BA'S BEST APPLE CIDER DOUGHNUTS

BA's Best Apple Cider Doughnuts image

These sugared doughnuts are craggy and crunchy on the outside, tender and moist on the inside. Apple butter (not sauce!) is key to their texture and flavor; look for it alongside jams and jellies in the supermarket, or at farmers' markets, or make your own.

Provided by Rick Martinez

Categories Bon Appétit Dessert Apple Breakfast Buttermilk Cinnamon Nutmeg Fall Deep-Fry

Number Of Ingredients 18

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Ingredients

2 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
3 cups apple cider
1/2 cup apple butter
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup (packed) light brown sugar
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
Vegetable oil (for frying; about 4 cups)
Special Equipment
A 3 1/4-inch-diameter cutter, 1 1/4-inch-diameter cutter, deep-fry thermometer

Steps:

Bring cinnamon sticks and apple cider to a boil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook until liquid is thick, syrupy, and reduced to about 1/3 cup, 20-30 minutes. Scrape into a medium bowl and whisk in apple butter, buttermilk, and vanilla until incorporated; set aside.
Whisk baking powder, salt, baking soda, nutmeg, 3 1/2 cups flour, and 1 tsp. ground cinnamon in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter, brown sugar, and 1/4 cup granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating until well blended after each addition. Reduce mixer speed to low and add dry ingredients in 2 additions, alternating with cider mixture in 2 additions, starting with dry ingredients and ending with cider mixture (dough will be very soft and sticky).
Scrape dough onto a parchment lined-rimmed baking sheet thoroughly dusted with flour (about 1/3 cup). Dust hands and top of dough with more flour, then gently pat dough to 3/4" thick. Dust with more flour and tightly cover with plastic wrap; chill dough at least 3 hours.
Whisk remaining 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 Tbsp. cinnamon in a small bowl until no lumps remain.
Working on baking sheet, punch out as many rounds as you can with 3 1/4" cutter, then use 1 1/4" cutter to punch out center of each round. Gather doughnut scraps, reserving holes, and gently re-roll without overworking dough; repeat until all dough has been used (you should have 18 doughnuts).
Set a wire rack inside a paper towel-lined rimmed baking sheet. Fit a large pot with deep-fry thermometer and pour in oil to a depth of 3". Heat over medium-high until thermometer registers 350°F. Working in batches, fry doughnuts until deep golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to prepared rack and let cool slightly. Fry doughnut holes until deep golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to prepared rack and let cool slightly. Toss warm doughnuts and doughnut holes in cinnamon sugar.
Do Ahead
Dough can be made 1 day ahead; cover and chill.