Good morning!
Ah, I love this weather.
It’s turned crisp and cool here, so I’ve reintroduced sweaters, flannels, and cozy socks into my wardrobe. And I’m pretty excited about it.

Although, it is bittersweet. Cold nights mean cool days, which mean WINTER IS COMING. Ugh, I dread the forbidden winter. I mean, I’m down for everything up until January and then NJ just goes into a cold, dark pit of grayness for me. I think I need to take up a winter sport or something. Especially with Covid-19 this year, I have a feeling the world is going to go back into a deep quarantine. The summer was a nice respite with the sun and outdoor activities but it’s coming. And that is a bit depressing. But anyway.
Let’s focus on the positive!
Autumn! Yay!

And with autumn comes deep, warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. And warm cozy drinks like hot chocolate, pumpkin spiced lattes and hot apple cider. Fall is the time for Oktoberfest, with giant steins sloshing full of German beer and the infinite oompa of the polka. For more reasons on why I love fall, check out my post on Goat Cheesecake with Spiced Apples. I love going to the farms in our neighboring towns as well, for local cider. It’s a win win because we’re supporting our local farmers, while getting super fresh apple cider.
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Cozy Afternoons with Apple Cider
Apple cider is great warmed up with some spices, ladled into a cute mug and you’ve got “Fall in a Cup”. Add a shot of whiskey and you’ve got yourself a cocktail! We like to put those cocktails together after we’ve gotten home from apple picking. I’ll light a fall candle while we decorate with bales of hay and Flint or “Indian” corn. My husband makes the cocktails while he throws on the game and we just have a cozy afternoon.
Wilton Non-Stick 6-Cavity Donut Baking Pans, 2-CountA trip to the farm wouldn’t be complete without apple cider donuts. Sweet and crunchy on the outside, soft and crumbly on the inside. These are made with baking powder and fried, then tossed in cinnamon sugar. Grabbing a dozen is a must. Throw on a bonfire in the backyard and we’ve got the perfect fall afternoon.
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Apple Cider Donuts
Ozeri ZK14-S Pronto Digital Multifunction Kitchen and Food Scale, BlackWhile I LOVE those apple cider donuts, I do NOT like frying in my kitchen…and the mess that comes with it! So when I’ve got extra cider I’ll bake them in the oven instead. So easy and just as delicious. You do need a donut pan but it’s worth it. Chef tip: Use a piping bag to pipe the batter into the pan to get a round and even donut. Don’t want to spend any extra money? A muffin pan works just as well and you’ve got donut muffins instead.
Ateco Disposable Decorating Bags, 18-Inch, Pack of 100I would say these are more healthy because they aren’t fried, but I don’t think I can due to the fact that they are dunked in butter before tossed in the cinnamon sugar. But we’re not really thinking about our waistlines when we’re munching on these bad boys are we? Let’s focus on that during our morning work out instead.
Cheers!
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Baked Apple Cider Donuts
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 33 minutes
- Yield: 12 donuts 1x
Description
These donuts are baked rather than fried and fresh apple cider is whisked into the batter. Perfect for a fall afternoon by the fire pit with a mug full of hot apple cider.
Ingredients
- 268 grams all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
- Pinch of ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1/3 cup whole milk
- 1/3 cup sour cream or yogurt
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 8 tablespoons butter, melted
Cinnamon Sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare your donut pans or muffin tins by spraying with oil spray.
- Whisk together the dry ingredients in a bowl – flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients – cider, milk, sour cream, eggs and vanilla.
- While whisking, add 1 tablespoon of melted butter to the liquids, whisking until smooth.
- Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry and mix until smooth using a rubber spatula.
- Prepare your piping bag by placing the bag open side up in a wide mouthed container and folding the outer lip down and around the cup to stabilize the bag. Using a rubber spatula, pour the batter into the bag, twist the bag closed and cut the tip off, leaving about a 1/2 inch hole for piping.
- Pipe or scoop the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 18 minutes, turning the pans halfway for even cooking.
- Meanwhile, prepare the cinnamon sugar by combining the cinnamon, sugar and a pinch of salt in a bowl.
- When the donuts are baked and cooled a few minutes, remove from the pan and lightly dip each donut in the remaining melted butter and then toss in the cinnamon sugar.
Notes
These donuts are best eaten the day they are made. I prefer to bake with a food scale for more accurate measuring, especially for the dry ingredients!
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: dessert, donuts, fall dessert, cinnamon, fall breakfast, oven dessert
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So, so, SO good! Absolutely perfect donut recipe for fall. Super easy to make in your kitchen and they’re delicious. This recipe will definitely become a staple in our home for the autumn season!
★★★★★