These baked apple cider donut holes are moist, tender, loaded with apple flavor, and coated with a sweet cinnamon-sugar topping. The bite-sized treats are the ultimate fall dessert.
Baked Apple Cider Donut Holes
Apple season is right around the corner, which means it is apple cider donut season. While apple cider donut season isn't officially on the calendar, it's one of the best times of the year. I love making these bite-sized treats because they are easier than baked apple cider donuts. Each one is full of apple flavor and topped with a sweet coating of cinnamon and sugar. It's hard to eat just one!
Apple flavor isn't lacking in these baked bite-sized treats. To enhance the apple flavor in the donuts, I like to reduce the apple cider. Reducing the cider turns it into a thick, syrup-like consistency that makes the apple flavor stand out ten times more.
Reducing the apple cider is the part of the recipe that takes the longest. Otherwise, the recipe comes together all in one bowl. When the donut holes are done, I like to put them in a plastic bag to coat them with the cinnamon sugar topping. The bag lets you easily shake the cinnamon and sugar all around so the donut holes are evenly coated for each bite.
Looking for more apple treats to make in the fall? Try my apple cake or apple pie cookies.
Why You'll Love These Apple Cider Donut Holes
- Bite-Sized - The little treats are the perfect bite.
- Seasonal Flavor - The reduced apple cider shows off the apple flavor in the best way.
- Simple - The baked apple cider donut holes couldn't be easier to make.
Ingredients Needed To Make Apple Cider Donut Holes
See below for all the details on what you'll need to make the full recipe.
- Apple Cider - I like to use Red Jacket cider.
- Milk - Use whole milk for a full flavor.
- Cinnamon - It goes in the batter and is used for the topping.
- Brown Sugar - Gives a subtle sweetness and adds to the moist texture.
- Butter - Melted down for the cinnamon and sugar to stick to the donut holes.
Directions For How To Make Apple Cider Donut Holes
- Prepare.
Preheat the oven to 350 and prepare a mini muffin tin with grease. Set to the side.
- Reduce the apple cider.
In a small saucepan, reduce the apple cider from 2 cups to ½ cup. The cider will be very thick and have a syrup-like consistency when done.
- Make the batter.
Combine the egg, granulated sugar, milk, vanilla, brown sugar, and apple cider in a large bowl. Mix with a whisk to combine.
- Add in dry.
Mix in the flour, baking powder, and cinnamon.
- Bake.
Fill the mini muffin tin with the batter. Fill each slot about ¾ of the way full. Bake the donut holes for 8-10 minutes.
- Cool and coat with topping.
Let the donut holes fully cool and pop them out of the muffin tin pan. Then, place them in a plastic bag. Pour in the melted butter, followed by the cinnamon and sugar topping. Shake the bag to fully coat the donut holes.
Serving Suggestions
The baked apple cider donut holes are great on their own. If you feel like mixing it up, you could break apart the donut holes and add them to vanilla ice cream for a sweeter treat.
Make Ahead and Storage
You can make the donut holes ahead of time. However, if you plan to do that, keep the topping off the donuts until you plan to serve them. The melted butter will make them a little soggy, so keep it off until you plan to eat them.
Extra donut holes can be stored in a plastic bag or airtight container for 3-5 days. They may become slightly soggy, but they are still good to eat.
Tips and Variations
- Topping - If you prefer less of a topping on the donut holes, reduce the cinnamon and sugar. Add more or less sugar depending on how sweet you'd like them.
- Cook Time - The donut holes bake quickly in the oven. They shouldn't take more than 10 minutes to bake. Any longer, and they will burn and dry out.
- Muffin Tin - Don't overfill the muffin tin. Fill each slot about ¾ of the way full in each slot.
FAQs
Apple cider donuts tend to be more cakey than regular donuts. They also have more spices in them to give them an apple flavor.
Apple cider donuts can also be called cider donuts.
A mini muffin pan will work fine for making mini donut holes. If you want to be more specific, you can buy and use a mini donut hole pan, too.
Apple Cider Donut Holes
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350 and prepare a mini muffin tin with grease. Set to the side.
- Reduce the apple cider in a saucepan on medium-low heat. Reduce the cider until it is thick and has a syrup-like consistency.
- Make the batter. Combine the sugar, milk, vanilla, brown sugar, egg, and cider in a large bowl and whisk to combine.
- Mix in the flour, baking powder, and cinnamon.
- Scoop ¾ of the batter into each muffin slot. Bake the donut holes for 8-10 minutes. When done, they should puff up and bounce back. Let them fully cool before taking them out of the pan.
- Add the cooled donut holes to a plastic bag and add in the melted butter, cinnamon, and sugar. Close the bag and shake the donut holes until they are fully covered in the cinnamon and sugar. Adjust the sugar levels to your liking.
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