Mimi's Organic Eats » Recipes » Fall » Sparkling Apple Cider Donuts

Sparkling Apple Cider Donuts

No Seed Oils • High Altitude • Fall | Published November 10, 2022 by Mimi Council

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Fluffy and cakey, these Sparkling Apple Cider Donuts are a fall bake that will make your house smell amazing this weekend! These easy baked donuts with sparkling apple cider are a quick bake that allows you to make them the morning of your brunch!

If you like donuts, check out my Snickerdoodle Donut Holes, Baked Donuts with Chocolate Fudge Glaze, or my Carrot Cake Baked Donuts.

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients
Tools Needed
Step by Step Instructions
Baker's Tips
FAQ's
Craving More?

Sparkling apple cider is one of my favorite fall things. And Martinelli’s makes an organic one, which is so good! I get it every year, and every year I make something sweet with it. Last year I made Sparkling Apple Cider Mimosas and the year before I made Sparkling Apple Cider Bourbon. But you can also bake with sparkling apple cider!

So, this year I had the idea to make Sparkling Apple Cider Donuts! I actually made these for Halloween to give to our friends who were trick or treating with their kids in our neighborhood. And everyone loved them!

This simple recipe for baked donuts with sparkling apple cider is the best fall baked donuts recipe ever! These homemade Sparkling Apple Cider Donuts are moist, light, cakey, and they are covered in cinnamon and sugar. The sparkling apple cider gives them a crazy light texture because of the carbonation.

This recipe for Sparkling Apple Cider Donuts really is the best fall baked donuts recipe, it might just be my new favorite! And my Maple Pecan Baked Donuts are one of my faves, so if you like that recipe, you will love this one! You can easily make these baked donuts with sparkling apple cider on a weekend morning. They come together in less than an hour, and you’ll have amazing homemade baked donuts. What are you waiting for?

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Bursting with Flavor: These Sparkling Apple Cider Donuts are infused with the crisp, tangy sweetness of apple cider, enhanced by the slight effervescence of sparkling cider. This combination creates a uniquely refreshing and flavorful donut that stands out from traditional flavors.

Light and Fluffy Texture: Baked rather than fried, these baked donuts with sparkling apple cider have a light and fluffy texture that makes them a delightful, less greasy alternative to conventional donuts.

Fall Vibes: These donuts are ideal for celebrating seasonal events, especially in the fall when apple cider is in its prime. They make a perfect addition to holiday gatherings, brunches, or as a festive treat for a cozy afternoon snack.

Nutritious Twist: Incorporating apple cider into the donut batter not only adds flavor but also introduces some of the beneficial nutrients found in apples, such as vitamin C and antioxidants. While still a treat, these donuts offer a slightly healthier option, making them the best fall baked donuts!

Ingredients

Cane Sugar: I use organic cane sugar, I used Wholesome here.
All Purpose Flour: My favorite is Cairnspring Mills!
Baking Powder: Make sure to use baking powder and not soda here.
Salt: Use a fine sea salt for the batter.
Nutmeg: I use organic ground nutmeg.
Cinnamon: I use organic ground Korintje cinnamon.
Eggs: Make sure to use oragnic large eggs, my favorite are Organic Valley.
Heavy Whipping Cream: I use Organic Valley.
Sparkling Apple Cider: Martinelli's makes an organic sparkling apple cider, which is so good! That's what I use here.
Yogurt: I use organic Greek yogurt. You can use plain or vanilla either will work.
Butter: I use Organic Valley Salted Butter.
Vanilla Extract: My favorite is Simply Organic.
Cooking Spray: Using a cooking spray to grease the donut pans works the best. I use an avocado oil cooking spray but you could also use olive oil or canola oil.

Tools Needed

Scale: Always use a digital food scale for the best results.
Mixing Bowl: This recipe is so simple, you just need a mixing bowl and whisk. But, if you want to use your hand mixer or stand mixer you can also do that.
Whisk: I use a whisk to mix up the batter, but a spatula also works.
Donut Pan: I use USA Pan Donut Pans, you'll need two.
Piping Bags: I use a piping bag to pipe the batter into the donut pans. You can use a zip bag if that's all you have, or you could even spoon the batter into the pans.

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Step by Step Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Step 2

To make the batter: Add the flour, cane sugar, baking powder, cornstarch, nutmeg, cinnamon, and sea salt to a large mixing bowl and whisk together to combine.

Add the egg, heavy whipping cream, sparkling apple cider, yogurt, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Whisk until combined into a thick batter. Transfer the batter to a piping bag.

Step 3

Spray the donut pans with avocado oil cooking spray. Pipe the batter into the pans, or if you don’t want to pipe, you can also just spoon it into the pans too!

Step 4

Spray the donut pans with avocado oil cooking spray. Pipe the batter into the pans, or if you don’t want to pipe, you can also just spoon it into the pans too!

Step 5

Bake for 10 to 14 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool completely in the pans.

Step 6

To make the topping: In a medium bowl, add the cane sugar and cinnamon and mix together. Add the melted butter into a second bowl. Dip each donut into the melted butter and then dip it into the cinnamon and sugar mixture to coat it completely.

Baker's Tips

You can use flat apple cider in place of sparkling if you prefer.
If you have broken donuts, you can just crumble them up and form into balls. That's how I got the donut holes. If you have a donut that breaks coming out of the pan or doesn't look ideal, just make it into a couple donut holes!
Make sure to store these in an airtight container or under a cake dome so they stay fresh.

FAQ's

Can I make these Sparkling Apple Cider Donuts ahead of time?

Yes, absolutely. If you want to make these donuts the day before you plan to serve them to you can do that. Because they are cake, they do need to be stored in an airtight container, so they don’t dry out. A cake dome is the best option for these. I actually made them the day before Halloween and then served them to my friends the next day!

Can I use apple cider that isn’t sparkling?

Yes, if you have traditional apple cider that isn’t sparkling, you can use it in place of the sparkling in this recipe. The sparkling does give these donuts a very light texture, but they will still be delicious with the regular option as well.

How should I store these?

These baked donuts with sparkling apple cider are a light and moist cake. So, they need to be stored in an airtight container, so they don’t dry out. My favorite way to store them in in a cake dome. Plus, they’ll look so beautiful sitting in a cake dome on your countertop!