Apple Cider Baked Donuts made in a spooky skull mold! Sweet, cinnamon-sugar coated, and perfect for fall baking or a Halloween treat.
Skull mold here:
Sold out: https://amzn.to/4gzA0Yf
Apple Cider Baked Donuts
by Jessie Daye
Ingredients
For the Donuts
- 3 large eggs room temp.
- ½ cup salted butter melted
- ¼ cup + 3 tbsp vegetable oil (80 mL)
- 1 and 3/4 cups white sugar (350 grams)
- 7 cups apple cider (juice) ** Reduced to 3/4 cup reduced apple cider (240 mL) **NOT Apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup apple butter room temp.
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour spooned & leveled (260 grams)
- ¾ cup wheat flour spooned & leveled (90 grams)
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- pinch of ground cloves
- Skull mold here:https://amzn.to/4gzA0Yf
For Finishing
- ¼ cup melted butter (for brushing)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 1 batch salted caramel sauce optional
Method
- 1. Reduce the Apple Cider: Pour 7 cups of apple cider into a large saucepan. Simmer over medium heat until it reduces down to about 3/4 cup (240 mL), stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool completely before using.
- 2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease your silicone skull mold lightly with baking spray or butter. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, vegetable oil, and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Stir in the reduced apple cider, apple butter, and vanilla extract until combined.
- 3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined—do not overmix.
- 4. Spoon the batter into the prepared skull molds, filling each about 3/4 full. Smooth the tops with a spatula if needed.
- 5. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow donuts to cool in the mold for 5 minutes before carefully removing them to a wire rack.
- 6. In a shallow dish, combine the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Brush each cooled donut lightly with melted butter, then roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until coated.
- 7. Drizzle with salted caramel sauce for an extra indulgent finish.
Tried this recipe?
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Hi, I'm Jessie.
Mama to three girls and a lifelong creative who loves making everyday moments feel a little more special. Here, I share whimsical recipes, holiday inspiration, and creative projects designed to bring a little more joy to your day. I hope to inspire you to get creative, celebrate the little things, and make something beautiful. Welcome!
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5 comments
Helen
These look and sound amazing. Will definitely make next year!
Just wondering approx how long the reduction takes?
Laura
It took me about an hour to cook down the apple cider. It becomes solid like a paste once it cold so I recommend mixing it with the rest of the ingredients before it cools too much.
samirah
this was actually really good, i found a old video from tiktok and decided to make it . I wasn’t disappointed.
Jessie Daye
Thank you!
Jackie
Don’t recommend a silicone mold-even with oil mine got stuck which was sad. I also was not able to reduced the apple cider juice down to 3/4 of a cup and had it going for like an hour, so not sure what I did wrong there or if a specific brand was purchased. Had a lot of leftover juice. The donuts still tasted good even if they looked ugly