Baked apple cider donuts are proof that happiness sometimes shows up smelling like a crisp October morning. They're soft, fluffy, packed with cozy apple cider flavor, and super easy thanks to one little cake mix shortcut. No standing in line at the orchard. No paying eight bucks for a donut and calling it a "fall experience." Just warm, homemade donuts that disappear faster than common sense in the seasonal aisle at the craft store.
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🥰 Is this baked apple cider donut recipe for you?
This baked apple cider donuts recipe is perfect for those of us who want all the cozy orchard flavor without hauling out a deep fryer or making a yeast dough before sunrise.
This cake mix baked donuts recipe is for you if:
- You want soft, fluffy donuts done in about 30 minutes.
- You're all about clever shortcuts that still taste homemade.
- You need an easy fall breakfast, brunch treat, or afternoon snack.
- You'd rather spend your Saturday eating donuts than babysitting hot oil.
If your idea of autumn includes cinnamon, apple cider, and finding sugar crystals on your kitchen floor for the next three days, you've found your recipe. These disappear fast, so making a double batch isn't overachieving. It's planning ahead.
📖 Recipe
Easy Baked Apple Cider Donuts (Cake Mix Recipe)
Print Pin Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
Donuts
- 15.5 ounces spice cake mix
- 1½ cups unsweetened applesauce
- 21 grams instant apple cider drink mix, 1 packet
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Apple cider cinnamon sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 20 g instant apple cider drink mix, 1 packet
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- pinch of chipotle powder, optional
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 425°F. Generously spray two standard 6-cavity donut pans with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, stir together the dry cake mix, applesauce, apple cider drink mix, and vanilla until no dry streaks remain. Do not overmix.
- Transfer the batter to a large zip-top bag or piping bag. Snip off one corner and pipe the batter into the prepared donut cavities, filling each cavity almost full.
- Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the tops spring back lightly when touched and the donuts are set. Interior will be 200℉-205℉ on an instant read thermometer.
- Cool the donuts in the pan for 3-5 minutes, then carefully transfer them to a wire rack.
- While the donuts are still warm, whisk together the sugar, apple cider drink mix, cinnamon, and, if using, the tiny pinch of chipotle powder.
- Roll the warm donuts directly in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Enjoy warm or at room temperature. The crumb settles and becomes slightly more dense as the donuts cool.
Notes
- You can use a yellow or white cake mix if you'd like. It will be more apple and less spice unless you add your own.
- If you're making these ahead, freeze the plain baked donuts and roll them in cinnamon sugar after reheating for the freshest flavor.
- No donut pan? Make them into muffins and bake at 375℉ for 15-20 minutes.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
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🧾 Ingredients
The ingredient list for these baked apple cider cake donuts is refreshingly short because life is complicated enough without measuring seventeen different things before breakfast. Grab these simple ingredients, and you'll be eating warm donuts before your coffee gets cold.
- Spice cake mix: The shortcut that makes these donuts unbelievably easy while adding warm fall spices without measuring a dozen ingredients.
- Applesauce: Keeps the donuts moist and tender while adding natural apple flavor.
- Apple cider drink mix: The secret ingredient that packs every bite with concentrated apple cider flavor.
- Vanilla extract: Rounds out the flavors and adds a little extra warmth.
- Granulated sugar: Mixed with cinnamon and more apple cider mix to create that irresistible sweet coating.
- Ground cinnamon: Gives the sugar coating its classic cozy flavor and just the right amount of spice.
- Salt: A pinch wakes up all the sweet flavors and keeps the donuts from tasting flat.
- Chipotle powder (optional): Just a tiny pinch adds a subtle warmth that makes the apple flavor pop without making the donuts spicy.
🔪How to make apple cider donuts with cake mix
No deep fryer. No waiting for dough to rise. No wondering why you thought homemade donuts were a good idea. Just a simple batter, a donut pan, and less than thirty minutes later you'll be standing in your kitchen eating a warm donut over the sink like the autumn-loving kitchen goddess you were always meant to be.
- Add the applesauce to the cake mix and apple cider mix.
- Stir until everything is well blended. It comes together fast, so there's no need to wrestle it into submission.
- Using a decorating bag or a zip-top bag with one corner snipped off, fill the donut pans almost full. A little uneven never hurt a donut.
- Bake until the donuts are lightly golden and set. Dredge the warm donuts in the cinnamon-sugar mixture while they're still warm. That's the secret to getting every glorious crystal to stick where it belongs instead of decorating your countertop.
Your kitchen will smell like a Hallmark Halloween movie would smell if it had a smell, which it doesn't. But if it did.
😱 What can go wrong (and how to fix it)
Even easy recipes have their moments. Here's how to keep your baked apple cider donuts on the straight and narrow.
🍩 The donuts are dry.
They baked a little too long. Check them at the earliest baking time and pull them out as soon as they spring back lightly when touched. They'll be 200-205F on an instant read thermometer.
🍩 The batter is too thick to pipe.
Different brands of cake mix can vary slightly. If needed, stir in a tablespoon of applesauce until the batter pipes easily.
🍩 The batter is too thin.
I used a 15.5 ounce cake mix. Nowadays cake mixes can vary from 11.5 ounces to 15.5 ounces so double check what you are using.
🍩 The donuts stuck to the pan.
Be generous with the baking spray and let the donuts cool for about 2 minutes before removing them. Too soon and they're fragile. Too long and they'll decide the pan is their forever home.
🍩 The cinnamon sugar won't stick.
Coat the donuts while they're still warm. Once they cool, the sugar has a much harder time clinging to the surface.
🍩 The donuts overflowed the pan.
Those little donut cavities are optimistic, but they do have limits. Fill each one almost full, not heaping, unless you're aiming for abstract art.
🍩 The apple flavor isn't strong enough.
Be sure you're using apple cider drink mix, not plain apple juice powder or fresh cider. The concentrated drink mix packs the biggest punch. If you want more flavor use an extra packet.
🍽 More cake donut recipes
Once you've figured out how easy homemade cake donuts are, there's really no going back. Here are a few more recipes worth making, sharing, or quietly hiding in the bread box until everyone else goes to bed. Not that I would do that.
🏡 We don't have many apple orchards in Texas. Fall doesn't show up until last minute in November, rushes in, and then takes off before the week is over.
Does that mean I don't enjoy all those spicy fall flavors when it's 96 degrees in September?
No, no it does not. I'll crank the air conditioning down to 65, light a MacIntosh scented candle and drink a pumpkin spice latte with a Fall ambiance video on playing full blast on YouTube.
These baked apple cider donuts prove you don't need a trip to the orchard, a pot of hot oil, or an entire Saturday to enjoy one of fall's best treats. They're soft, cozy, covered in cinnamon sugar, and so easy you'll find yourself making them long after the pumpkins have disappeared from the front porch. If you try them, I'd love to hear what you think. Leave a comment below and don't forget to save the recipe for the next time a donut craving comes calling. 🍎🍩
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