Apple Cider Glazed Donut Holes tickle the taste buds with the flavors of fall. A hint of sweetness and the warm spices of apple cider make these donut holes the perfect morning treat for a cup of steaming coffee.
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Apple Cider Glazed Donut Holes are my cheat for bringing some of those orchard vibes into my own home.
Just like an old-fashioned donut, the exterior of these donuts is cracked and jagged, making them perfect for catching the sweet, cider-infused glaze.
What’s the Best Cider for Cider Donut Holes?
I like to use fresh, unfiltered cider for this recipe — that from an orchard is best, but any cloudy cider or juice will work. It has the strongest apple flavor – the donuts themselves use apple cider as well as the glaze so the apple flavor really comes through.
How to Fry the Perfect Donut Hole
These donut holes are deep fried to ensure a perfectly browned outside and a soft, fluffy inside.
To make sure the inside of the donut holes is cooked, I like to check the temperature of the oil with a thermometer. Use a thermometer that can either be attached to the side of the pan or one that reads the temperature instantly.
It is important to keep the frying temperature of the oil at 350 ̊F. Every time you add a bunch of donut holes to the oil, the temperature will drop. You should wait for the oil temperature to rise back up to 350°F before adding your next batch.
If you don’t have a thermometer, carefully drop a small amount of batter into the hot oil. If it sizzles aggressively, the oil is hot enough.
How to store donut holes
I think most fried things are best eaten warm out of the fryer, and these donuts are no exception. The glaze sets after a few minutes and the donuts, while still warm, are fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside.
However, these keep surprisingly well, covered at room temperature, for a day or two. The frosting keeps them from drying out too quickly, but after a few days they’ll get a bit dense and dry.
I definitely don’t recommend freezing these as the end results aren’t really worth the effort.
More ways to enjoy apples this fall!
- Caramel apple baobab
- caramel apples
- Homemade apple pie
- apple cobbler
- Apple pie turned upside down
Apple Cider Glazed Donut Holes
ingredients
- For the donut holes:
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2 cups (255 g) all-purpose flour
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1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
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3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
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1/2 cup (100g) sugar
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1 large egg
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3/4 cup (6oz/170g) sour cream
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1/2 cup apple cider
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2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
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1 1/2 liters canola oil for frying
- For the cider glaze:
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2 cups powdered sugar
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4 tablespoons apple cider
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pinch of kosher salt
method
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Prepare your drying station:
Place a wire cooling rack over a baking sheet. This is where you let the donut holes dry after dipping them in the glaze.
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Make the dough:
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, sour cream, and apple cider.
Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture, followed by the melted butter, folding to combine until you get a very thick batter.
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Prepare to fry the donut holes:
Heat the oil in a 3 quart saucepan until the temperature reads 350°F. Use a medium cookie scoop (about 1 1/2 tablespoons) to scoop the batter. Sear the donut holes in batches and bake each side until the donut holes float to the top and are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Drain on kitchen paper. Repeat until all the batter is used up.
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Make glaze:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons apple cider and a pinch of salt, adding a few teaspoons more apple cider at a time, until you get a thick, heavy glaze. You may not need all 4 tablespoons of apple cider. Keep in mind that the icing will thin as it hits the hot donuts.
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Dip the donut holes:
Pour the glaze into a deep bowl or mug, this will help glaze the donuts. Dip the warm (or even hot) donuts in the glaze, using a spoon to completely cover the donut’s hole.
Lift the donut hole out of the glaze with a fork. Allow the glaze to set and drain by placing the dipped donut holes on the wire rack that sits over a baking sheet. Enjoy immediately!
