Apple Cider Donut Recipe

Fall.  Say it again!  Falllllllllll.
It’s almost upon us and I can hardly wait!
It’s almost time for cider and cookies and pumpkins and scarves!

My husband and I moved to the Pacific Northwest from Northern California 6 years ago.  Besides our friends and family, what we miss the most is a wonderful place called Apple Hill.  My husband practically grew up there and I went there often growing up. When we started dating, I loved that he loved Apple Hill as much as I did.  We spent many fall and winter Saturdays visiting a few of the 50 or so ranches there.

High Hill Ranch is our favorite stop.  All kinds of apple treats abound.  Apple pie, apple dumplings, apple fritters, apple wine, apple butter, apple this and apple that!  But the real treasure, to my husband anyway, are the Cider Donuts. It’s funny, growing up, my mom loved High Hill Ranch and so we went there a lot, often spending the entire day at that one ranch.  My husband, all teenager-y and young, worked in the cider mill there.  We always wonder if we ever saw each other.  I like to think we did.

Back to the donuts.
Last week, my husband went on a trip to visit family and he went to Apple Hill.
WITHOUT ME!
He called me to brag about the donuts.
I gave him a hard time.
I bought a donut pan.
I made Cider Donuts.  Two can play this game!
These little cuties are not too sweet, but the glaze adds just the right amount of sweetness.
They’re perfect when warmed.  Just zap ’em in the microwave for about 10 seconds.
Delicious with coffee and cream or just plain milk!

I found the recipe at Shugarysweets.com.  I made a couple of tiny tweaks, I hardly used any Nutmeg or Allspice; they aren’t my favorite.  I’m all about Cinnamon, so I increased the amount in the recipe.

Apple Cider Donuts
2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup apple cider
1/4 cup applesauce
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla

For the Glaze:

2T apple cider
1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 tsp. allspice
1/4 cup sugar
1T cinnamon

Preheat 325.

In a large mixing bowl, add flour, sugar, baking powder, soda, salt, nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon.  Mix until blended.  Add in the apple cider, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla.  Beat for about 2 minutes until smooth and creamy.
Lightly grease donut pan.  Spoon batter into donut molds about 1/2-2/3 full. Bake for 10 minutes, until donuts spring back when touched.  Cool slightly before removing from pan.
To make glaze, whisk together apple cider, powdered sugar and allspice until smooth. In a separate bowl combine the cinnamon and sugar.  Dip each donut into glaze and then into the cinnamon and sugar mix.  The glaze will drip down the sides and coat nearly the whole donut.  Allow to dry on a cooling rack.