Baked Caramel Apple Cider Donuts
Baked Caramel Apple Cider Donuts are such a fun treat for the Fall. A baked donut full of apple cider flavor, topped with a gooey, creamy caramel frosting.

It’s been an interesting week at our house, and I was quite happy to see the weekend. Just busy mostly, but another big milestone was hit in our house this weekend. My mini me (Brie’s Bites), Brielle has entered into her first serious relationship.
Caught us a bit by surprise but he came home with her on Thursday after school, and … well, we like him. A lot.
He has to get through impressing seven people in this house, plus another boyfriend who is part of our family on a regular basis and he won us all over. That’s not easy to do. At all.

I thought I wasn’t prepared for this. And I was so incredibly afraid I wasn’t going to like him. And I was so afraid she was going to get her heart broken and be disappointed, but instead, things are going beautifully and she’s the happiest I have ever seen her before in my life.
I am always thankful for my family, my children, my mother and father, brother and family. My pets too. I am thankful for my friends, my business, my life.
But right now, I am most thankful for Mason giving my happy, beautiful daughter back. She’s been so wonderful and pleasant to be around and well, she’s a teenager so that’s not always the case. I’m so extremely thankful she is happy and it’s a wonderful thing to say.

I hope all my American friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with their families and friends, and that all those who celebrate Hannukah also have a wonderful start to their holiday season.
I will leave you with an adorable picture of the cute couple. Happy Sunday!

FIRST COURSE / APPETIZERS
- Horseradish Cranberry & Herbed Cheese Bites from Jen of Juanita’s Cocina
- Savory Rosemary Baklava with Brie from Christie of A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
SAVORY BREADS + STUFFING
- Freeze and Bake Buttermilk Biscuits from Stacy at Food Lust People Love
- Raspberry and Brie Crescent Rolls from Karen of In The Kitchen With KP
MAIN DISHES
- Eggless Herb and Garlic Fresh Pasta from Sarah at What Smells So Good?
- Honey Orange Turkey Breast from Cindy at Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
SIDE DISHES
- Brussels Sprout Latkes from Susan at The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
- Cheesey Scalloped Potatoes from Shaina at Take A Bite Out Of Boca
- Cornucopia Sweet Potato Barley Salad from Wendy at The Weekend Gourmet
- Green Beans with Pecans and Cranberries from Tara at Noshing With The Nolands
- Honey and Cinnamon Glazed Sweet Potatoes from Jennifer at Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Italian American Turkey Dressing from Anne at Webicurean
- Mushroom and Barley Casserole with Bacon, Gruyere and Spinach from Heather at Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
DESSERTS + SWEET BREADS
- Almond Brioche Sticky Buns from Alice at Hip Foodie Mom
- Baked Caramel Apple Cider Donuts from Nicole at Daily Dish Recipes
- Blue Ribbon Meyer Lemon Mascarpone Cheesecake from Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious
- Gingered Butternut Squash Tart from Renee of Magnolia Days
- Hanukkah Lemon Star Cookies from Shannon at Killer Bunnies, Inc
- Plum and Blackberry Crumble from Katy at Happy Baking Days
- Salted Caramel Apple Pie from Laura at Pies and Plots
Let’s Get More of the BEST Apple Recipes!
- Caramel Apple Salad
- No Churn Apple Pie Ice Cream
- Salted Caramel Apple Cinnamon Turnovers
- Baked Caramel Apple Cider Donuts
Recipe for Baked Caramel Apple Cider Donuts

Baked Caramel Apple Cider Donuts
Ingredients
For the Donuts:
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- â…› tsp nutmeg
- â…› tsp allspice
- ½ tsp salt
- â…“ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup apple cider
- 4 Tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
For the Caramel Topping:
- 1 ½ cup caramel candy squares like Brach’s
- 1 tablespoon whole milk
Instructions
For Donuts:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease or spray your donut pan.
- In a mixing bowl, combine your dry ingredients: the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk the maple syrup, apple cider, oil and vanilla.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix just until combined… the dough will be thick.
- Spoon the batter into a piping bag or a plastic baggie with the corner snipped and pipe the dough into the prepared donut pans. Fill each space to about 3/4 full.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, until donuts springs back when gently pressed. Remove from oven and allow to cool in pan for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire cooling rack and allow to cool completely before adding icing/caramel topping.
For the Caramel Topping:
- In a microwaveable bowl, add caramels & milk. Heat for 1 minute. Remove and stir. Heat an additional 30 seconds, stir and then repeat at 30 second intervals until fully melted.
- With a spoon drizzle caramel over the donuts or just kinda slather it on like I did. 🙂
They are too cute, Nicole! And those baked donuts? I love the flavors you’ve got going on there. Especially the caramel topping!
Thank you Stacy, they really are so sweet. They all loved helping with the donuts and while they aren’t the prettiest things, they sure were yummy! 🙂 Happy Sunday and Thanksgiving!
Sweet couple indeed, Nicole. Your donuts slathered with caramel seems to just accent the loveliness of the holiday. So glad you are able to gather with you and yours. Happy Thanksgiving!
Donuts covered in caramel and a happy couple, perfect way to enter this holiday week! Love the flavors in these donuts!
So sweet. 🙂 Thank you. Am so in love with the happy couple… I just love watching them. Young love is so sweet. 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving sweet friend!
First serious relationship?! oh my goodness!!! I am so not ready for that. . they are adorable! and LOVE the Apple Cider Doughnuts. . yummm!! Happy Thanksgiving!
Those donuts look absolutely scrumptious! I love that caramel sauce! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your growing family circle!
I need to make baked doughnuts more often since I have a regular and a mini doughnut pan. These look fab as usual Nicole. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Man do I need to get a donut pan!
What yummy looking donuts!
Mmmmm…. apple+cider+caramel=YES!
Oh my goodness that caramel topping is making my mouth water.
Mmm, these look so good and festive!
I would like to stick my finger right through the screen and have a big ‘ol lick of those, delish!!!
They look adorable Nicole, congrats on this big step for the whole family! And those donuts look mouthwatering. I love that they are baked. And that caramel sauce looks just perfect.
Aww, such a sweet post, Nicole. I had no idea your daughter had a food blog, too – off to check it out. Happy Thanksgiving to your and your family!
Ha ha! I remember my step-daughters first serious relationship. She was 16 and guess what, she’s 21 and still with the same boy!! 🙂 I am glad we like him! Your going to love the dating years! Your apple cider donuts look just amazing!!!!!!!! I would love these for breakfast any day of the week!
Brielle is dating?! It’s terrifying when people you see as little kids start doing adult things. She is stunningly gorgeous and her BF is pretty cute too. Ahhh, young love! Speaking of love, I’m going gaga over your apple cider donuts! Just pour that caramel topping straight into my mouth!
Aw, how sweet! Glad you have a happy family…and wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving!
PS…your donuts sound amazing!!!
Such an adorable picture! I love that you used apple cider in the donuts. I just got a donut pan, so I can’t wait to try these!
I’m wishing you a very happy Thanksgiving and grateful for your friendship and how glad I was when we met IRL at the conference. All the best to you and your family!
I got to get a donut pan! I your recipes and I feel I’m missing out!
Yum a hundred times over!
They look adorable Nicole, congrats on this big step for the whole family! And those donuts look mouthwatering. I love that they are baked. And that caramel sauce looks just perfect.