Description
These homemade apple cider donuts are warm, spiced, and coated in cinnamon sugar. They are budget-friendly, stovetop-friendly, and perfect for a cozy weekend brunch without needing a deep fryer.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup pure apple cider
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons pie spice
- ½ cup granulated sugar (for coating)
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted (for coating)
- Neutral oil (like canola or vegetable) for frying
Instructions
- Reduce the apple cider: Pour 1 cup of cider into a small saucepan and simmer over medium heat for 10-15 minutes until reduced to about half a cup. Let it cool completely.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, and cooled apple cider until smooth.
- Add dry ingredients: Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and pie spice to the wet mixture. Stir gently until just combined; do not overmix. The batter should be thick and sticky.
- Heat the oil: Pour about 1 inch of neutral oil into a large skillet or Dutch oven. Heat over medium heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C).
- Fry the donuts: Drop spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil, cooking 2-3 donuts at a time to avoid crowding. Fry for about 2 minutes on each side until golden brown, flipping once when bubbles form on top.
- Drain and coat: Remove donuts with a slotted spoon and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. While still warm, brush the tops with melted butter and roll them in the mixture of sugar and cinnamon.
- Serve: Enjoy the donuts warm, ideally within an hour of frying.
Notes
The batter can be made the night before and refrigerated for up to 24 hours. If the batter thickens in the fridge, add a splash of milk or water before frying. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days; do not refrigerate as they will become hard. For a gluten-free version, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with coconut oil.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 donut
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 9
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 2
Keywords: apple cider donuts, fall recipes, brunch ideas, budget-friendly baking, stovetop donuts, homemade donuts, autumn treats