Apple Cider Doughnuts: Conquered and Devoured

Something about apple cider doughnuts makes me incredibly happy. Maybe because they're a food rarity to me. I never had one until I was an adult, I've only come across them in places where corn mazes or the Amish reside, and they are fleeting, appearing in the fall and vanishing for the rest of the year. All that to say, I think apple cider doughnuts are something special.

I'd been planning to make my own for a few months now and finally got to it, just before I give into the peppermint and panettone whirlwind that is holiday baking. Hearth, one of my favorite restaurants in New York makes these deliciously, of course only for part of the year. Thankfully, their pastry chef shared the recipe with The Washington Post back in 2004 and Smitten Kitchen led me to it. I was intimidated at the thought of all the steps and all the oil involved, but these came together faster than I imagined and were so worth it.

Apple Cider Doughnuts
Recipe courtesy of Lauren Dawson of Hearth and The Washington Post

For the doughnuts:
1 cup apple cider
3 1/2 cups flour, plus additional for the work surface
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
4 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk (low-fat or nonfat work fine)
Vegetable oil for frying

For the glaze:
1 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons apple cider

(Optional) For cinnamon-sugar mixture:
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon

For the doughnuts: In a saucepan over medium or medium-low heat, gently reduce the apple cider to about 1/4 cup, 20 to 30 minutes. Set aside to cool. Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Set aside. Using an electric mixer on medium speed (with the paddle attachment, if using a standing mixer) beat the butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is smooth. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue to beat until the eggs are completely incorporated. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the reduced apple cider and the buttermilk, mixing just until combined. Add the flour mixture and continue to mix just until the dough comes together.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or wax paper and sprinkle them generously with flour. Turn the dough onto 1 of the sheets and sprinkle the top with flour. Flatten the dough with your hands until it is about 1/2 inch thick. Use more flour if the dough is still wet. Transfer the dough to the freezer until it is slightly hardened, about 20 minutes. Pull the dough out of the freezer. Using a 3-inch doughnut cutter, cut out doughnut shapes. Place the cut doughnuts and doughnut holes onto the second sheet pan. Refrigerate the doughnuts for 20 to 30 minutes. (You may re-roll the scraps of dough, refrigerate them briefly and cut additional doughnuts from the dough.)

Add enough oil to a deep-sided pan to measure a depth of about 3 inches. Attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan and heat over medium heat until the oil reaches 350 degrees. Have a plate lined with several paper towels ready.

For the glaze: While the cut doughnut shapes are in the refrigerator, make the glaze by whisking together the confectioners' sugar and the cider until the mixture is smooth. Set aside.

For cinnamon-sugar mixture: Combine cinnamon and sugar in small bowl. Set aside.

To fry and assemble: Carefully add a few doughnuts to the oil, being careful not to crowd the pan, and fry first side until golden brown, about 60 seconds. Turn the doughnuts over and fry until the other side is golden, 30 to 60 seconds. Drain on paper towels after the doughnuts are fried. Dip the top of the warm doughnuts into the glaze or cinnamon-sugar and serve immediately. Do the same with the doughnut holes, gently submerging in the oil as they fry, and roll them around in the glaze or cinnamon-sugar. I preferred using the glaze for the doughnuts and the cinnamon and sugar for the holes. Makes approximately 18 doughnuts.