Fall signals the arrival of many things - apple picking, cider mills, and mouth-watering apple cider doughnuts. A visit to the apple orchard is incomplete without the familiar aroma of these doughnuts spiced with buttery cinnamon-sugar. Interestingly, these doughnuts get their flavor from apple cider, not actual apple. Undeniably, fresh apple cider enhances the taste.

You can generally find fresh apple cider in the refrigerated produce section of a grocery store. If you're fortunate enough to live near an orchard or a farmers market, choose cold-pressed local cider. The magic it imparts to the doughnuts is incomparable.

Apple cider doughnuts have a more cake-like consistency, and instead of yeast, they contain apple cider, cozy spices, typically buttermilk, and a spice-sugar topping. While yeast doughnuts are mostly fried, apple cider doughnuts are baked. A key tip - wait for the doughnuts to cool before adding the cinnamon sugar so it won't entirely dissolve into the doughnuts.

While these doughnuts taste best when eaten the same day, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days!

The ingredients you need to make your own apple cider doughnuts include apple cider, all-purpose flour, baking powder, kosher salt, baking soda, ground nutmeg, a large egg, light brown sugar, canola oil, low-fat buttermilk, vanilla extract, granulated sugar, unsalted butter, cooking spray, and ground cinnamon.

The cooking process involves reducing the apple cider to half its original volume and blending it with egg, brown sugar, canola oil, buttermilk, vanilla extract, a portion of the sugar, and some melted butter. Then, you’ll need to combine this mixture with the dry ingredients. The doughnut mixture is poured into the doughnut pans and baked until golden.

Once out of the oven, the doughnuts are dipped in melted butter and tossed around in a mixture of ground cinnamon and sugar. They're then ready to be savored instantly.

Apple cider doughnuts are a sensational delight to indulge in this fall, reflecting the hearty flavors of the season.