Brown Butter Apple Cider Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar
These Brown Butter Apple Cider Donuts are the ultimate cozy fall treat. They’re baked, not fried, and feature a rich, nutty brown butter base, concentrated apple cider flavor, and a cinnamon sugar coating.For an extra-special twist, top them with a salted caramel glaze and serve warm with vanilla ice cream. Perfect for fall gatherings, weekend brunches, or simply satisfying your autumn sweet tooth.
Ingredients
For the Donuts:
- 1 cup apple cider to be reduced
- ½ cup unsalted butter for browning
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Cinnamon Sugar Coating:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup melted butter for brushing
Optional Salted Caramel Glaze:
- ½ cup caramel sauce store-bought or homemade
- Pinch of flaky sea salt
- 1 –2 tablespoons heavy cream to thin, if needed
For Serving (Optional):
- Vanilla ice cream
Instructions
Reduce the Apple Cider
- Pour 1 cup of apple cider into a saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until reduced to about 1/4 cup. This takes 10–15 minutes and concentrates the apple flavor. Let cool.
Brown the Butter
- In a small pan, melt the butter over medium heat, stirring frequently. Continue cooking until the butter foams and turns golden brown with a nutty aroma. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
Preheat & Prep
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease two standard donut pans.
Make the Batter
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with both sugars, then add the reduced apple cider, browned butter, milk, and vanilla. Combine the wet and dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Bake the Donuts
- Spoon or pipe the batter into the greased donut pans, filling each cavity about ¾ full. Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a wire rack.
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- Mix cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl. Brush warm donuts with melted butter and toss in cinnamon sugar until coated on all sides.