These spiced apple cider donuts made with brown sugar have the same consistency as fried donuts and are jam-packed with fall's flavors - just like the ones sold at apple orchards. They are baked rather than fried and can be made as standard donuts, donut holes, or apple cider donut muffins!
Mix all ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
Donut Instructions
Preheat oven to 325 F.
In a small saucepan on high heat, bring apple cider to a boil and reduce by half. It's OK to cheat and pour the apple cider out into a heat resistant liquid measuring cup periodically to see if the cider is down to a half cup; you could also use a pot with internal markings.
Remove cider from heat and cool until warm to the touch.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 1 teaspoon of the spice mixture from above.
In another medium-sized bowl, beat the eggs, buttermilk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and the reduced cider.
Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined.
Grease wells of a mini donut or donut hole pan with non-stick baking spray. Fill wells 3/4 full.
Bake for 15 minutes or until the donuts bounce back when lightly touched.
Remove donuts from pan.
Donut Topping Instructions
Mix brown sugar into the remaining apple cider spice blend from above.
Dip each donut hole into melted butter and roll in spice blend to coat.
Serve warm.
Notes
If you don't have a donut or donut hole pan, you can make these in a mini-muffin pan. They just won't be as round.If not eating right away, loosely cover and eat within 24 hours or freeze for months and microwave in 10 second bursts until warm.