Is there a season for doughnuts? If they are Apple Cider Donuts then I say once I pull out my sweaters, I begin to crave these yummy treats. I am all about an old fashioned doughnut. It has all my favorite fall flavors and the texture is cake-like and tender. There is nothing like a warm Apple Cider Donut coated in a cinnamon sugar crust. Every bite melts in your mouth. Having a doughnut with a hot cup of coffee on a crisp morning is what Fall is all about.
When I told my friend I was making Apple Cider Donuts with yogurt she asked me if they would be healthy. “Umm, they could be” was my half attempt at an answer. The thing is, is that I don’t make donuts often and I don’t fry a lot of food. And for those reasons I don’t feel guilty at all for frying them up. To make sure they come out light and fluffy, keep an eye on the temperature of your oil so the donuts don’t get greasy or taste too heavy. I like using my cast iron skillet because it maintains a steady heat. They actually taste lighter after they’re fried but I did bake a few off and they were equally delicious.
I also added a few more tweaks to make this donut extra special. In addition to the Vanilla Greek Yogurt, there’s orange zest and a touch of cardamom. To intensify the apple flavor, reduce the apple cider to a syrup, fold in apple butter and crush up some freeze dried apples to add to the cinnamon sugar coating. The best part of this recipe is that the dough can be made the day before and then you will have fresh doughnuts in the morning. Doesn’t that sound like a sweet and cozy start to the day? So let's start baking!
APPLE CIDER YOGURT DONUTS
INGREDIENTS
DONUT BATTER
2 cups apple cider
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temp
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs, room temp
1/2 cup Vanilla Greek Yogurt, full fat
1/4 cup apple butter
zest of 1/2 orange
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
CINNAMON SUGAR
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
pinch salt
1/4 cup freeze dried apples, crushed
Stir all the ingredients together until mixed thoroughly.
Canola oil for frying
METHOD
Pour the apple cider into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to a simmer and let the cider reduce to about a 1/4 cup, this will take about 15 minutes. Set the pan aside to cool. In a mixing bowl stir the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cardamon, nutmeg, and salt together. Whisk the eggs, yogurt, and apple butter into the cooled apple cider until smooth. Cream the butter, sugars and orange zest together with a wooden spoon until light and fluffy. Alternate folding in the flour mixture with the apple cider mixture into the creamed butter mixture. Beginning and ending with the flour. Mix and stir until there are no dry spots and a smooth, thick dough is formed. Place the dough between 2 pieces of lightly floured parchment paper. Roll to about a 3/4 inch thickness and place on a baking sheet. Chill the dough overnight in the fridge. When you are ready to fry the donuts, heat the canola oil in a large pot or a deep cast-iron skillet. Bring the oil up to a temp somewhere between 350-365 F. Keep an eye on the temp so it doesn't get too hot or too cold. This will ensure a light and fluffy texture. Cut out donuts and donut holes using a cutter and begin frying 4 donuts at a time. Turn them after 2-3 minutes, then cook for another 2 minutes on the other side until they are a dark brown and cooked through. Drain on a paper towel lined sheet pan and roll each donut generously in the cinnamon sugar. Enjoy while they are still warm!
TIPS
Make the dough the night before, so you can have them for breakfast the next morning.
Fry the donut holes last, since they only take a few minutes.
You can reroll and cut out the the scraps.
Store leftover donuts in an airtight container for 2 days.
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