Apple Cider Donuts

These things are delicious, especially when it's donut season.

(And it's always donut season.)

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APPLE CIDER DONUTS

One of the prettiest donuts :)

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 (3 inch) cinnamon sticks
• 2 cups apple cider
• 1/2 cup apple butter
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp. plus 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, divided
• 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• Approx. 4 cups vegetable oil
• Flour for dusting

DIRECTIONS:

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and sprinkle flour over the top.
2. Put the cinnamon sticks and apple cider in a large pan and bring to boil. Continue boiling for about 20 to 30 minutes, or until it's approximately 1/3 cup and thick.
3. Pour into a bowl and whisk in the apple butter, buttermilk, and vanilla.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk the baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, 3 1/2 cups flour and the teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
5. Beat together the butter and sugars in an electric mixer.
6. Individually, add the eggs and beat in well.
7. Slowly incorporate half of the whisked flour mixture. Stir in half of the apple cider/cinnamon mixture. Repeat.h
8. Turn the dough onto the prepared cookie sheet. With floured hands, press the dough until it's approx. 3/4 inch thick.
9. Sprinkle the dough with more flour. Chill in the fridge for a minimum of 3 hours, or overnight.
10. When it's time to fry the dough, fill the pan with oil until it comes up to 3 inches. Put a thermometer inside.
11. In a bowl, stir the rest of the sugar and cinnamon together.
12. Cut the dough into 3 1/4 inch circles, and then cut 1 1/4 holes out of the centers.
13. Re-roll the leftover dough and cut out more donuts, until there's about 18 of each in total.
14. Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Place a cooling rack on top.
15. When the oil is 350, fry the donuts (about 3 minutes each side) and donut holes (about 2 minutes each side).
16. After each donut is cooked, take it out of the oil and set on a cooling rack. After some of the excess oil has dripped of, toss them well in the prepared cinnamon sugar. Yum!

Recipe adapted from Bon Appetit.

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