Air-Fried Apple Cider Donuts: Quick, Easy, Delicious!

Apple cider donuts are a beloved autumnal treat, and you can make them in an air fryer! They are easy to make and perfectly spiced, making them a must-try for any autumn gathering or cozy morning at home. In this article, we will teach you how to make delicious apple cider donuts in your air fryer. So, get your ingredients ready and let's begin!

Reducing the apple cider

To make apple cider donuts in an air fryer, you'll need to start by reducing the apple cider. This is an important step as it concentrates the sweet apple flavours and adds a warm spice flavour to the donuts. Here's a detailed guide on how to do it:

• In a small saucepan, pour 2 cups of apple cider (or 3 cups if you want to make a larger batch). Place the pan on your stovetop and turn the heat to medium-high.
• Bring the cider to a rapid boil. You'll know it's boiling rapidly when it bubbles vigorously and continuously. This should take around 10-12 minutes.
• Continue cooking the cider until it has reduced by half. This will take another 10-15 minutes or so. Keep an eye on it and give it an occasional stir to prevent scorching.
• You'll know the cider has reduced enough when you're left with 1 cup of liquid. Alternatively, you can measure the volume by pouring it into a heatproof measuring cup.
• Remove the reduced cider from the heat and allow it to cool completely. This is an important step, as adding hot cider to the batter can affect the consistency of the dough.
• You can prepare the reduced cider ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to a day until you're ready to make the donut batter.

Now that you've reduced the apple cider, you're well on your way to making delicious apple cider donuts! In the next steps, you'll be mixing the dry ingredients, preparing the wet ingredients, cutting out the donuts, and finally, frying them to perfection in your air fryer.

Creating the dough

The first step in making apple cider donuts is to prepare the apple cider itself. Place 2 cups of apple cider in a small saucepan and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Continue boiling until the cider is reduced by half, which should take around 10 to 15 minutes. This step helps to concentrate the apple flavour and adds a rich, sweet taste to the donuts. Allow the cider to cool completely before proceeding to the next step.

Now, it's time to mix the dry ingredients. In a large bowl, combine 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup of packed light brown sugar, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt. Whisk these ingredients together until they are well combined. You can also add other spices like ground ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, and allspice to enhance the autumnal flavour.

Next, you'll incorporate the butter. Grate 8 tablespoons of cold unsalted butter using the large holes of a box grater. Add this grated butter to the flour mixture and use your fingertips to work it in until the texture resembles small pebbles. This step adds a delicious richness to the dough and contributes to the classic fried donut texture.

Create a well in the centre of the flour and butter mixture. Now, it's time to add the wet ingredients. To the well, add 1 cup of your reduced apple cider and 1/2 cup of cold milk. Use a wide spatula to mix the dough together until it is well combined. You should end up with a sticky dough that holds together.

At this point, your dough is almost ready! Sprinkle a work surface with a few tablespoons of flour and place the dough on top. Pat the dough into an even layer about 1-inch thick, and sprinkle more flour on top. Now, for the fun part: fold the dough onto itself and pat it down again to a 1-inch thickness. Repeat this folding and patting process about 6 times, until the dough feels slightly springy. This technique helps develop the gluten and gives the donuts a nice texture.

Finally, shape the dough into a rough 9x13-inch rectangle that's about 1/2-inch thick. Your dough is now ready to be cut into donut shapes and prepared for the air fryer!

Cutting out the donuts

To cut out the donuts, you'll need to first prepare your dough and your work surface. Place your dough on a well-floured surface. You can use a 'dough disc' or simply your hands to pat the dough down to about 1/2-inch thickness. You want your donuts to be nice and plump, so be careful not to roll them out too thin.

Next, you'll need a donut cutter or, if you don't have one, you can get creative. Use a biscuit cutter or a small bottle to cut out the centre of the donut, and a small cutter or knife to cut out the donut holes. If you're using a biscuit cutter, a 2 1/2-inch cutter for the outside circle and a 1-inch cutter for the inside should work well.

Once you've cut out your donuts, be sure to reserve the holes to fry up as doughnut holes! You can also reroll the scraps to cut out additional donuts. If your dough starts to get too warm, simply place it in the refrigerator to chill until it's firm enough to roll out again.

Now you're ready to start frying!

Frying the donuts

Firstly, the oil temperature needs to be regulated. If the oil is too hot, the donuts will brown before the inside is cooked. If it is too cool, the donuts will absorb too much oil, affecting their texture and flavour. A good thermometer is essential if you do not own a deep fryer. Before placing the donuts into the oil, make sure that the oil is between 360-375°F (182°C). The temperature will drop once the donuts are added, so you may need to adjust the heat to bring the oil back up to temperature.

When frying the donuts, work in small batches so you don’t overcrowd the pot and drop the oil temperature too much. If the oil temperature drops too low, the donuts won’t cook evenly, and they might become oil-logged. Place the dough carefully into the oil, frying a few donuts at a time, and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side, or until golden. The donut holes will take less time, around 1 minute on each side.

Once the donuts are golden brown, remove them from the oil with a long-handled slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to cool for about a minute. Then, dip them in the cinnamon-sugar bowl and sprinkle the donut to cover with cinnamon sugar.

If you are using an air fryer, cook the donuts at 330°F (166°C) for 8-10 minutes. Air fryer donuts will have a more biscuit-like texture, so a cinnamon glaze is recommended instead of cinnamon sugar.

Adding toppings

If you want to get more creative with your toppings, you could try drizzling your donuts with a simple glaze, dipping them in melted chocolate, or sprinkling them with chopped nuts for added flavour and texture. For a simple glaze, bring heavy whipping cream and light corn syrup to a boil in a saucepan, then pour the mixture over chopped semisweet chocolate and whisk until smooth. You can also dunk your donuts into a maple glaze—simply whisk together confectioners' sugar, milk, maple syrup, and maple flavouring until smooth.

If you're craving a more biscuit-like texture, try covering your donuts in a cinnamon glaze instead of the traditional cinnamon-sugar coating. To make the glaze, mix together confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract, milk, and ground cinnamon.

No matter which toppings you choose, your apple cider donuts are sure to be a delicious treat!

Frequently asked questions