Irresistible Baked Apple Cider Donuts with 35-Minute Magic

Name: Irresistible Baked Apple Cider Donuts with 35-Minute Magic
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 tsp baking powder; 1 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 tsp cinnamon; 1/2 cup apple cider; 1/2 cup sugar; 1/4 cup brown sugar; 1/4 cup melted butter; 1 egg; 1 tsp vanilla extract; For glaze: 1/4 cup butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract

Author: lia

Published: August 27, 2025

Baked Apple Cider Donuts with Brown Butter Glaze

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There’s nothing quite like the smell of fall baking filling the kitchen – cinnamon dancing with brown sugar, the rich caramel notes of browned butter, and that unmistakable tang of fresh apple cider. These baked apple cider donuts with brown butter glaze capture every cozy autumn flavor I crave. They remind me of childhood trips to the cider mill, where my mom would let me sip fresh cider while we waited for warm donuts dusted with sugar. Now I make this version at home, where the heavenly brown butter glaze takes them to another level entirely. You’ll swear you can taste crisp fall afternoons and crackling fires in every blissful bite.

Baked Apple Cider Donuts with Brown Butter Glaze - detail 1

Why You’ll Love These Baked Apple Cider Donuts with Brown Butter Glaze

Trust me, these aren’t just any donuts – they’re little bites of autumn magic that’ll have you baking batch after batch. Here’s why they’re special:

Light yet satisfying texture: The perfect balance between cakey and tender, with a slight crispness from the brown butter glaze
Quick baking time: From mixing bowl to your mouth in under 35 minutes – perfect for sudden donut cravings!
True fall flavors: That rich apple cider taste shines through, with cinnamon dancing in the background
The glaze, oh the glaze: Brown butter transforms ordinary powdered sugar into something extraordinary – nutty, caramel-like perfection
No fryer needed: Baked means less mess and guilt, but all the deliciousness

I make these every October when the leaves start turning, but honestly? They’re too good to save just for fall.

Ingredients for Baked Apple Cider Donuts with Brown Butter Glaze

Gathering the right ingredients is half the battle for perfect donuts. Let me tell you exactly what you’ll need – I’ve learned through trial and error which small details make all the difference!

2 cups all-purpose flour – spooned and leveled, don’t pack it down
1 teaspoon baking powder – make sure it’s fresh for maximum rise
1 teaspoon baking soda – this reacts with the cider for perfect texture

1/2 teaspoon salt – just enough to balance the sweetness

1 teaspoon cinnamon – I use Saigon cinnamon for extra warmth
1/2 cup apple cider – fresh pressed if you can find it, boiled down for more concentrated flavor
1/2 cup granulated sugar – the sweet backbone of our donuts
1/4 cup brown sugar – packed firmly for those caramel notes
1/4 cup melted butter – cooled slightly so it doesn’t cook the egg
1 large egg – at room temperature (pop it in warm water for 5 minutes if you forgot!)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract – the good stuff, not imitation

For that heavenly glaze that makes these donuts unforgettable:

1/4 cup butter – we’ll brown this to golden perfection
1 cup powdered sugar – sifted to avoid lumps
1 teaspoon vanilla extract – yes, more vanilla! It makes the glaze sing

See those notes? They’re not just suggestions – they’re my hard-won secrets for donut success!

Equipment You’ll Need

You won’t need fancy gadgets for these donuts – just a few reliable basics from your kitchen. Here’s what I grab every time:

Donut pan – A standard 6-cavity nonstick pan works perfectly (I’ve tried them all!)
Two mixing bowls – One for dry ingredients, one for wet
Whisk – My trusty wire whisk mixes everything beautifully
Rubber spatula – For gently folding that batter together
Bonus tip: A piping bag or ziplock with the corner snipped makes filling the pan mess-free

How to Make Baked Apple Cider Donuts with Brown Butter Glaze

Alright, let’s get to the fun part! I’ll walk you through each step just like I’m right there in the kitchen with you. Don’t worry – it’s easier than you think, and oh-so-rewarding when you pull those golden donuts out of the oven.

Preparing the Donut Batter

First things first – preheat that oven to 350°F and give your donut pan a quick spritz of baking spray. Now, here’s how we make that perfect batter:

Whisk together your dry ingredients – flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in one bowl. I like to sift them through my fingers to make sure everything’s evenly distributed.
In another bowl, whisk the apple cider, both sugars, melted butter, egg, and vanilla until they’re completely combined. The mixture should look smooth and smell amazing already!
Now the crucial part: Add the dry ingredients to the wet and gently fold them together with a rubber spatula. Stop as soon as you don’t see any flour streaks – overmixing is the enemy of tender donuts! A few small lumps are totally fine.

Baking the Donuts

Now for the magic transformation from batter to donuts:

Fill each donut cavity about 2/3 full – I use a piping bag for this, but a spoon works too. Just don’t overfill or you’ll lose that pretty donut shape!
Bake for 10-12 minutes until they’re golden and spring back when lightly pressed. My trick? Set the timer for 10 minutes and check – every oven is different.
Let them cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This patience test is the hardest part – but warm donuts fall apart if you rush!

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Making the Brown Butter Glaze

While the donuts cool, let’s make that show-stopping glaze:

Melt the butter in a small pan over medium heat. Keep stirring – first it’ll foam, then you’ll see golden brown bits forming at the bottom. That nutty aroma means it’s perfect!
Immediately remove from heat and whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla. It’ll look lumpy at first but keep going – the heat will melt the sugar into silky perfection.
Dip each cooled donut halfway into the glaze, letting the excess drip off. I like to do a quick flip to get both sides. Then let them set for a few minutes – if you can wait that long!

And there you have it – bakery-worthy donuts with that incredible brown butter magic, all from your own oven. The hardest part now? Sharing them!

Tips for Perfect Baked Apple Cider Donuts with Brown Butter Glaze

After making dozens of batches (some more successful than others!), I’ve learned a few tricks that guarantee perfect donuts every time:

The toothpick test never lies – if it comes out with just a crumb or two sticking to it, they’re done. Wet batter means another minute or two in the oven.
Cool completely before glazing – I know it’s tempting, but warm donuts make the glaze slide right off. Wait at least 20 minutes.
Brown butter carefully – keep stirring constantly and remove from heat the moment it smells nutty. Burnt butter is bitter butter!
Thicken glaze if needed – if it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar tablespoon by tablespoon until it coats the spoon nicely.

Trust me, these small details make all the difference between good donuts and great ones!

Variations for Baked Apple Cider Donuts

One of my favorite things about this recipe is how easily you can play with the flavors! Here are some delicious twists I’ve tried over the years when I’m feeling adventurous:

Spice it up: Add 1/4 teaspoon each of nutmeg and cardamom to the dry ingredients – it gives the donuts this incredible warmth that pairs perfectly with the cider.
Cinnamon sugar coating: Skip the glaze and dip warm donuts in melted butter, then roll in a mix of cinnamon and sugar for that classic cider mill feel.
Maple glaze: Substitute the vanilla in the glaze with pure maple syrup – just 2 tablespoons will give you that quintessential fall flavor.
Apple chunks: Fold in 1/2 cup of finely diced apples (peeled first!) for extra texture and apple goodness in every bite.

Really, the possibilities are endless – that’s what makes this recipe so special!

Storing and Reheating Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Here’s my tried-and-true method for keeping these donuts fresh (if they last that long!): Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days – the brown butter glaze actually helps keep them moist. For that just-baked warmth, microwave one for 10 seconds before serving. The heavenly aroma will have everyone running to the kitchen!

FAQs About Baked Apple Cider Donuts with Brown Butter Glaze

Over the years, I’ve gotten so many questions about these donuts – here are the ones that pop up most often with my tried-and-true answers:

Can I use bottled apple cider instead of fresh?

Absolutely! While fresh cider has the best flavor, bottled works fine in a pinch. Just make sure it’s pure apple cider, not juice – you want that tangy depth. I sometimes boil bottled cider for 5 minutes to concentrate the flavor if it tastes too mild.

Help! How do I know when the butter is properly browned?

Oh, browned butter can go from perfect to burnt in seconds – I’ve learned this the hard way! Watch for three stages: first the butter melts, then foams (keep stirring!), and finally little brown specks appear at the bottom with an incredible nutty aroma. That’s your cue to immediately remove it from heat – the residual heat will continue cooking it slightly.

My glaze turned out lumpy – what went wrong?

Don’t worry, this happens to me sometimes too! The fix is simple: sift your powdered sugar first, and make sure your browned butter is still warm (but not scorching hot) when you whisk everything together. If lumps persist, a quick zap in the microwave for 10 seconds usually smoothes things right out.

Can I make these donuts ahead of time?

You sure can! I often bake the donuts the night before and store them unglazed at room temperature. The glaze takes just minutes to make fresh in the morning – that way you get that irresistible just-made taste with none of the last-minute stress.

Nutritional Information

Just between us, I’m not one to count calories when there’s brown butter glaze involved! But for those who like to know, these baked apple cider donuts are definitely a treat – the nutrition will vary based on your specific ingredients and how generously you apply that irresistible glaze. As with any homemade recipe, exact values depend on the brands you use and how you measure. My advice? Enjoy one (or two!) without guilt – life’s too short to skip the brown butter magic!

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