Apple Cider Donuts Vanilla Glaze (Print)

Soft apple cider donuts with warm spices, finished with a smooth vanilla bean glaze for a cozy, sweet bite.

# Components:

→ For the Donuts

01 - 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) apple cider
02 - 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
03 - 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
04 - 1/2 tsp baking soda
05 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
06 - 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
07 - 1/4 tsp ground allspice
08 - 1/4 tsp salt
09 - 2 tbsp (30 g) unsalted butter, melted
10 - 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
11 - 1/2 cup (110 g) light brown sugar, packed
12 - 2 large eggs
13 - 1/2 cup (120 ml) whole milk
14 - 1 tsp vanilla extract

→ For the Vanilla Bean Glaze

15 - 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar, sifted
16 - 2-3 tbsp (30-45 ml) whole milk
17 - 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped (or 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla bean paste)

→ For Coating (Optional)

18 - 2 tbsp (30 g) unsalted butter, melted
19 - 1/4 cup (50 g) granulated sugar
20 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a donut pan using nonstick spray.
02 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, simmer apple cider until reduced to 1/2 cup (120 ml), approximately 10 minutes. Allow to cool slightly.
03 - In a medium bowl, thoroughly whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground allspice, and salt.
04 - In a large bowl, whisk together melted unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and packed light brown sugar until incorporated. Beat in eggs one at a time. Incorporate the reduced apple cider, whole milk, and vanilla extract.
05 - Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Avoid overmixing the batter.
06 - Spoon or pipe the batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each cavity to about 75% capacity.
07 - Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the donuts spring back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted into 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 completely.
08 - For the glaze, whisk together sifted powdered sugar, whole milk, and the scraped vanilla bean seeds (or vanilla bean paste) in a bowl until a smooth, pourable consistency is achieved.
09 - Dip the completely cooled donuts into the prepared glaze, allowing any excess to drip off. Place the glazed donuts back on the wire rack until the glaze sets.
10 - For an optional cinnamon sugar coating, gently brush the warm donuts with melted unsalted butter, then toss them in a mixture of granulated sugar and ground cinnamon before proceeding with the glaze.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in just 35 minutes from start to finish
  • No deep frying required makes these healthier than traditional donuts
  • Uses real apple cider for authentic fall flavor
  • Creates bakery quality donuts with simple ingredients
02 -
  • These donuts have the best texture when eaten the same day they are made
  • The reduced apple cider is what gives these donuts their distinctive flavor
  • Baked donuts are significantly lower in fat than fried versions
  • Using a real vanilla bean creates those beautiful specks in the glaze
03 -
  • For the most intense apple flavor use unfiltered apple cider from a local orchard. The cloudier the cider the more apple solids it contains which translates to better flavor in your donuts.
  • Always let the reduced cider cool slightly before adding it to your egg mixture to prevent scrambling the eggs.
  • And finally if you dont have a donut pan this batter works beautifully in a muffin tin for apple cider muffins just increase the baking time by about 5 minutes.

Back