Cider Doughnuts

By mamapig

These cake-type doughnuts are a traditional New England harvest treat — apple-y, tangy, and delicious. Our version is baked, not fried; but don't worry, you'll never miss the extra fat! The shiny cider glaze on top is both tasty, and pretty.

Ingredients

• doughnuts
• 2 Tbsp. soft butter
• 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. Vietnamese cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 2 Tbsp. boiled cider or thawed frozen apple juice concentrate
• 1 lg egg
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/8 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 cup Hi-maize Fiber
• 1 cup King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• glaze
• 3 Tbsp. boiled cider or thawed frozen apple juice concentrate*
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 Tbsp. corn syrup or honey
• 1/4 cup water
• If you use apple juice concentrate, add 1 tsp. lemon juice; the concentrate isn't nearly as flavorful as boiled cider.
• tips from our bakers
• To top the doughnuts with cinnamon sugar or a creamy cider glaze, visit our doughnut tips page.

Preparation

Step 1

1) To make the doughnuts: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Grease a standard doughnut pan.

2) Beat together the butter, oil, sugar, salt, and spices.

3) Beat in the boiled cider, then the egg. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl.

4) Whisk together the baking powder, baking soda, Hi-maize, and flour.

5) Stir the flour mixture into the wet alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with flour.

6) Spoon the batter into the pan, smoothing the tops.

7) Bake the doughnuts for 10 to 12 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into one comes out clean.

8) Remove them from the oven, wait 5 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.

9) To make the glaze: place all the glaze into a saucepan.

10) Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the sugar is dissolved.

11) Bring the mixture to a boil, cover the pan, and boil for 3 minutes

12) Remove the cover and boil for a few more minutes, until the syrup reaches soft ball stage, 240°F on an instant-read thermometer.

13) Remove from the heat, and cool slightly.

14) Carefully dip the doughnuts in the warm syrup; reheat the syrup if it's thickened too much. If you dunk them completely, place them on a piece of greased parchment or waxed paper, to set. If you dip just the tops, place them on a rack. Top immediately with chopped nuts, if desired. Note: any extra syrup will hold for up to a week, covered, in the refrigerator.

Yield: 6 doughnuts.