Baked Apple Cider Donuts

INGREDIENTS

Donuts:

• 2 cups fresh apple cider
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon fine salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 pinch ground cardamom
• 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
• ½ cup white sugar
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• ½ cup warm milk
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, divided 
• ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg

Coating:

• 1 cup white sugar, or as needed
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, or as needed

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Butter two 6-cup donut pans.
2. Pour apple cider into a saucepan and place over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and let it cook, watching carefully, until the cider is reduced to 1/2 cup. If it reduces too much, add enough water to make 1/2 cup. Set aside until needed.
3. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg to a large bowl. Mix with a whisk until combined and set aside until needed.
4. Whisk 1/2 cup white sugar, brown sugar, milk, 2 tablespoons melted butter, vanilla extract, and egg together in another bowl until combined. Add the apple cider reduction and the dry ingredients. Whisk together to form a slightly thick batter; do not overmix.
5. Spoon or pipe the batter into the prepared donut pans, filling them about 3/4 of the way up.
6. Bake in the center of the preheated oven until the tops are lightly browned, and the donuts spring back slightly to the touch, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes in the pans before removing to a sheet pan lined with a silicone baking mat. Cut out any donut holes as necessary.
7. If desired, while still slightly warm, brush the donuts lightly with remaining melted butter.
8. To make the coating: Mix 1 cup white sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon together in a shallow dish; toss donuts in sugar mixture to coat. Let cool completely before serving.

NOTES

• If you want to cook slower and safer when making the apple cider reduction, you can use lower heat.
• Donuts can also be glazed with a simple icing made by mixing powdered sugar with a little apple cider until smooth.