Introduction
Few things capture the flavor of fall quite like apple cider donuts — warm, fragrant, and just the right mix of sweet and spiced. Whether you prefer them baked, fried, glazed, or sugar-dusted, these donuts are a fall tradition worth repeating every weekend. Here are 24 irresistible apple cider donut recipes that fill your kitchen with cozy aromas and taste just like a crisp autumn morning.
1. Classic Apple Cider Donuts
A simple, timeless recipe that defines the season.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups apple cider
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- 1 egg
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup melted butter
Instructions
- Simmer cider until reduced to ½ cup; cool.
- Mix dry ingredients.
- Whisk egg, butter, sugar, and cider.
- Combine, then roll and cut into donut shapes.
- Fry at 350°F until golden, 1–2 minutes per side.
How to Serve It
Coat warm donuts in cinnamon sugar.
2. Baked Apple Cider Donuts
All the flavor, none of the frying mess.
Ingredients
- 1 cup apple cider
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp cloves
- 1 egg
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup melted butter
- ½ cup milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Reduce cider and cool.
- Combine dry and wet ingredients.
- Fill greased donut pan.
- Bake 12–14 minutes.
How to Serve It
Brush with butter and coat with cinnamon sugar.
3. Apple Cider Glazed Donuts
Sweet glaze adds extra cider punch.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups flour
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ cup apple cider
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup butter
Instructions
- Mix ingredients and bake at 350°F for 12 minutes.
- Whisk 1 cup powdered sugar with 3 tbsp cider for glaze.
- Dip cooled donuts.
How to Serve It
Let glaze set before serving.
4. Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cider Donuts
Warm and fragrant — the fall favorite version.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup reduced apple cider
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup butter
Instructions
- Fry or bake donuts.
- Mix ½ cup sugar with 1 tsp cinnamon.
- Toss warm donuts in mixture.
How to Serve It
Enjoy warm with cider or coffee.
5. Apple Cider Cake Donuts
Soft and tender, perfect for dunking.
Ingredients
- 2½ cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup cider
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Mix ingredients.
- Bake at 350°F for 13 minutes or fry until golden.
How to Serve It
Dust with powdered sugar or glaze lightly.
6. Apple Cider Donut Holes
Pop one after another — they disappear fast.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups flour
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup apple cider
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp baking powder
Instructions
- Drop small spoonfuls of batter into hot oil.
- Fry until golden, about 1 minute.
- Roll in sugar mix.
How to Serve It
Serve warm in paper cones.
7. Apple Cider Donuts with Maple Glaze
Maple and apple — the sweetest fall pair.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup cider
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
Instructions
- Make donuts and cool slightly.
- Mix glaze ingredients.
- Dip tops in glaze.
How to Serve It
Sprinkle chopped pecans.
8. Apple Cider Crumb Donuts
Like a coffee cake in donut form.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup cider
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup butter
- Crumb topping: ¼ cup flour, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Fill donut molds halfway, add crumbs.
- Bake 14 minutes at 350°F.
How to Serve It
Dust with cinnamon sugar before serving.
9. Apple Cider Buttermilk Donuts
Tangy buttermilk adds depth and softness.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ½ cup cider
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Mix batter and pipe into donut pan.
- Bake 12 minutes at 350°F.
How to Serve It
Top with powdered sugar.
10. Apple Cider Donuts with Caramel Drizzle
A sweet spin with gooey caramel flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup cider
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup caramel sauce
Instructions
- Bake or fry donuts.
- Drizzle warm caramel over top.
How to Serve It
Add a sprinkle of sea salt.
11. Gluten-Free Apple Cider Donuts
All the flavor, none of the gluten.
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond flour
- ½ cup rice flour
- ½ cup cider
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Blend ingredients.
- Bake 14 minutes at 350°F.
How to Serve It
Roll in cinnamon sugar.
12. Vegan Apple Cider Donuts
Soft and spiced with no dairy or eggs.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup cider
- ½ cup coconut milk
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup coconut oil
Instructions
- Mix and bake 14 minutes.
- Brush with oil and coat in sugar.
How to Serve It
Serve warm with almond milk latte.
13. Apple Cider Donuts with Brown Butter Glaze
Nutty, rich, and slightly caramelized.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup cider
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup butter (browned)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Bake donuts.
- Mix glaze with browned butter and sugar.
- Dip tops.
How to Serve It
Sprinkle flaky salt or cinnamon.
14. Spiced Apple Cider Donuts
Extra spiced for the true fall lover.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup cider
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp cloves
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
Instructions
- Fry until golden.
- Roll in spice sugar.
How to Serve It
Serve with hot cider.
15. Apple Cider Donuts with Vanilla Glaze
Sweet, light, and picture-perfect.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup cider
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp milk
Instructions
- Bake donuts at 350°F for 12 minutes.
- Mix glaze and dip tops.
How to Serve It
Add sugar sprinkles for sparkle.
16. Apple Cider Sour Cream Donuts
Sour cream adds extra richness and moisture.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup cider
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Mix ingredients.
- Bake 15 minutes or fry lightly.
How to Serve It
Dust with powdered sugar.
17. Cinnamon Apple Cider Donut Holes
Small, warm, and perfectly poppable.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups flour
- ½ cup cider
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Drop spoonfuls into oil.
- Fry 1 minute per side.
- Roll in cinnamon sugar.
How to Serve It
Serve in paper cups at parties.
18. Apple Cider Donuts with Streusel Topping
Crispy on top, soft underneath.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup cider
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup butter
- Streusel: ¼ cup flour, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Add batter to molds, sprinkle streusel.
- Bake 14 minutes.
How to Serve It
Drizzle with icing for extra sweetness.
19. Apple Cider Donuts with Powdered Sugar
Soft and fluffy with a sweet finish.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup cider
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Fry or bake donuts.
- Coat cooled donuts with powdered sugar.
How to Serve It
Serve on parchment-lined platter.
20. Apple Cider Donuts with Apple Chunks
Extra juicy and full of real fruit flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup cider
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 apple, diced and sautéed
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Fold apple chunks into batter.
- Bake or fry 12 minutes.
How to Serve It
Serve warm with caramel sauce.
21. Baked Mini Apple Cider Donuts
Tiny bites of fall flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup cider
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Pipe into mini donut pan.
- Bake 10 minutes at 350°F.
How to Serve It
Stack on skewers for parties.
22. Apple Cider Donuts with Brown Sugar Glaze
Deep caramelized sweetness with apple undertone.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup cider
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup butter
- Glaze: ¼ cup brown sugar, 1 tbsp butter, 1 tbsp milk
Instructions
- Bake donuts.
- Heat glaze ingredients and pour over warm donuts.
How to Serve It
Add a sprinkle of cinnamon.
23. Apple Cider Donuts with Crème Anglaise Dip
Perfect for dipping and indulgence.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup cider
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ cup milk
Instructions
- Bake donuts 14 minutes.
- Serve with vanilla custard dip.
How to Serve It
Sprinkle nutmeg on dip.
24. Apple Cider Donuts with Spiced Sugar
A fragrant finish to this fall favorite.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup cider
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ tsp each cinnamon, nutmeg, clove
Instructions
- Fry donuts until golden.
- Toss in spiced sugar.
How to Serve It
Serve warm with hot apple cider.
Conclusion
There’s something magical about apple cider donuts — crisp on the outside, soft inside, and bursting with cinnamon and apple flavor. Whether you bake them for brunch, fry them for a fair-style treat, or gift them to neighbors, these 24 recipes guarantee your kitchen will smell like fall. So grab some cider, heat up your oven, and make these cozy bites part of your autumn tradition.
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