekends, fall gatherings, or even as a festive breakfast treat to enjoy with a hot mug of coffee, tea, or — of course — warm apple cider. If you’ve ever visited a fall harvest festival or apple orchard, you know that apple cider donuts are a beloved seasonal tradition. Now, you can recreate that bakery-style donut experience right at home.

If you’re looking for a yummy recipe to try this fall and holiday season, make sure it’s these scrumptious Pecan Pie Brownies! These dessert bars won’t disappoint.

Why You’ll Love These Apple Cider Donuts

• Baked, not fried – They’re a healthier alternative to classic fried donuts.
• Enhanced flavor – Reduced apple cider means bold apple flavor in every bite.
• Warm fall spices – Cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice create that cozy seasonal aroma.
• Perfect texture – Moist, fluffy, and finished with a cinnamon sugar crunch.
• Quick & easy – Ready in under 40 minutes, start to finish.

If you’re looking for the best baked donut recipe for fall, this one checks all the boxes.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s everything you’ll need to make the perfect batch of apple cider donuts:

For the donuts:

• 1 cup fresh apple cider, reduced to 1/3 cup
• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup cake flour (or use all-purpose)
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp fine sea salt
• 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• Pinch of allspice
• ¼ cup unsalted butter (browned for more flavor)
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar (packed)
• 3 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• ⅓ cup buttermilk (room temperature)
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• Optional: 1 tbsp grated apple for extra moisture

For the topping:

• 3 tbsp melted butter
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Step-by-Step Instructions for Spiced Apple Cider Baked Donuts

Step 1: Reduce the Apple Cider

Start by pouring 1 cup of apple cider into a saucepan. Simmer it on medium heat until it reduces to about ⅓ cup (about 15–20 minutes). This intensifies the apple flavor. Cool completely before using.

Step 2: Brown the Butter

In a small pan, melt ¼ cup unsalted butter over medium heat. Let it bubble and foam, then cook until golden brown with a nutty aroma (around 3–4 minutes). Set aside to cool slightly. This adds a rich, caramelized depth to the donuts.

Step 3: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together: all-purpose flour, cake flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. These warming spices are what make these donuts so addictive.

Step 4: Mix the Wet Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, whisk the browned butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, egg, reduced cider, buttermilk, and vanilla. If using grated apple, stir it in here for extra juiciness.

Step 5: Combine Dry & Wet Mixtures

Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Gently fold with a spatula until just combined. The batter will be thick — don’t overmix, or the donuts will become dense.

Step 6: Pipe into a Donut Pan

Spoon the batter into a piping bag (or use a zip-top bag) and pipe into a greased donut pan, filling each cavity about 2/3-3/4 full. Do not overfill because it would cover the donut holes unless that’s what you prefer.

Step 7: Bake the Donuts

Bake in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10–12 minutes, or until the donuts spring back when lightly touched.

Step 8: Coat with Cinnamon Sugar

While the donuts are still warm, brush each one with melted butter, then roll it in a mixture of sugar and cinnamon. The buttery coating helps the cinnamon sugar stick and adds an irresistible crunch.

Tips for the Best Baked Apple Cider Donuts

1. Use reduced cider: This step is crucial. Without it, your donuts won’t have that strong apple flavor.
2. Brown the butter: Don’t skip this step—it’s what elevates the richness of the donuts.
3. Don’t overbake: These bake quickly! Keep an eye on them at around 10 minutes.
4. Serve warm: They’re best enjoyed fresh from the oven, when the cinnamon sugar topping still has that lovely crunch.
5. Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Reheat briefly in the oven or microwave to restore softness.

Serving Ideas

• Enjoy with a warm cup of spiced apple cider latte.
• Serve alongside pumpkin bread for a fall dessert spread.
• Top with maple glaze instead of cinnamon sugar for a sweeter twist.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Spiced Apple Cider Baked Donuts

Can I make these donuts without a donut pan?

Yes! You can make baked donuts in a muffin tin. Just fill the cups halfway and reduce the baking time by 2–3 minutes.

Can I substitute buttermilk?

If you don’t have buttermilk, mix ⅓ cup milk with 1 teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using.

How do I measure flour correctly?

For best results, spoon flour into your measuring cup and level it off. Too much flour can make the donuts dense.

Can I freeze baked apple cider donuts?

Yes, these freeze very well.  For best results, freeze without the topping. Place cooled donuts in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw and warm slightly before brushing with butter and adding cinnamon sugar.

These Spiced Apple Cider Baked Donuts are everything you want in a fall treat: soft, fluffy, bursting with apple flavor, and coated in sweet cinnamon sugar. They’re proof that you don’t need to fry donuts to get that bakery-style result. Whether you’re making them for a cozy weekend breakfast, an autumn bake sale, or a festive family dessert, they’re guaranteed to be a hit.

If you love easy fall baking recipes, this one deserves a place at the top of your list. The combination of reduced cider, browned butter, and warm spices makes this recipe truly unforgettable.

Spiced Apple Cider Baked Donuts

Abigail

These spiced apple cider baked donuts are the perfect autumn breakfast or dessert! Made with real cider and coated in sweet cinnamon sugar, they’re easy, healthy, and packed with cozy fall flavor. Save this recipe for your next fall baking day! Perfect for Thanksgiving brunch, bake sales, or a weekend treat. 

5 from 1 vote

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Course Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 12 pieces

Calories 184 kcal

Ingredients

 

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For the donuts:

• 1 cup fresh apple cider, reduced to 1/3 cup (see instructions)
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup cake flour (or more all-purpose flour), if preferred
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• Pinch of allspice
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 3 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/3 cup buttermilk room temp
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp grated apple for extra moisture and apple flavor, optional

For topping:

• 3 tbsp melted butter
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

 

Reduce the cider:

• In a small saucepan, simmer the apple cider over medium heat until it reduces to about 1/3 cup (roughly 15–20 min). Let cool.

Brown the butter:

• In a small pan, melt the butter over medium heat until it foams and turns golden brown with a nutty aroma. Let it cool slightly.
• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a donut pan.

Mix dry ingredients:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

Mix wet ingredients:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the brown butter, both sugars, egg, reduced cider, buttermilk, and vanilla. Stir in grated apple if using.

Combine:

• Add the dry ingredients to the wet and gently fold until just combined. Do not overmix — the batter will be thick.

Pipe and bake:

• Spoon batter into a piping bag or zip-top bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe into donut cavities, filling about 2/3 – 3/4 full. Do not overfill, or the donut hole may be covered.
• Bake 10–12 minutes or until donuts spring back when touched.

Topping:

• While warm, brush donuts with melted butter and toss in the cinnamon sugar mixture.

Nutrition

Calories: 184kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 201mgPotassium: 60mgFiber: 1gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 237IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 1mg

Keyword how to make baked spiced apple cider donuts

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Last updated on November 28th, 2025 at 09:34 pm