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Homemade Baked Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cider Doughnut Holes. Made with boiled-down spiced cider, apple butter, maple, and a mix of warming cozy autumn spices. Toss each doughnut in brown butter and sweet cinnamon sugar. There’s really nothing not to love about these cinnamon sugar cider doughnuts. There are two secrets to this recipe. The first is to boil down the apple cider to really concentrate its flavor. The second is spiced apple butter, it provides even more delicious apple flavor! The coziest treats to enjoy with a steaming mug of hot chocolate or your favorite latte.
Happiest Friday from New York! What a special time to be here in the city, it’s just beautiful and so full of color right now. Very much what I am all about – so happy to be here!
And I have the most perfect recipe to celebrate the weekend, it screams, “Autumn in New York!”. As I walk around the city and take in all of the fall sights, I’m reminded of just how wonderful the season is. The other fun thing I’ve noticed is the major presence of pumpkin spice anything and apple anything. Pumpkin and apple are all throughout the city.
Every corner you turn there’s some kind of bakery serving up pumpkin spice lattes or sweet apple pastries. It really is the season!
I made these fun doughnut holes last week and we’ve been enjoying them throughout the day. They’re so simple to bake up and the flavor is just beyond delicious.
I’ve been so excited to share the recipe!
Here are the details
Start by boiling down the cider. I’ve been doing this for pretty much every sweet apple recipe I’ve shared. Boiling the cider gives you an even more concentrated flavor that really comes through in the end.
When the cider has boiled and reduced, I mix in the butter for the batter and let it melt.
Next, make the batter. It’s a simple muffin-style batter made with vanilla, eggs, apple butter, and, of course, apple cider. Then, I love to mix in whole wheat flour and a combination of warm autumn spices. The whole wheat flour gives these doughnut holes a nice bite and heartiness. But you can also use all-purpose flour. Either is a great option.
Now bake the batter into mini muffins or just make regular muffin “doughnuts”.
The final step is fun. Brown the butter and then dip each doughnut through the nutty, vanilla-infused butter. And then, just like a classic apple cider doughnut, dredge through sweet cinnamon sugar.
Is there anything more wonderful in the fall? Perfection.
Serve these with coffee or hot cocoa or even a steaming mug of cider for the quintessential fall treat!
Looking for apple recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Brown Butter Apple Blondies with Cinnamon Maple Glaze
Haunted Pumpkin Patch Margarita
Cinnamon Crunch Apple Butter Soft Pretzel Knots
Salted Maple Apple Tarte Tatin with Cinnamon Pumpkin Seeds
Cinnamon Spiced Apple Fritters with Vanilla Coffee Glaze
Lastly, if you make these Baked Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cider Doughnut Holes, 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 Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cider Doughnut Holes
Servings: 24 doughnut holes
Calories Per Serving: 148 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Spiced Doughnuts
- 1 1/2 cups apple cider
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup apple butter
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Cinnamon Sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Butter a 24-cup mini muffin pan or 12-cup regular pan.2. Bring the apple cider to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer 10-15 minutes, until reduce to 1/2 cup. Remove from the heat and and stir in the melted butter. Let cool. 3. In a large bowl, stir together the boiled cider, eggs, apple butter, maple, and vanilla until combined. Add the flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Mix until just combined. 4. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pan, filling 1/2-2/3 the way full. Bake 10-12 minutes for mini doughnuts or 18-20 for regular muffins, until just set. Remove and let cool 5 minutes, then run a knife around the edges to release.5. Meanwhile, melt 6 tablespoons butter in a skillet. Allow the butter to brown until it smells toasted, 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat and mix in the vanilla.6. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Brush each doughnut with butter, then roll through the cinnamon sugar. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.
OMG!!! These are absolutely delicious! And the recipe makes way more than 24 mini donut holes, almost twice more. I had to store away a bunch as hubby (and me) were scarfing them down. I didn’t have apple butter so used 1/4 C applesauce; the apple cider did take awhile to reduce. Might use a larger pan or small skillet next time.
Super easy to make.
These will be perfect for any autumn festivities.
Hi! So glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for trying it out! xT
Really good and the recipe instructions were on point. The only slight problem I had was it took longer than 10 minutes to reduce the apple cider and I still had more than 1/2 cup, but that was not a bad problem. Delicious muffins and my 4 boys insisted this be on repeat!
Thank you so much for trying out the recipe! Have an awesome weekend! xT
Love these! Wondering if I can recreate this for my mom gluten free. Do you know what the swap ratio would be?
Hi there! I haven’t tried that personally, but I would use Bob’s Red Mill GF FLour and use the 1:1 ratio! xT
Hi I just made these and the dough was incredibly dry. Ended up added more apple cider to moisten it. I watched your tiktok video and it looks like you have way more apple cider after the reduction than 1/2 cup. Is it supposed to reduce to 1/2 cup or BY 1/2 cup?
Thanks!
I did these once before and we liked them. I need a dessert for tomorrow. I don’t have apple cider or juice handy; but I have wassail, which has apple in it. Going with it.
Just came out of oven, smell wonderful.
Thank you for taking the time to try out this recipe! So glad to hear you enjoyed it! xT
I’m not sure what I did wrong but the Apple cider vinegar made these taste horrible. I had to throw them all out. So sour!
It calls for apple cider, not apple cider vinegar.
Hi Tanya! I’m so sorry for the confusion, this recipe calls for apple cider, not apple cider vinegar! xT
This is a strange question, but do you have a preference between this recipe and your Mini Apple Cider Cakes? I’m trying to decide which recipe to bring to a party and don’t really have the space to make both recipes at the same time!
Hi there! Hmm it really just depends on what you’re wanting! I think they’re both delish! xT
Why the whole wheat flour? Can I used almond flour instead or just use all purpose flour only?
Hi there! The whole wheat flour is just a slightly healthier alternative and it gives them a sort of nutty flavor! I haven’t tried this recipe with almond flour so I can’t say for sure! xT
Do you have a recommended substitute for maple syrup? I have a little on hand but don’t know if it will be enough. I have agave syrup; would that work?
You can use agave or honey! xT
Hoping to make these ahead of time before Christmas morning. Will these last 2-3 days in an airtight container? Can you pick them in the fridge or freezer to preserve them? Not sure if they would stay good.
Hi Katelyn,
I would keep them in an airtight container in the fridge, maybe warm them before serving. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try! xx
If I don’t have apple butter on hand, can I use Apple sauce instead? Thank you!
Hi Jia,
Yes, that will work well for you! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
I haven’t made these yet but planning to make them tonight to bring to a gathering in the morning. Will they hold up overnight? Or should I dip them in the butter in the morning?
Hey Anne,
These will be just fine stored overnight in an airtight container. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Wow these were so good! The browned butter really adds another layer of flavor, I loved it. Just made these today and I don’t think they will last very long. Thank you for the recipe 🙂
Hey Raquel,
Happy Friday! ☃️ So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I appreciate you making it! xT
These are delicious and so easy!! I almost want a little more punch of apple flavor. Do you think there’s a way to incorporate cut up apple chunks without it messing up the recipe? They are amazing as-is but I love all things apple. Thank you 🙂
Hey Sarah,
Happy Wednesday!! I truly appreciate you giving this recipe a try and sharing your review, so glad to hear it was a hit:) Sure, you could add some apple chunks to the batter! xx
So delicious and easy to make!
Hey Elena,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed!! Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃