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Welcoming the weekend with Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts with Cinnamon Maple Glaze. Made with boiled-down spiced cider, apple butter, and cinnamon. Then baked and dipped in a sweet brown butter glaze flavored with coffee and cinnamon. There’s really nothing not to love about these cute (and sweet) autumn spiced doughnuts. The true secret? Boiling the apple cider down to really concentrate its flavor. The perfect way to celebrate the autumn apple season!
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The first apple recipe of the season and I could not be more excited. Every fall I’m so excited, but this year even more so than ever before. I think it’s because the world is in what feels like a very unsettled place, turning on any news source usually leaves you feeling frustrated.
Because of this, I am really embracing the things I love the most. I’m focusing on all the good that the world does have to offer. My goal this fall is to really go all out. I’m 100% grabbing more pumpkins than I need, making pumpkin spice lattes, and come October 1 – decorating for Halloween. I’m already plotting out my “spooky” desserts and cocktails for October.
Embracing all the good things and leaving the rest behind, you know?
And today that means we’re focusing on September apples and making some of the best baked apple cider donuts.
The Inspiration
Do any of you remember last year’s cinnamon spiced apple fritters? Well, those were the initial inspo for this recipe. I just loved those so much, especially the vanilla coffee glaze. I planned to remake them at least once this month, but the frying part really gets me. It’s just messy and not my favorite task.
That got me thinking about new recipes I could make that highlighted the same flavors but didn’t involve any frying.
And that’s where these baked doughnuts come in. They’re a cross between a really delicious apple cider doughnut and a sweet apple fritter. Totally delicious in every way possible.
On to the details – start with the doughnuts
If you love a classic apple cider doughnut, these are for you. If you can make a basic cupcake or muffin, you can certainly make these. There’s nothing fancy about them.
The key to these doughnuts? It’s all in the cider. I recommend finding the best spiced cider with no added sugars. If you can, pick up some fresh apple cider from your local farmers’ market. Or even better, go apple picking at an apple orchard and pick some up! Nothing quite beats a really good apple cider. It’s always so flavorful this time of year.
To help intensify the apple cider flavor throughout the doughnuts, I decided to boil down the cider on the stove until reduced. Boiling the cider will concentrate the flavors and make the cider that much more flavorful. It’s an extra step, but one that I think is worth it.
Once you have the reduced apple cider, the rest is quick. Just mix the cider with apple butter, eggs, melted butter, vanilla, plus dark brown sugar. Then add in all the dry ingredients and stir in a chopped Honeycrisp apple. Adding the apple makes them kind of like apple fritter doughnuts.
Divide the batter between doughnut pans (or just a cupcake pan). As the doughnuts bake, the kitchen will start to smell like your favorite autumn candle, it’s perfection.
Make the glaze
I took inspiration from my Cinnamon Spiced Sugar Cookies and apple fritters, and decided on a buttery maple glaze with cinnamon and a touch of coffee throughout. It’s just some browned butter, maple, powdered sugar, instant coffee, and cinnamon.
Not too strong, not too sweet, but just right. Especially when spread on top of a warm doughnut.
Delicious!
And with that, here’s my recommendation for the coming weekend…apple picking and doughnut baking – of course!
And if not this weekend, sometime soon. I promise you guys, these doughnuts are so good and such a great fall treat.
Looking for September apple recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Brown Butter Apple Blondies with Cinnamon Maple Glaze
Salted Maple Apple Tarte Tatin with Cinnamon Pumpkin Seeds
Cinnamon Spiced Apple Fritters with Vanilla Coffee Glaze
Lastly, if you make these Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts with Cinnamon Maple Glaze, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts with Cinnamon Maple Glaze
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups apple cider
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup apple butter
- 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 honeycrisp apple, chopped, (about 1/2 cup)
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon sugar
Brown Butter Cinnamon Maple Glaze
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 3/4-1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Grease a 6-cup doughnut pan or 12-cup muffin pan with melted butter2. Bring the apple cider to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer 10-15 minutes or until reduced to about 1/2 cup. Remove from the heat. Let cool.3. In a large mixing bowl, stir together 1/2 cup boiled cider, melted butter, eggs, apple butter, vanilla, and brown sugar until combined. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt, mix until just combined. Toss the apples with the cinnamon sugar mix, then stir the apples into the batter.4. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pan, filling 1/2-2/3 the way full. Bake 12-13 minutes, until just set. Remove and let cool 5 minutes, then run a knife around the edges to release and invert the pan. 5. Meanwhile, make the glaze. Add the butter to a small pot set over medium heat. Allow the butter to brown slightly until it smells toasted, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the maple syrup, powdered sugar, instant coffee, and cinnamon. Dip or drizzle the doughnuts into the glaze. Highly recommend eating a few of these warm.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
This was my first time making doughnuts and it was much easier than I expected. And they were great! I agree with the others that the icing was darker, but it tasted great! I used espresso powder because that’s what I had around. I make a half-baked recipe at least once a week and they’re always very good. Thanks so much!
Hey Lea-Anne,
Thanks a bunch for trying out this recipe, I am delighted to hear that it was enjoyed! Have the best day:) xTieghan
These donuts are delicious! My entire family raved about them. Making them again this weekend for friends.
Hey Julie,
Thanks a bunch for trying out this recipe, I am delighted to hear that it was enjoyed! Have the best day:) xTieghan
The recipe was easy and the donuts taste good, but I agree with some of the comments here that my icing did not look anything like the picture, even when adding the high end of the powdered sugar amount. Mine was much darker. I also think the coffee kind of overpowered the icing and I would leave it out next time.
Hey Lindsay,
Thanks a bunch for trying out this recipe, I am delighted to hear that it was enjoyed! Have the best day:) xTieghan
Oh my goodness soooo good and full of the fall flavors we love!!!! This was a rather easy recipe for the abundance of yumminess that was created.
Repost to add the rating!
Thanks again Tricia!
Oh my goodness soooo good and full of the fall flavors we love!!!! This was a rather easy recipe for the abundance of yumminess that was created.
Hey Tricia,
Awesome! I am so glad that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a go! xTieghan
Yummy, yummy, yummy!! That icing though!! Everyone loved them.
Hey Erin,
Happy Monday! I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xTieghan
Delicious. The donut is good, but the glaze is the real star in my eyes. I like it even better than the coffee glaze on your cinnamon streusel coffee cake. I overbaked my donuts a little (beware Wilton donut pans cook fast!) but they were still very tasty.
Oops! That was not supposed to be a reply!
Hey Krista,
Awesome! I am so glad that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a go! xTieghan
Made these today and they are a hit! Deliciously autumnal! Opted to pipe the dough into the donut pan, and that worked like a charm. Was wondering though if leftovers need to be refrigerated, given that the glaze is butter-based. Thoughts?
Hey Brad,
Happy Monday! I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a lot for giving it a try! You do not need to keep the leftovers in the fridge. xTieghan
I made these this morning for a brunch. They turned out perfectly. I followed the recipe exactly. My guest raved about them. I loved a baked donut. Also I like that the donut itself is not overly sweet. The spices were perfect. I actually used your apple butter in this recipe. Your recipes never disappoint. Thank you for another great recipe.
Hey there,
Happy Monday! I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xTieghan
Do you think these would freeze for later?
Hey Kara,
I’ve not tried freezing these before, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work for you. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
I am making these now! Did you peel the apple?
Hey Colleen,
For this recipe, I did not peel the apples. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I made these for breakfast this morning and they are super delicious. I will definitely be making them again soon. Thank you for this wonderful recipe 🙂
Hey Colleen,
Happy Sunday! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xTieghan
I followed the recipe to a T and they looked nothing like yours. We tried a few and threw them out. Sorry. Maybe I’ll tweak it up a bit.
Absolutely amazing! Made today and will DEFINITELY make again. Was on the fence about “apple butter” but picked up some today at my local farmers market and I am a changed woman. Use apple butter if you can get your hands on some! Can’t wait to make these again.
Hey Charlotte,
Happy Sunday! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xTieghan
Getting ready to make these, and I am curious if ground coffee can be used instead of instant coffee. Attempting to avoid a grocery store run 🙂
Hey Catie,
Unfortunately, ground coffee will not give you the same results, you will either want to use the instant coffee or just skip it:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hey Jimmy,
So sorry to hear this. A little more info would be helpful. What was wrong with them? Let me know how I can help! xTieghan
If I’m using apple juice instead of apple cider, do I still need to boil it down, or can I reduce the amount to 1/2 cup and skip boiling?
Hey Tanisha,
I would still recommend boiling it down:) I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Thanks, I did as you suggested and they are delicious! The only thing is that my glaze didn’t turn out like yours in the picture, mine doesn’t have a white colour. But overall very good and will make again 🙂
Hey Tanisha,
Happy Monday! I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xTieghan
just made these, they were PHENONM. loved it. I used a bottle of angry orchard hard cider, grated the apple instead of chopped, and swapped applesauce for the apple butter. BOMB!! (re-commenting to include a rating)
Hey Bethany,
Happy Sunday! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xTieghan
just made these, they were PHENONM. loved it. I used a bottle of angry orchard hard cider, grated the apple instead of chopped, and swapped applesauce for the apple butter. BOMB!!
Hey Bethany,
Happy Sunday! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xTieghan
Not very great, frosting way to sweet, should put in there to sift powdered sugar so you don’t get clumps
Hey Sarah,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try, sorry it wasn’t enjoyed! xTieghan