Apple Cider Donuts

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Quick Bite

Apple cider donuts are soft, spiced cake donuts made with apple cider, fried or baked, then rolled in cinnamon sugar. In New Hampshire, they taste like fall foliage, orchard visits, and the correct reward for wearing a flannel.

History

Apple cider donuts are closely tied to New England’s apple orchards and fall farm-stand culture. They are not exclusive to New Hampshire, but the Granite State has made them part of the autumn ritual: pick apples, drink cider, buy donuts, repeat as needed.

The donut itself is usually a cake-style donut flavored with reduced apple cider, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sometimes applesauce. Reducing the cider makes the apple flavor stronger without making the batter too wet. Once cooked, the donuts are often tossed in cinnamon sugar while still warm.

New Hampshire’s cider donut culture works because the state is full of orchards, farm stands, mountain drives, and leaf-peeping routes. A warm cider donut after apple picking feels less like a snack and more like a seasonal obligation.

The best versions have a slightly crisp outside, a tender middle, and enough apple-spice flavor to separate them from a regular cinnamon donut. Eat them fresh if you can; cider donuts are at their happiest while still warm.

Fun Facts

• Many cider donuts get their flavor from reduced apple cider, which concentrates the apple taste.
• They are most strongly associated with fall, but some New Hampshire spots serve them beyond apple season.
• A cider donut and a cup of hot cider might be the official unofficial New England fall breakfast.

Where to Try

Cider Bellies Doughnuts Meredith, New Hampshire
Located at Moulton Farm, this cider-donut stop is a New Hampshire favorite for warm cider donuts with classic and creative toppings.

Leavitt’s Country Bakery Conway, New Hampshire
A Mount Washington Valley bakery known for fresh donuts, pastries, breads, and a very convenient location for White Mountains road trips.

McKenzie’s Farm Milton, New Hampshire
A family farm that makes its own cider donuts hot and fresh during the growing season, pairing them with apple picking, cider, and farm-stand goods.

About the Game

This recipe is part of Van Life Challenge, a travel-themed board game from Gray Dog Games where players explore the United States, discover regional foods, and collect memorable experiences along the way.

Each featured food celebrates a real place, a local flavor, and the kind of delicious roadside discovery that makes every trip feel like an adventure.

Recipe

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Home-Cook-Friendly Apple Cider Donuts Makes: About 12 donuts Prep: 25 minutes, plus chilling Cook: 20 minutes Difficulty: Medium Style: New Hampshire / New England Orchard Donuts

Ingredients

• 2 cups apple cider
• 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 large eggs
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Vegetable oil, for frying

For the coating

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 4 tablespoons melted butter, optional if baking instead of frying

Instructions

1. Reduce the cider: Pour the apple cider into a saucepan and simmer until reduced to about ½ cup. Cool completely.
2. Mix the dry ingredients: In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
3. Mix the wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk melted butter, eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, buttermilk, vanilla, and the reduced cider.
4. Make the dough: Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until a soft dough forms.
5. Chill: Chill the dough for at least 1 hour.
6. Roll: Roll the dough to about ½ inch thick on a floured surface.
7. Cut: Cut into donuts and donut holes.
8. Heat the oil: Heat oil to 350°F.
9. Fry: Fry the donuts in batches for 1 to 2 minutes per side, until golden.
10. Coat: Drain briefly, then toss warm donuts in cinnamon sugar.

Traditional note: To make it more traditional, use real apple cider, reduce it for stronger flavor, fry the donuts, and coat them in cinnamon sugar while they are still warm. For a farm-stand feel, serve with hot cider.

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