Spiced Apple Cider Donuts

I have been known to be easily coerced into making all sorts of questionable decisions when the result will end in donuts. This time of year, I think one of the best trick or treats might be donuts on a string. There might have been a time when I would have shied away from looking silly while trying to wolf down one of the magical donuts dangling from a string, but on Halloween, it’s right up my alley.

You might be someone who is skeptical about the amazing deliciousness of a donut on a string, and if you are, I would like you to give these donuts a try and get back to me after you’ve eaten a few. (or maybe the whole batch) The autumn taste of the apples dancing with the warm spices and butter in a recipe so easy you can have them ready in about 35 minutes will make you wonder if you’re being tricked or treated. Luckily it’s a little bit of both.

Ingredients

2 cups Apple Cider or Pressed Apple Juice reduced down to 1/3 cup. I use Treetop 100% pressed Apple juice.

1 Egg

1/3 cup Granulated Sugar

1/3 cup Brown Sugar

3 Tablespoons melted Butter

1/2 cup Buttermilk

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 3/4 cups All Purpose Flour

1 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Ground Cinnamon

1/2 tsp Nutmeg

Spiced Sugar Topping for rolling the donuts in:

1 cup Granulated Sugar

1 tsp Ground Cinnamon

1/2 tsp Nutmeg

1/4 tsp Salt

1/2 cup melted Butter

Instructions:

1. Reduce apple cider or apple juice down to 1/2 cup by cooking in a nonstick pan on the stove top until it has reduced to about 1/2 cup. It will become thick but be careful to not allow it to burn. Set it aside to allow it to cool after it has been reduced.
2. Mix together dry ingredients, flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
3. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the buttermilk, egg, sugars, melted butter, apple cider, and vanilla extract. Mix until just combined and smooth. Don’t overmix.
4. Pour batter into a pastry bag. This will make it easier to fill your donut pan.
5. Fill donut pan filling each donut form no more than halfway full.

6. Bake donuts in the pan at 350 for 8-10 minutes, or until donuts bounce back when pressed.

7. After removing donuts from oven. Remove from pan and allow to cool for 5 minutes.

8. Brush donuts with melted butter and dip them into the sugar topping until all surfaces are coated.

9. Serve and enjoy. They are best warm!