Oh, if there’s one smell that just screams AUTUMN to me, it’s the warm, cozy scent of apple cider donuts, especially when they’re rolled in sweet cinnamon sugar. Forget those fancy bakery versions; trust me, making these Apple Cider Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar right in your own kitchen is SO much easier than you think, and the taste? Pure homemade magic! I remember my first batch, and honestly, it felt like bottling up a crisp fall afternoon. They’re just perfect for a weekend treat, a sweet surprise for the kids, or even a little pick-me-up on a chilly Tuesday. You’re going to love how simple they are to whip up!

Why You’ll Love These Apple Cider Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar

Seriously, get ready to fall in love with these donuts! They’re:

Super Easy to Make: No fancy equipment or skills needed. The batter comes together fast, and frying them is a breeze.
Packed with Flavor: That perfect blend of tangy apple cider, warm cinnamon, and sweet sugar is just irresistible.
Oh-So-Versatile: Perfect for your fall baking, a party treat, or just a cozy afternoon snack with coffee. You can’t go wrong!

Gather Your Ingredients for Apple Cider Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar

Alright, let’s get cozy and gather everything we need for these dreamy Apple Cider Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar! You probably have most of this already, which is part of why I adore them. You’ll need:

For the Donuts:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup apple cider (the good stuff!)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cinnamon Sugar Topping:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

See? Super simple stuff! These ingredients are the magic quartet that makes these donuts taste like pure fall bliss.

Essential Equipment for Making Apple Cider Donuts

Okay, so you don’t need a whole pro bakery setup for these! Just a few basics will get you rolling. You’ll want a heavy-bottomed pot or a Dutch oven for frying – it holds heat much better to keep those donuts perfectly golden. A handy slotted spoon (or spider strainer if you have one!) is a must for safely getting the donuts in and out of the hot oil. And for that gorgeous coating, grab a shallow dish for your cinnamon sugar mixture!

Step-by-Step Guide to Perfect Apple Cider Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar

Alright, let’s get down to business and make these amazing Apple Cider Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar! It’s really not complicated, I promise. Just follow these steps and you’ll have a batch of warm, fluffy donuts faster than you can say “fall favorites”! I always like to have all my ingredients pre-measured and ready to go before I start mixing, it just makes things so much smoother. And maybe put on some good tunes!

Preparing the Donut Batter

First things first, grab your biggest bowl! Whisk together all your dry ingredients – that’s the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Give it a good mix so everything’s nicely combined. In a separate, smaller bowl, whisk together the wet stuff: your apple cider, that lovely melted butter, the egg, and the vanilla extract. Now, pour those wet ingredients right into the dry. Gently stir them together until *just* combined. Seriously, don’t go crazy mixing! A few little lumps are totally fine and actually what you want for tender donuts. Overmixing makes them tough, and nobody wants a tough donut, right?

Frying Your Apple Cider Donuts

Now for the fun part – frying! You’ll want to heat up about two inches of vegetable oil in your heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven. Aim for around 350°F (175°C). A good thermometer is your best friend here, but if you don’t have one, you can test it by dropping a tiny bit of batter in – if it sizzles and floats right up, you’re good to go! Carefully drop spoonfuls of your batter into the hot oil. Don’t crowd the pot, give them some space! Fry them for about 2 to 3 minutes per side. They puff up and turn this gorgeous golden brown color. Keep an eye on them! Use your slotted spoon to scoop them out and pop them onto a wire rack *briefly* before they go into their coating.

Creating the Perfect Cinnamon Sugar Coating

While the donuts are doing their thing in the fryer, get your coating ready. In a shallow dish, mix up that glorious cinnamon sugar topping – it’s just the 1 cup of sugar and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon. In another small bowl, have your melted butter waiting. This is key! The melted butter makes the cinnamon sugar stick like a dream. So, as soon as a donut comes out of the hot oil, give it a quick dip in that melted butter, coating it all over. Then, immediately (while it’s still nice and buttery!) roll it around in the cinnamon sugar mixture until it’s perfectly coated. Ah, the smell alone is heavenly!

Place your beautifully coated donuts on a wire rack to cool down *just* a bit before diving in. While I’m a huge fan of sharing, I always sneak a warm one right away – it’s my little reward! If you’re looking for more donut-making tips, check out my guide to making amazing homemade donuts, or my easy fluffy donuts recipe for more ideas!

Tips for Achieving the Best Apple Cider Donuts

Okay, so you’ve got the recipe, but let’s talk about making these Apple Cider Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar absolutely *perfect* every single time. It’s all in the little things, you know? For starters, the apple cider! While any good quality cider works, I find using a slightly reduced cider gives you this wonderfully concentrated apple punch. Just simmer about 1.5 cups of cider down in a saucepan until you have a cup – it really amps up the flavor! And that oil temperature? Crucial! If it’s too low, your donuts get greasy. Too high, and they burn before they cook inside. So, keep that thermometer handy and aim for that sweet spot around 350°F (175°C). If you don’t have one, use the batter-drop trick I mentioned. For the coating, don’t be shy with that second dip in the cinnamon sugar! Make sure the donuts are still warm when you do it for the best adherence. It’s these little touches that make all the difference, just like in my apple cider caramels!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Apple Cider Donuts

Let’s chat about the stars of our Apple Cider Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar show! For the apple cider, go for a good quality, unfiltered cider if you can find it – it just has a richer, more natural apple flavor. If you can’t find it, don’t sweat it! Any decent apple cider will work. If you’re curious about making your own heavy cream for other recipes, you can check out how to make heavy cream at home! For the cinnamon sugar coating, you can totally adjust the cinnamon level to your liking. More cinnamon? Go for it! Less? No problem either. You want it perfect for *you*!

Storing and Reheating Your Delicious Apple Cider Donuts

Alright, so you’ve made these incredible Apple Cider Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar, and maybe, just maybe, you have a couple left over. Don’t worry, they still taste amazing the next day! The best way to store them is in an airtight container at room temperature. Seriously, don’t put them in the fridge; it makes them all hard and sad. If you want to bring back that warm, cozy feeling, just pop them in a toaster oven or a regular oven at around 300°F (150°C) for a few minutes. They’ll be wonderfully warm and delicious again!

Frequently Asked Questions about Apple Cider Donuts

Got questions about these delightful Apple Cider Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar? I’ve got answers! People often ask me things, and I love chatting about them.

Can I bake these instead of frying?

You know, you *can* bake them, but honestly, they really shine when they’re fried. Baking them will give you more of a cake-like donut, which is still yummy, but it won’t have that classic airy, slightly chewy texture that frying gives you. If you do want to bake them, just spoon the batter into a greased donut pan and bake at around 350°F (175°C) for about 10-12 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. They still taste great, but trust me, the frying is where the magic really happens!

How do I get a thicker cinnamon sugar coating?

Oh, I love a good thick coating too! The trick is to make sure your donuts are still nice and warm when you coat them, and to do the double-dip! So, after you fry them and let them cool just a tiny bit, dip them in the melted butter, letting any excess drip off. Then, roll them generously in the cinnamon sugar. If you want it *really* thick, you can dip them in the melted butter *again* and then roll them in the cinnamon sugar *one more time*. Don’t be shy!

Can I use store-bought apple cider?

Absolutely! Store-bought apple cider is perfectly fine for this recipe. In fact, it’s what most people use! Just try to grab a good quality one if you can – the kind that tastes like real apples. If you want to even boost that apple flavor even more, you can simmer down about a cup and a half of cider on the stove until it reduces to a cup. It makes the flavor super concentrated!

How long do these last?

These Apple Cider Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar are best enjoyed the same day you make them, especially when they’re still a little warm. They tend to be the fluffiest and tastiest then! If you do have leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. They’re great for breakfast the next morning, but like I mentioned before, avoid the fridge as it makes them a bit tough.

Estimated Nutritional Information for Apple Cider Donuts

Now, I’m not a nutritionist or anything, but based on the ingredients and serving size, these delicious Apple Cider Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar usually come in around 350 calories per donut. That includes about 18g of fat, 45g of carbs, and 3g of protein. Remember, this is just an estimate, and your exact numbers might vary a little depending on the specific brands you use and how heavy-handed you are with that cinnamon sugar coating!

Apple Cider Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar

Author: memorecipes.com
Total Time: 35 min
Yield: 12 donuts 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

Homemade apple cider donuts coated in a sweet cinnamon sugar mixture.

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup apple cider
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Topping:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Instructions

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the apple cider, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
Heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven to 350°F (175°C).
While the oil heats, prepare the topping. In a shallow dish, combine the sugar and cinnamon for the topping.
Carefully drop spoonfuls of the donut batter into the hot oil, being careful not to overcrowd the pot. Fry for 2-3 minutes per side, until golden brown.
Remove the donuts from the oil with a slotted spoon and immediately dip them into the melted butter, then roll them in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Place the coated donuts on a wire rack to cool.

Notes

Ensure your oil is at the correct temperature for evenly cooked donuts.
For a stronger apple flavor, you can reduce the apple cider by simmering it for 10-15 minutes to concentrate it before measuring.

Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 15 min
Category: Dessert
Method: Frying
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 donut
Calories: 350
Sugar: 30g
Sodium: 150mg
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Unsaturated Fat: 9g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 45g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 3g
Cholesterol: 40mg

Keywords: apple cider donuts, cinnamon sugar donuts, homemade donuts, fried donuts, fall baking