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Sourdough Apple Cider Baked Donuts (With Discard)

Sourdough Apple Cider Donuts are soft and delicious with a delightful cinnamon sugar coating. The addition of beneficial sourdough discard gives these donuts a soft and moist texture and the spiced flavor comes from plenty of cinnamon and apple pie spice. If you’re looking for a delicious fall breakfast or dessert with just the right amount of fall flavor, try these out!

sourdough apple cider donuts

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Apple Cider Sourdough Doughnuts

When fall arrives, there’s no better way to embrace the season than with homemade donuts. We’ve been loving my Pumpkin Donuts this year but I wanted to mix things up a bit and throw an apple-flavored donut into the rotation. We recently visited an apple orchard as a family and had such a blast. The best thing I purchased there was a delicious, flavor-packed apple cider that I’ve been using in EVERYTHING. Creating this easy + delicious apple cider doughnut recipe just felt RIGHT.

sourdough apple cider donuts

These sourdough apple cider donuts are easy to make and full of rich, spiced apple flavor—plus, they’re baked, not fried, making them a lighter yet still delicious option.

Your New Favorite Delicious Fall Treat

Fall desserts are one of my absolute favorites to bake in my kitchen. Every fall I love trying new recipes incorporating pumpkin, apple, and the spices of fall! We’ve made everything from sourdough pumpkin pancakes to apple sourdough coffee cake to pumpkin spice donuts

I have to say these apple cider donuts were by far my kid’s favorite! They love the cinnamon sugar coating! 


Why You’ll Love Apple Cider Donuts

sourdough apple cider donuts
  • Packed with Apple Flavor: The trick to incorporating max apple cider flavor in these donuts is reducing the apple cider! Apple juice will not work for this. Using concentrated, reduced apple cider and sourdough starter gives these donuts a strong, tangy-sweet apple flavor that’s perfect for fall.
  • Perfect for Using Sourdough Discard: If you’re like many bakers with a sourdough starter, you’re always looking for ways to use discard. These donuts are a great solution.
  • Lighter, Baked Option: Instead of frying in hot oil, these donuts are baked in a donut pan, making them a healthier alternative while still giving you the golden brown, crispy exterior. They also are much faster/easier and create less mess!
  • Simple: I usually mix these up in ONE bowl. This creates way less mess which is always a win in our house.

Tips and Tricks for Delicious Donuts

  • Reduce the Apple Cider: Start by boiling your cups of apple cider over medium heat to reduce it by half. This creates a concentrated apple cider which will make your donuts taste like a bite of autumn.
  • Room Temperature Ingredients: I always recommend getting ingredients to room temperature before combining. This creates a better, smoother batter.
  • Use a Donut Pan: These donuts are baked, so a good-quality donut pan is essential. The good thing is donut pans are super cheap and we use them all the time so it’s money well spent. If you don’t have one, you can also use a muffin pan for “donut muffins” or create donut holes with a cookie cutter. I’ve also heard it works to ball up some tin foil and place in the middle of a muffin tin for a make-shift donut pan.
  • Apple Pie Spice: A delightful blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom. If you don’t have your own, combine 4 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons of ground nutmeg, and 1 teaspoon of ground cardamom for a homemade version!

Supplies

  • Donut pan or muffin pan
  • Wire rack
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Medium-sized saucepan for reducing the apple cider
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Stand mixer with a dough hook attachment (optional)

Ingredients

sourdough apple cider donuts
  • Apple cider: A good quality cider makes all the difference! If you have recently visited an orchard I recommend stocking up. The orchard cider I bought was SO much more flavorful than the grocery store one I have used in the past.
  • All-purpose flour: I always have it on hand and it works well for baked goods.
  • Baking soda + Baking powder: Gives these donuts a great rise.
  • Ground cinnamon + Apple pie spice: Creates the delicious fall spice flavor that perfectly compliments the fresh apple cider.
  • Salt
  • Butter, melted: Makes these donuts super moist and soft
  • Sourdough Discard: Delicious tang and a great use for your sourdough discard!
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • Packed light or dark brown sugar + Granulated sugar: The perfect blend of sweetness.
  • Milk
  • Pure vanilla extract

Step-by-Step Instructions for Homemade Apple Cider Donuts

Prepare the Apple Cider: Simmer the apple cider in a small saucepan over low heat until you’re left with about 1/2 cup. Check it periodically to asses the amount you have. This should take about 15-20 minutes. Set aside to cool. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease the donut pan with coconut oil or butter. If you do not have a donut pan, use a muffin tin with a small ball of foil in the center.

    sourdough apple cider donuts

    Make the Dough: Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, apple pie spice, and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk the melted butter, sourdough discard, egg, brown sugar, granulated sugar, milk, and vanilla extract together. Pour into the dry ingredients, add the reduced apple cider, and whisk everything together until smooth and combined. If the batter seems too thick, add a splash more of milk.

    sourdough apple cider donuts

    Fill the Donut Pan: Spoon the batter into a gallon ziploc bag. Squeeze the batter down into the corner of bag and cut a hole in the corner. Squeeze batter into the donut cavities. I like to fill them about 3/4 of the way full.

    sourdough apple cider donuts

    Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the tops are lightly browned. Test with a toothpick to make sure the centers are set. Let the donuts rest for a few minutes and then remove to a wire rack. Re-grease the pan as needed and bake the remaining donut batter.

    Cool and Coat: Combine granulated sugar, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a separate bowl. Dip both sides of each donut in the melted butter and then into the cinnamon sugar mixture.

    sourdough apple cider donuts

    Serve: Serve your sourdough apple cider donuts warm, with a cup of coffee or hot cider. Leftovers keep well at room temperature, covered for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator up to 5 days.

    Enjoy Your Sourdough Donuts!

    I hope you enjoy these delicious fall-flavored treats! If you try out this recipe I’d love for you to share with family and friends! We thrive on reviews!

    apple cider donuts with sourdough

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      Sourdough Apple Cider Baked Donuts (With Discard)


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      • Author: Cassia Egerdahl
      • Total Time: 25 minutes
      • Yield: 12 donuts 1x

      Description

      Sourdough Apple Cider Donuts are soft and delicious with a delightful cinnamon sugar coating. The addition of beneficial sourdough discard gives these donuts a soft and moist texture and the spiced flavor comes from plenty of cinnamon and apple pie spice. If you’re looking for a delicious fall breakfast or dessert with just the right amount of fall flavor, try these out!


      Ingredients

      Units Scale

        • 1 and 1/2 cups apple cider
        • 2 cups all-purpose flour
        • 1 teaspoon baking soda
        • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
        • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
        • 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
        • 1/4 teaspoon salt
        • 2 Tablespoons butter, melted
        • 1/2 cup sourdough discard
        • 1 large egg, at room temperature
        • 1/2 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
        • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
        • 1/4 cup milk, at room temperature
        • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

      Topping:

      • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
      • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
      • 6 Tablespoons butter, melted


      Instructions

        • Prepare the Apple Cider: Simmer the apple cider in a small saucepan over low heat until you’re left with about 1/2 cup. Check it periodically to asses the amount you have. This should take about 15-20 minutes. Set aside to cool. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease the donut pan with coconut oil or butter. If you do not have a donut pan, use a muffin tin with a small ball of foil in the center.

        • Make the Dough: Whisk 2 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 3/4 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon apple pie spice, and 1/4th teaspoon salt together in a large bowl. Set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk 2 TBS melted butter, 1/2 cup sourdough discard, 1 egg, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract together. Pour into the dry ingredients, add the reduced apple cider, and whisk everything together until smooth and combined. If the batter seems too thick, add a splash more of milk.

        • Fill the Donut Pan: Spoon the batter into a gallon ziploc bag. Squeeze the batter down into the corner of bag and cut a hole in the corner. Squeeze batter into the donut cavities. I like to fill them about 3/4 of the way full.

        • Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the tops are lightly browned. Test with a toothpick to make sure the centers are set. Let the donuts rest for a few minutes and then remove to a wire rack. Re-grease the pan as needed and bake the remaining donut batter.

        • Cool and Coat: Combine 1 cup granulated sugar, and 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon in a medium bowl. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a separate bowl. Dip both sides of each donut in the melted butter and then into the cinnamon/sugar combo.

        • Serve: Serve your sourdough apple cider donuts warm, with a cup of coffee or hot cider. Leftovers keep well at room temperature, covered for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator up to 5 days.

      Notes

        1. Reduce the Apple Cider: Start by boiling your cups of apple cider over medium heat to reduce it by half. This concentrates the flavor, making your donuts taste like a bite of autumn.
        2. Room Temperature Ingredients: I always recommend getting ingredients to room temperature before combining. This creates a better, smoother batter.
        3. Use a Donut Pan: These donuts are baked, so a good-quality donut pan is essential. The good thing is donut pans are super cheap and we use them all the time so it’s money well spent. If you don’t have one, you can also use a muffin pan for “donut muffins” or create donut holes with a cookie cutter. I’ve also heard it works to ball up some tin foil and place in the middle of a muffin tin for a make-shift donut pan.
        4. Apple Pie Spice: A delightful blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom. If you don’t have your own, combine 4 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons of ground nutmeg, and 1 teaspoon of ground cardamom for a homemade version.

      • Prep Time: 10 minutes
      • Cook Time: 15 minutes

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