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Brown Butter Apple Cider Donuts

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Golden, slightly rough at the edges, and dusted in cinnamon sugar, these brown butter apple cider donuts offer a warm, nutty flavor with a perfect fall spice blend. They can be fried or baked for a cozy homemade treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (about 315g)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, browned (about 85g)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar (100g)
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • ¾ cup apple cider (180ml)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Cinnamon sugar coating: ½ cup granulated sugar mixed with 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Brown the butter: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 6 tablespoons unsalted butter. Continue cooking, swirling the pan occasionally, until the butter turns golden brown and smells nutty, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  2. Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon salt.
  3. Combine sugars and wet ingredients: In another bowl, beat 1 cup granulated sugar with ½ cup packed brown sugar and the two large eggs until smooth and slightly fluffy, about 2 minutes. Stir in the browned butter, ¾ cup apple cider, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
  4. Bring it together: Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir gently with a wooden spoon until just combined. The batter will be thick but slightly sticky—don’t overmix.
  5. Prepare for cooking: If baking, grease your donut pan well and spoon or pipe the batter evenly into the molds, filling about ¾ full. If frying, heat oil to 350°F (175°C) in a deep pan using a thermometer.
  6. Cook the donuts: For baked donuts, bake in a preheated 375°F (190°C) oven for 12-15 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. For frying, carefully drop spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil and fry about 2 minutes per side until golden brown.
  7. Cool and coat: Transfer cooked donuts to a wire rack. While still warm, toss each donut in the cinnamon sugar mixture until fully coated.
  8. Rest before serving: Let the donuts cool for a few minutes to set the coating but enjoy them while still slightly warm.

Notes

Brown the butter carefully over medium heat, swirling the pan instead of stirring to avoid burning. Use a thermometer to maintain oil temperature at 350°F when frying. Toss donuts in cinnamon sugar while warm but not hot to avoid clumping. Batter can be refrigerated up to 2 hours before cooking. For vegan adaptation, use browned coconut oil, flax eggs, and pear juice instead of apple cider.

Nutrition

Keywords: brown butter, apple cider, donuts, cinnamon sugar, fall recipe, homemade donuts, fried donuts, baked donuts, easy donuts

Find it online: https://noshbelle.com/brown-butter-apple-cider-donuts-recipe-easy-homemade-cinnamon-sugar-treats/