New England Cider Donut Recipe

I loved walking through the trees as their leaves are changing colors; it is a favorite fall memory. But just as fine, is the memory of arriving home, just in time for some cider donuts.

I think these donuts are delicious warm with some warm cider, but I found that the next day some of the ladies at work enjoyed them with their coffee at break. They like to add a little pumpkin pie spice to their coffee creamer for a spiced coffee that goes well in the autumn.

I am so glad I had the opportunity of learning how to make donuts from my mom. I hope you will enjoy this recipe.

Ingredients:

1 c. apple cider
1 c. sugar
¼ c shortening (do not use butter)
½ c buttermilk
3-1/2 c all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp nutmeg
Oil for deep frying

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan, over medium heat boil the cider – it will take 8-10 minutes as you want it to boil down to about ¼ cup
2. Let it cool
3. In a large bowl, beat the sugar with the shortening until it is smooth
4. Add eggs and mix well
5. Add buttermilk and the reduced cider
6. In a different bowl, stir together remaining ingredients – except the oil
7. Add those dry ingredients to the cider mixture and stir just long enough to combine
8. Pat out the dough to ½-inch thick on a lightly floured surface
9. Use a 2-3/4” doughnut cutter to cut out the donuts, save the donut holes as well
10. Use an electric fry pan so you can heat the oil to 375 degrees- put in 3-inches of oil
11. When the oil is heated fry several donuts at a time until they are golden, turn them once or twice so each side gets done – this is approximately 4 minutes
12. Use a slotted spoon to lift the golden donuts out of the oil and put them on a plate that is lined with several layers of paper towels
13. Cook the donut holes all together at the end – these will only take about one or two minutes
14. Drizzle them with Cider Glaze; and then serve them immediately so they are still warm.

This is a small recipe that only makes about 12-15 donuts; but I found that it was a perfect number.

It seems like however many I make my family will eat them all- so I had to set some aside for my friends as soon as they had been glazed or they would have been all eaten!