Apple Cider Delight

Apple cider is the quintessential taste of the harvest season.

Recipes by Sarah Godwin   |  Photographed by Joe Worthem

Treat your guests to homemade apple cider donuts and a make-ahead apple cider punch — with or without the spirits — for sweet treats that work beautifully in the Grove or at any family gathering this season.

Apple Cider Donuts

1 ½ cups apple cider

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon apple pie spice

½ cup milk

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

½ cup granulated sugar

½ cup light brown sugar

3 tablespoon butter, melted

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping

1 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon apple pie spice

4 tablespoon butter, melted

In a medium saucepan over low heat, simmer apple cider, stirring occasionally, until reduced to almost ½ cup, about 15-20 minutes. Set aside to cool for about 15 minutes.

While cider cools, preheat the oven to 350°F, and spray a donut baking pan with cooking spray. Set prepared pan aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and apple pie spice, until combined. In a small bowl, combine milk and apple cider vinegar, and let sit for 5 minutes. In a large bowl, stir together granulated sugar, brown sugar, melted butter, egg, vanilla extract and milk mixture until combined. Add flour mixture to milk mixture, and fold until lightly incorporated. Stir in cooled apple cider just until fully incorporated, being careful not to overmix.

Spoon batter into a gallon-sized ziplock plastic freezer bag, and cut off one small corner; pipe batter into prepared donut pan. Bake donuts at 350°F until edges just begin to brown,  10-12 minutes. Remove from pan, and let cool for about 5 minutes.

For the topping, in a shallow bowl, stir together granulated sugar, cinnamon and apple pie spice. Brush the donuts with melted butter, and dip each side in cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat.

• 

• 

• 

Apple Cider Punch

6 cups apple cider

1 cup orange juice

½ cup lemon juice

1 liter ginger ale

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 orange, sliced into wedges

2 apples, sliced into wedges

5 cinnamon sticks

1 cup bourbon or rum, optional

½ cup granulated sugar, for garnish

2 teaspoons cinnamon, for garnish

4 star anise, for garnish

Add apple cider, orange juice, lemon juice, ginger ale, vanilla, orange slices, apple slices and cinnamon sticks to a pitcher, and stir to combine. Stir in bourbon or rum, if desired. Chill 6 hours or up to overnight. Mix together sugar and cinnamon, and set aside. To serve, coat the rims of 4 rocks glasses with the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Add ice to glasses. Pour punch into glasses, and garnish each with a star anise.