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Best Quick Air Fryer Apple Cider Donuts – Easy Homemade Recipe

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These quick air fryer apple cider donuts are tender on the inside with a crackly cinnamon-sugar shell, ready in under 20 minutes. No deep frying needed—just a warm, spiced donut that tastes like you spent all morning at the orchard.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (240 ml) apple cider
  • 1 ½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar (for batter)
  • ⅓ cup (65 g) granulated sugar (for coating)
  • ¼ cup (50 g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 4 tablespoons (56 g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for batter)
  • 1 ½ tablespoons ground cinnamon (for coating)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ cup (56 g) unsalted butter, melted (for coating)

Instructions

  1. Reduce the apple cider: Pour 1 cup of apple cider into a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about ¼ cup (12-15 minutes). Pour into a small bowl and let cool completely.
  2. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for 3-4 minutes.
  3. Mix the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, ½ cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
  4. Mix the wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter, egg, buttermilk, vanilla extract, and cooled reduced apple cider until smooth.
  5. Combine wet and dry ingredients: Pour dry ingredients into wet ingredients and fold gently with a rubber spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Fill the donut molds: Transfer batter to a piping bag or zip-top bag with a corner snipped off. Pipe batter into donut molds, filling each cavity about ¾ full.
  7. Air fry the donuts: Place filled molds in air fryer basket. Cook at 350°F (175°C) for 6-8 minutes, until donuts spring back when touched and bottoms are golden brown.
  8. Cool and coat: Let donuts cool in molds for 2 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. While still warm, brush each donut with melted butter and immediately roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture (⅓ cup granulated sugar mixed with 1 ½ tablespoons cinnamon).
  9. Serve warm: Best eaten within an hour of making. Serve with coffee or spiced tea.

Notes

Do not skip reducing the apple cider—it concentrates the flavor. Let reduced cider cool completely before mixing. Use unsalted butter for coating to avoid savory taste. For best texture, do not overmix batter. If making multiple batches, keep finished donuts warm in a 200°F (95°C) oven on a parchment-lined baking sheet without stacking.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer donuts, apple cider donuts, quick donuts, fall dessert, cinnamon sugar donuts, easy donut recipe

Find it online: https://spoonmira.com/best-quick-air-fryer-apple-cider-donuts-easy-homemade-recipe/