There’s nothing quite like the cozy warmth of homemade fall donuts, especially when the leaves start to change. I love how a simple baked treat can make the whole house smell wonderful and bring a smile to everyone’s face.
Today, I’m excited to share two easy donut recipes that are perfect for this time of year. You’ll find simple steps to make delicious apple cider donuts and spiced pumpkin donuts right in your own kitchen.
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Cozy Homemade Apple Cider Donuts
These baked donuts bring the best flavors of fall right into your kitchen. They are soft, cakey, and coated in a sweet cinnamon sugar, making them a perfect autumn treat.
Key Ingredients & Baking Tips
- Reduced Cider: For the best apple flavor, boil down your apple cider until it’s about half the original volume. This concentrates the taste.
- Apple Pie Spice: This blend often includes cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, giving your apple donuts that familiar fall aroma.
- Room Temperature Butter: Make sure your butter is soft for easy mixing and a smooth donut batter.
What You Need
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup apple cider, reduced
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For coating: ½ cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
⏱️ Time: 35 minutes🍽️ Yields: 12 donuts
How to Make It
Step 1: Get Ready
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Then, lightly grease a standard donut pan. Reducing the apple cider is simple: just simmer it in a small pot until it thickens and reduces by about half. Let it cool before using.
Step 2: Mix the Batter
In a large bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, egg, reduced apple cider, milk, and vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until everything is combined. Do not overmix.
Step 3: Bake and Coat
Spoon the donut batter evenly into the prepared donut pan cavities, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the donuts are light golden and spring back when gently touched. Let them cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. While they are still warm, mix the coating sugar and cinnamon, then roll each donut in the mixture.
📝 Final Note
These donuts are best enjoyed fresh, but you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Warm Baked Pumpkin Spice Donuts
These baked pumpkin donuts are soft and moist, with just the right amount of warm spice. They are simple to bake and perfect for a cool morning or an afternoon treat.
Key Ingredients & Baking Tips
- Pumpkin Puree: Always use plain pumpkin puree for baking, not pumpkin pie filling, which has added spices and sugar.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice: This blend makes getting that classic fall flavor super easy. It usually contains cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Donut Pan: A good non-stick donut pan is really helpful here. If you don’t have one, you can make donut holes in a mini muffin tin.
What You Need
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For coating: ½ cup powdered sugar (optional)
⏱️ Time: 30 minutes🍽️ Yields: 10 donuts
How to Make It
Step 1: Prepare Your Space
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a standard donut pan. This helps prevent sticking and makes sure your donuts come out perfect.
Step 2: Mix Wet and Dry
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. In a separate medium bowl, whisk the pumpkin puree, milk, vegetable oil, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter.
Step 3: Bake and Finish
Spoon or pipe the batter into each donut cavity, filling them about two-thirds full. Bake for 10-14 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into a donut comes out clean. Let the donuts cool in the pan for a few minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely. If you like, dust them with powdered sugar once they are cool.
📝 Final Note
These donuts keep well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They are also wonderful slightly warmed in the microwave!
