These Baked Apple Cider Donuts are soft, moist, and filled with warm fall spices and candied pecans. A maple cinnamon glaze goes over the top for an easy fall treat that’s baked instead of fried.
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I’m fully on board with anything that makes the house smell like fall, and these Baked Apple Cider Donuts definitely qualify. They’re one of those baking recipes that feels like a treat without turning into an entire afternoon project.
And because we're apparently incapable of leaving well enough alone around here, mine have candied pecans and a maple cinnamon glaze. Highly recommend eating one while it’s still a little warm.
Why You'll Love These Baked Apple Cider Donuts
- No mixer needed: Everything comes together with a couple of bowls and a whisk.
- Quick to bake: The donuts need less than 15 minutes in the oven.
- Soft and moist: Apple cider and sour cream keep the donuts tender.
- Plenty of fall flavor: Cinnamon, nutmeg, apple cider, and maple give you all the cozy stuff.
- Candied pecans: Add a buttery, crunchy contrast to the soft donuts.
- Baked, not fried: No pot of oil or frying required.
What You'll Need & Why
For the Candied Pecans
- Pecans + maple syrup: For sweet, crunchy little bites throughout the donuts.
- Flaky sea salt: Balances the sweetness.
For the Apple Cider Donuts
- Brown sugar + avocado oil: Keep the donuts soft and moist.
- Apple cider concentrate: Big apple cider flavor without having to reduce cider on the stove.
- Whole milk + eggs: For richness, moisture, and structure.
- All-purpose flour + baking powder: The base of our baked donuts.
- Cinnamon, ginger, cloves + nutmeg: All the warm fall spices.
- Vanilla + kosher salt: Round everything out.
For the Maple Cinnamon Glaze
- Cinnamon + salt: A little warmth and balance.
- Maple syrup + powdered sugar: Make our simple maple glaze.
The Recipe Rundown
These Baked Apple Cider Donuts are incredibly simple. Here's a brief overview of how to make them!
- Candy the pecans: Cook the pecans with maple syrup until sticky, sprinkle with flaky salt, and cool.
- Mix the wet ingredients: Whisk together the brown sugar, oil, cider concentrate, milk, eggs, and vanilla.
- Add the dry ingredients: Whisk the flour, spices, baking powder, and salt separately, then mix into the wet ingredients until just combined.
- Add the pecans: Fold the cooled candied pecans into the batter.
- Bake: Pipe into a greased donut pan and bake at 350°F for 11–13 minutes.
- Cool + glaze: Cool the donuts, dip in the maple cinnamon glaze, and let it set before serving.
Swaps & Variations
These Baked Apple Cider Donuts are easy to change up depending on what you have in the pantry or how you want to finish them.
- Cinnamon sugar: Skip the maple glaze and coat the warm donuts in cinnamon sugar instead. Brush them with a little melted butter first to help it stick.Tips and Tricks
- Nuts: Swap the pecans for walnuts, or leave the nuts out altogether.
- Spices: Don't keep all the individual spices on hand? Apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice works well here.
Tips for The Best Baked Apple Cider Donuts
A few simple things will help your Baked Apple Cider Donuts turn out soft, tender, and perfectly glazed every time.
- Don’t overmix: Mix the wet and dry ingredients just until combined so the donuts stay soft and tender.
- Use apple cider concentrate: It gives you plenty of apple cider flavor without adding excess liquid or reducing cider on the stove.
- Pipe the batter: A piping bag or zip-top bag makes filling the donut pan much easier and less messy.
- Don’t overbake: Start checking around 11 minutes and pull them when a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool before glazing: Warm donuts will melt the glaze and send it sliding right off the sides. And then you will be sad. I don't want you to be sad.
Baked Apple Cider Donuts Recipe
Equipment
- donut pan
- whisk
Ingredients
Candied Pecans
- 1 cup pecans, finely diced
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- pinch of flaky sea salt
Apple Cider Donuts
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup avocado oil
- ½ cup apple cider concentrate
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground clove
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Maple Cinnamon Glaze
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch of kosher salt
Instructions
Candied Pecans
- Add the pecans and maple syrup to a skillet over medium-high heat. Stir until the syrup starts to thicken just a bit. Remove the pecans from the skillet and sprinkle them with a little flaky sea salt. Set aside to cool.
Apple Cider Donuts
- Add the sugar, oil, milk, eggs, apple cider concentrate, and vanilla to a large mixing bowl. Whisk everything together until it's well combined.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the AP flour, ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove, baking powder and kosher salt. Whisk to combine.
- Add the dry ingredients to the bowl of wet ingredients mixing until just combined.
- Fold in the pecans.
- Pipe the batter into a greased donut pan. I fill mine almost to the top, but not quite. Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 11-13 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let them cool in the molds for about 5 minutes and onto a cooling rack for another 10-15 minutes.
Maple Cinnamon Glaze
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the maple syrup, powdered sugar, cinnamon, and pinch of salt and whisk until smooth.
- Take a cooled donut and dip it into the glaze so that it comes halfway up the sides of the donut. Repeat until all of the donuts are glazed.
- The glaze with set up in about 15-20 minutes and will be a little less messy while eating. Otherwise, dig in and enjoy!
Notes
- You can make the apple cider concentrate from scratch. Simply bring about one and a half cups of apple cider to a boil. Reduce the heat slightly and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the liquid has reduced to about ½ a cup. It's very simple and doable. Once it's reduced down, remove it from the heat and let it cool.
- The easiest way to get the Apple Cider Donut batter into the donut molds is by piping it in. If you do not have piping bags, grab a large zip top bag and fill it with the batter. Snip a small piece of the corner of the bag off and you have a homemade piping bag.
- Depending on the size of your donut pan, you'll get between 12-18 donuts.
Nutrition
Storage
Store leftover Baked Apple Cider Donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
For longer storage, freeze the unglazed donuts for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature, then add the maple cinnamon glaze before serving.
REcipe Testing Notes
- Homemade apple cider concentrate works: Simmer about 1½ cups of apple cider until reduced to about ½ cup, about 15–20 minutes. Let it cool before adding it to the batter.
- No donut pan needed: You can bake these in a muffin tin using small rolled tubes of foil in the center to create the donut holes. Pour the batter around the foil and bake as directed.
More Cozy Baking Favorites
If you’re in the mood to bake something sweet, here are a few more easy favorites perfect for fall, holidays, or a weekend treat.
- Cinnamon Rolls: Soft, fluffy, and covered in plenty of cream cheese frosting.
- Salted Caramel Cupcakes: Rich cupcakes topped with salted caramel for a sweet-and-salty treat.
- Double Chocolate Bread: An easy chocolate loaf that works for breakfast, dessert, or anything in between.
- Banana Nut Chocolate Chip Muffins: Soft banana muffins loaded with chocolate chips and candied pecans.
- Pumpkin Cheesecake: Creamy, warmly spiced, and perfect for the fall and holiday season.
Who’s Stirring the Pot?
Hi, I’m Ruth—the recipe developer and comfort-food enthusiast behind Rufus For Real. I believe dinner should be the best part of your day, not the most stressful one. That’s why I focus on meals that are simple, satisfying, and impossible to mess up in a real-life kitchen.
I want to hear from you! How did you like these Baked Apple Cider Donuts?! Let me know in the comments below—I read every single one!
You’ll find me sharing even more comfort-food goodness, kitchen tips, and behind-the-scenes chaos over on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube (@rufusforreal everywhere).
If you love approachable recipes with a whole lot of personality, pull up a chair—there’s always room at this table.
Happy Cooking!
-Ruth aka Rufus
