Description
These tender and flavorful baked Apple Cider Donuts are spiced with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom. They incorporate a reduced apple cider for an intense apple flavor and are topped with a cinnamon sugar coating. Unlike traditional fried donuts, these are baked for a lighter texture and made without yeast, making them quick and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
For the Donuts
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (240g)
- ½ cup packed brown sugar (100g)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder (5g)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda (5g)
- ¼ teaspoon salt (1.5g)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (3g)
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger (3g)
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (~1g)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom (~1g)
- 1 ½ cup apple cider (355mL, to be reduced)
- ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce (80g)
- ⅓ cup melted vegan butter (75g)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (5mL)
For the Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- ¾ cup granulated sugar (150g)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (3g)
- 3 tablespoons melted vegan butter (45g)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a donut pan with oil or non-stick spray to prepare for baking.
- Reduce Apple Cider: In a small saucepan over medium heat, simmer the apple cider until it reduces to about ¾ cup (175mL). This concentrates the apple flavor. Allow it to cool slightly before measuring exactly ¾ cup for the recipe. If reduced too much, add some apple cider to reach the desired volume.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom until evenly mixed.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the reduced apple cider, unsweetened applesauce, melted vegan butter, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Pour the wet mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients and gently fold together until just combined. Take care not to overmix; the batter should be slightly thick and a bit lumpy.
- Fill Donut Pan: Spoon or pipe the batter into the prepared donut pan cavities, filling each about ¾ full to allow room for rising.
- Bake Donuts: Bake in the preheated oven for 14-16 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the donuts to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool further.
- Prepare Cinnamon Sugar Topping: In a small bowl, mix granulated sugar and cinnamon. Brush each warm donut generously with melted vegan butter and roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture until well coated for a delicious finish.
Notes
- Reducing the apple cider is optional but highly recommended to intensify the flavor and prevent excess liquid in the batter.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the donuts tender and light.
- Use a piping bag for neater donut shapes, or spoon carefully into the pan cavities.
- These donuts are vegan-friendly as they use vegan butter and no eggs.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 14-16 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
