So last week the family and I went apple picking up at Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville. We had a wonderful time hiking on the mountain and picking apples and peaches, all while enjoying the beautiful mountain view. Once you have your fill of all the apple picking, hiking and hay rides, and you are ready to go home. There is a wondrous, mouth watering aroma that intoxicates you as you wait to check out; are the fresh, hot apple cider doughnuts that they have there.
We bought a dozen, and as soon as week got to the car we dove in. One each for my family of four, to hold us over until we get lunch. All that walking and the smell of those doughnuts made us hungry. There is something about a warm, sugary doughnut that just makes me happy. We were planning on saving the rest for when we get home, but traffic brought on the munchies and we were left with a sad state of affairs, no more doughnuts.
So I went on a search to find a recipe to replicate the doughnut goodness I was missing. Have I told you how much I love Pinterest? Where else is there a greater concentration of anything you need to find. Anyway, I found a recipe from, Will Cook For Friends, that seemed most like what I wanted to make.
One thing I was worried about when making doughnuts is that most recipes call for them to be fried in shortening, not something I use. So I was relieved that she was able to use canola oil to cook my doughnuts. The recipe is really easy but a lot of waiting, because the dough needs to be chilled. The results were great, everything a doughnut should be. My family, were extremely happy with the outcome as well.
Apple Cider Doughnuts
adapted from Will Cook For Friends
Makes about 24 doughnuts and doughnut holes
Dough
1 Cup Apple Cider
3 1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
Pinch of Ground Cloves
Pinch of Ground Nutmeg
1/2 Stick or 4 Tbsp Unsalted Butter, room temperature
1/2 Cup Organic Cane Sugar
1/2 Cup Organic Light Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup Buttermilk
Oil, for frying
Coating
3/4 Cup Organic Cane Sugar
2 tbsp Ground Cinnamon
Directions
In a medium saucepan bring apple cider to a boil over medium high heat. Then reduce heat to medium low and reduce to about a 1/4 cup. This should take about 25-30 minutes. Set aside to cool.
Wisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spice in a bowl. Set aside.
In bowl of mixer with paddle attachment beat butter and sugars until smooth. Add eggs one at a time until incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Reduce mixer to low and add buttermilk and apple cider. Mix in flour, just until combined and ball starts to form.
Prep to two cookie sheets with parchment paper and dust with flour. Spread dough on cookie sheet, dust with flour and top with parchment paper. Using the second cookie sheet and flatten the dough to about 1/2 inch thickness.
Chill in freezer for 30 minutes. Once dough is chilled use a doughnut cutter or in my case a round cookie cutter and a cake icing tip (you gotta make it work with what you got). Place on second cookie sheet, and re roll any extra dough to continue cutting out doughnuts. When you are done, place back in freezer for another 20-30 minutes.
At this time heat your oil. You need about 3 inches of oil to ensure that you can flip the doughnuts. Heat oil to 350 degrees using a thermometer to maintain proper heat. Remove doughnuts from the freezer and place wire rack over a towel lined cookie sheet for draining.
Cook doughnuts 3 or 4 at a time to not lower the temp of the oil. Cook for about 1 minute on the first side and 40-50 second on the second using a chopstick or slotted spoon to turn. Remove form oil with slotted spoon to wire rack to cool for 30 seconds and move to the cinnamon sugar mixture. Turn to coat and move back to wire rack.
You can let them cool for a minute or two before enjoying to ensure you don't burn your mouth or just dive on in. They are worth the scorched tongue and fingers. I hope enjoy these fall flavored treat with a warm cup of cider and whatever you like to enjoy doughnuts with. Be blessed and enjoy.
