Delicious fresh apple cider donuts are the perfect fall treat! Combining cinnamon, nutmeg, and apple cider flavors. Rolled in cinnamon and sugar or dipped in buttercream frosting and drizzled in caramel. Both versions are equally delicious!

Looking for a cheater method for making donuts? Try our biscuit dough donuts.

Watch our step by step video!

Last weekend we went to Apple Hill in Camino, California. It is about an hour and a half away from our home and is a fun place to visit in the fall. There are many apple/fruit orchards to visit as well as Christmas tree farms. Each with their own trademark reason to make a stop.

One of the orchards makes THE BEST Hot Apple Cider Donuts. Ever. They are so light in texture and you have no problem paying $1 each for them. The kids and I downed a dozen of those little suckers in 2 seconds flat.

Aaron asked if we could bring some cider home with us, so we grabbed a jug and I decided to use some of it to make more apple cider donuts. This is a recipe that I've tweaked over the years and has become one of our favorites. The spices and the cinnamon sugar coating are a perfect balance of flavor.

Side note: Have you ever made your own apple cider? It's a great activity to do with kids, and you can make it in your pressure cooker! We used a bottle of cider from a local farm to make these donuts.

The apple cider flavor comes from making a cider reduction. Sounds fancy, but it isn't. You're simply going to boil 1 ½ cups of apple cider on the stove until it reduces to about ½ cup. Don't worry if you leave it on a little too long and it ends up being a little less than ½ a cup. You can add a splash of cider to get it back up to what you'll need for this recipe.

The apple cider donut dough comes together quickly and isn't going to feel like bread dough. It's more like sugar cookie dough. Super soft and easy to roll out. You can cut the donuts out using a biscuit cutter, donut cutter, canning lid, or cookie cutters.

These donuts are delicious with a glass of milk or hot wassail.

Cinnamon and Sugar Version

Once the donuts have had a chance to drain from the fryer, toss the warm donut in cinnamon and sugar.

hand holding caramel drizzled apple cider donut

Buttercream and Caramel Version

Our buttercream and caramel version is divine! Dip cooled donuts in the buttercream glaze then drizzle with caramel.

I like using the caramel dip found in the produce section of the grocery store. Super easy and it's the perfect texture without having to heat it up. I also use this dip when I make our Samoas rice krispies treats.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND TIPS

WHAT TEMPERATURE DOES THE OIL NEED TO BE TO DEEP FRY Apple Cider DONUTS?

375 degrees. Use a thermometer to monitor the oil.

WHAT IF MY OIL IS TOO HOT?

Remove from heat until the oil temp on the thermometer reaches 350-375 degrees again.

HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN THE OIL TEMPERATURE WHEN DEEP FRYING DONUTS?

Heat the oil on med-high until it begins to heat up. Once the oil reaches 375 degrees reduce the heat to low.

HOW MANY DONUTS DOES THIS RECIPE MAKE?

This recipe makes 15 donuts and 15 donut holes.

CAN YOU REHEAT Apple Cider DONUTS?

Reheat day-old donuts in the microwave for about 6 seconds and they will be just like new!

Hot Apple Cider Donuts Recipe