Apple Cider Doughnuts with Sourdough Discard (Baked)
These apple cider doughnuts with sourdough discard quickly became a favorite. They have all the cozy flavors you expect from a classic apple cider doughnut, including warm cinnamon, sweet apple notes, and a soft, tender texture. The addition of sourdough discard gives them extra flavor while helping reduce food waste, making them a great option for sourdough bakers looking for new ways to use their discard.
There is something special about baking with apples during the fall season. The crisp air, changing leaves, and abundance of fresh apples make it the perfect time to turn simple ingredients into comforting homemade treats. After bringing home a basket full of freshly picked apples, I couldn’t wait to start experimenting in the kitchen. While pies and crisps are always favorites, I wanted something a little different that would be easy enough to make on a busy weekend morning.
Unlike traditional fried doughnuts, these are baked, which means they come together with less mess and less effort. There is no need to heat a pot of oil or worry about frying temperatures. Simply mix the batter, fill the doughnut pan, and bake until golden. In just a short amount of time, your kitchen will be filled with the comforting aroma of apples and spices.
One of my favorite things about this recipe is how versatile it is. These doughnuts are perfect for breakfast alongside a cup of coffee, as an afternoon snack, or even as a simple dessert. They are delicious on their own, but even better when coated in a cinnamon-sugar mixture shortly after baking. The sweet coating adds the perfect finishing touch and gives them that classic bakery-style flavor.
Whether you have just returned from an apple orchard or simply picked up a jug of apple cider from the store, these baked apple cider doughnuts are a wonderful way to celebrate the flavors of fall. They are simple, flavorful, and sure to become a seasonal favorite in your home.
Ingredients
Dough
- 300 g Apple cider , boiled and reduced in half, until you’ll get 130g of thicker version of cider.
- 70 g sourdough discard, strait from the fridge.
- 30 g melted butter
- 50 g egg (1 large egg)
- 60 g sour cream
- 50 g brown sugar
- 160 g all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp cardamon
Sugar Topping
- 1/2 cup of white granulated sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp cardamon
- 30g melted butter
Directions
To bring up stronger apple flavor, add the following step.
- Night before, boil 300g of apple cider on a medium/high heat, wait until half of it evaporates (it might take up to 30 minutes). Let it cool.
If you don’t have enough time, you can use straight apple cider, the flavor will still be there.
- Next day, or when cider has cooled off, mix all wet ingredients (cider, sourdough discard, egg, sour cream, melted butter, vanilla and sugar).
- Whisk until well incorporated.
- Add dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking soda, spices). Mix dough really well, let it rest for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile prepare the doughnuts mold, spread a thin layer of butter all over the mold and dust it with flour, to prevent doughnuts from sticking to the sides of the mold.
- Fill the mold about half way.
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Bake the doughnuts for 13-15 minutes. Doughnuts are ready, when you poke the top of the doughnut and it bounces back.
- Take the doughnuts out of the oven, let them cool down for 10 min.
Topping
- Mix sugar with spices.
- Brush each doughnut with butter.
- Roll it generously in spiced sugar.
Enjoy your apple cider doughnuts with sourdough discard!
Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts with Sourdough Discard
Ingredients
- 300 g Pure apple cider boiled and reduced down to 130 g
- 130 g Reduced apple cider cooled completely
- 70 g Sourdough discard straight from the fridge
- 30 g Unsalted butter melted
- 50 g Egg 1 large egg
- 60 g Sour cream
- 50 g Brown sugar
- 160 g All-purpose flour
- ½ tsp Baking soda
- ½ tsp Fine salt
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 tsp Ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp Ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp Ground cardamom
- ½ cup (100 g) White granulated sugar
- 1 tsp Ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp Ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp Ground cardamom
- 30 g Unsalted butter melted (for brushing)
Equipment
- Small Saucepan for cider reduction
- 6-Cavity Doughnut Pan
- Mixing Bowl & Whisk
Method
- In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, boil 300 g pure apple cider for ~20–30 minutes until reduced by more than half, down to 130 g of thick cider. Let cool completely.
- Whisk together 130 g cooled cider reduction, 70 g sourdough discard, 30 g melted butter, 50 g egg, 60 g sour cream, 50 g brown sugar, and 1 tsp vanilla until well incorporated.
- Add 160 g flour, ½ tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp nutmeg, and ¼ tsp cardamom. Mix just until combined into a smooth batter.
- Let the batter rest for 10 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a doughnut mold with a thin layer of butter and dust lightly with flour.
- Fill doughnut cavities about half full.
- Bake for 13–15 minutes until doughnut tops spring back when gently poked. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto a rack.
- Whisk ½ cup sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp nutmeg, and ¼ tsp cardamom in a shallow bowl.
- Brush each warm doughnut generously with 30 g melted butter, then roll immediately in the spiced sugar.
Nutrition
Notes
- Overnight Cider Prep: Reducing the cider the night before saves time and allows the flavor to concentrate fully without heating up the rest of the cold ingredients.
- Storage & Reheating: Freezes well before sugar coating. Reheat baked doughnuts in the microwave for 10–15 seconds to restore maximum tenderness before serving.
Tried this recipe?
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These apple cider doughnuts look absolutely delicious! I love that you used sourdough discard—what a creative way to reduce waste and add flavor. Can’t wait to try this recipe and indulge in the fall vibes! 🍏❤️
These apple cider doughnuts look absolutely delicious! I love that you’re using sourdough discard in the recipe – such a creative way to reduce waste. Can’t wait to try making these for the fall season! Thank you for sharing!
These apple cider doughnuts look absolutely delicious! I love the idea of using sourdough discard in the recipe. Can’t wait to give them a try this fall! Thank you for sharing!
These apple cider doughnuts look absolutely delicious! I love that you used sourdough discard for extra flavor. Can’t wait to try this recipe for a cozy fall treat! 🍎✨
I just tried these apple cider doughnuts, and they turned out amazing! The sourdough discard adds a unique flavor and texture that I didn’t expect. Perfect for autumn! Thanks for the fantastic recipe, Natasha!
Wow, these apple cider doughnuts look amazing! I love the idea of using sourdough discard—such a creative way to reduce waste while making a delicious treat. Can’t wait to try this recipe out this fall! 🍏🍩
These apple cider doughnuts look absolutely delicious! I love the idea of using sourdough discard—such a great way to reduce waste and add flavor. Can’t wait to try this recipe this fall! Thank you, Natasha!
These were pretty easy to make and very tasty! I got about 9 1/2 donuts out of the recipe – maybe my pan is a little smaller.
These apple cider doughnuts look absolutely delicious! I love that you’ve incorporated sourdough discard into the recipe—what a fantastic way to reduce waste while baking something so tasty. I can’t wait to try these out this fall! Thank you for sharing!
These apple cider doughnuts look absolutely delicious! I love the idea of using sourdough discard – what a great way to reduce waste while baking something sweet! Can’t wait to try this recipe for fall! 🍏🍩
These apple cider doughnuts look absolutely delicious! I love that you incorporated sourdough discard — such a clever way to reduce waste while creating something sweet. Can’t wait to try this recipe for fall! 🍏🍩
I would love to print this recipe but I don’t see a printable version. If I try to print it’s 17 pages!😂
These apple cider doughnuts look amazing! I love the idea of using sourdough discard; it gives such a unique flavor. Can’t wait to try this recipe during fall! Thanks for sharing, Natasha!
Hello. I just made these and they’re super delicious. I just wish they had more of an apple taste to them. Perhaps there’s a way ro incorporate some applesauce?
I appreciate that they are a billion times healthier than fried, inflammatory donuts because I ate like…5. Lol
Hello! Can the batter be left overnight to ferment without the baking soda. Next day add to it and bake? What are your thoughts? Thank you! I definitely will make them
I want to make these for the apple festival, will they hold up overnight already baked?
They will need to be reheated in microwave before eating then.
Hello,can I frie them ?like a deep fried
Hi!
I’m not sure, because batter is too runny.
Fantastic recipe, I used apple puree and we gobbled them. Thanks for a great idea to use sourdough discard.
Aviva, thank you for your feedback. Happy 🙏
Made these this morning exactly as directed, though I used three mini loaf pans instead of a doughnut mold (and shared them with neighbors!). Absolutely wonderful! This will certainly be a fall staple. Thank you!
CaroleAnne, thank you so much for your feedback. I’m so glad you liked it 🙏
Made these today and loved them, as did my five and three year olds ; )
Happy to hear you liked them. Thank you 🙏
Would apple cider vinegar work?
No, but apple purée or apple juice will definitely work.
Can this be frozen?
Yes, you can freeze them, but without covering in sugar.
Checking on definition. Discard sourdough is unfed or from leftover sourdough feedings?
It’s leftover starter, I’m collecting in the fridge, then using it in pancakes 🥞 or something else😊
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but do you mean it’s the sourdough starter that you completed after the week (or longer) process, and you just didn’t use it all, or it’s the part you took out before feeding the actual starter again? E.g., if I wanted to, could I just use your sourdough starter process and then use the final product for the doughnuts?
It’s look Yummy 😋😋
and delicious😍 i well I will try to make it😅
It’s so delicious. Definitely try it 🙏
How do you make the apple cider?
It’s just Apple juice, but from real apples, not from concentrate
Thank you – I was trying to figure out where the fresh apples came into it!!!!