Applecider Spice Donuts

I have a sister-in-law who every year makes me drool with jealousy when her family heads to the local pumpkin patch and eats their little hearts out of apple cider donuts. And every October when I read about her annual pumpkin patch tradition I am reminded that I need to try these. Because in these parts I have never seen them. Well, I took a group of 11 year old girls to a local apple orchard to tour and learn about the whole process. As a treat I thought I would make Apple cider donuts. I found a recipe that didn't seem to imitating from Our Best Bites.

Since the recipe is so long I will give my verdict before you read. They were delicious, very autumnesque. The girls LOVED them (and were pretty impressed with my homemade donut ability if I don't say so myself) However, the recipe says it makes 24-36. I don't know what I did wrong but I only got 9 good ones and 4 that completely broke apart, (luckily, only 7 girls went). I have no idea how she made that many from that amount of dough. 

Second, I think next time I will do half with the sugar/pumpkin pie spice mixture and the other with a sugar/cinnamon mixture.

Here is the recipe:

Apple Cider Spice Doughnuts

1 c. apple cider, preferably fresh apple cider or something high-quality like Simply Apple

1 c. sugar

3 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1/4 c. butter-flavored shortening

2 eggs

1/2 c. buttermilk

1 quart canola or peanut oil (for frying)

Spiced Sugar

Shake or whisk to combine:

3/4 c. white sugar

1 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring the apple cider to a boil. Continue to cook over high heat for about 7-10 minutes or until it’s reduced to 1/4 c. Remove from heat and allow to cool (you can transfer it to a heat-safe cup and place in the refrigerator or freezer to make things move a little more quickly. Also, if you’re in a pinch, you can use 1/4 c. of undiluted apple juice concentrate).

While the cider is reducing, combine shortening and sugar in a large bowl and mix with an electric mixer on high for 2-3 minutes or until it’s light and fluffy (if you’re using a KitchenAid mixer, use the paddle beater). Add eggs one at a time, beating completely after each addition. Add reduced cider and buttermilk and beat until combined.

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Add flour mixture to the liquid mixture and beat until just blended. The dough will be very soft–it will be about the consistency of chocolate chip cookie dough (minus the chocolate chips, of course! :) )

Carefully lay a sheet of plastic wrap on top of a baking sheet. Transfer dough to the plastic wrap. Lightly flour a rolling pin and roll dough out to about 1/2″ thick. Top with another layer of plastic wrap and transfer the pan to the freezer for about 20 minutes or the refrigerator for 1 hour. While dough is chilling, you can prepare the spiced sugar topping.

When the dough has chilled, remove from the freezer/refrigerator. Using a round cookie cutter, cut circles out of the dough. Using a smaller cookie cutter (I only had a tiny heart or a tiny shamrock, but c’mon, aren’t these the cutest things you’ve ever seen??), cut the centers out of the circles and reserve the “holes” for little bite-sized pieces of apple-spiced goodness! Place cut dough pieces on a lightly floured baking sheet. When all the dough has been cut out, place the pan back in the refrigerator while you prepare the oil for frying.

In a large, deep saucepan or Dutch oven, heat 1 quart of oil over medium heat. If you don’t have a candy thermometer, go buy one–they’re not just handy for this recipe, but they are also a) fabulously cheap and b) ALWAYS useful. Anyway, using a candy thermometer, heat oil to 325 degrees. While oil is heating, line a plate or baking sheet with paper towels.

When the oil is hot, carefully place a few pieces of dough into the hot oil (don’t crowd the pan, but you can probably get away with cooking 3-4 at a time, at least). The dough will sink down and then rise to the surface. Check the bottom side; if it’s golden brown, flip the doughnut. If it’s still a little pale, give it another 30 seconds or so and then check it again. After you’ve flipped the doughnut, the other side will cook significantly faster, so keep an eye on them. All in all, they should take about 90 seconds-2 minutes to cook completely.

Remove doughnuts from hot oil with a heat-proof slotted spoon and transfer to paper towels, followed by a baking rack (if you need the paper towel space for more doughnuts).

What can I say, I couldn’t resist!

Repeat frying process with remaining dough and then with the holes–the doughnut holes will cook EXTREMELY quickly, so be careful not to burn them.

Place spiced sugar mix in a large Ziploc bag and then shake a few doughnuts at a time in the mixture.
Makes about 24-36 doughnuts