There are donuts and then there are apple cider donuts.  The two can’t be compared and one is a fall staple that must be enjoyed by all in my book.  Make sure to bake up a batch before the season is over an enjoy Apple Cider Donut Holes with Hot Buttered Rum Dipping Sauce on the side! 

Earlier this fall I finally managed to break free of city limits and get myself out into the country for some quintessential fall fun.  The plan was simple, get up early grab some breakfast and drive to a bunch of farms to pick as many apples as I could handle, drink hot cider and eat apple cider donuts everywhere.  On the way back we’d hit roadside farm stands to stock up on produce for the week ahead.

Well silly us never checked the weather for the day (I know, I ALWAYS check the weather) and midway through the drive it started to pour.  Luckily, there were outlet malls ahead and a stop to shop was the perfect break before the rain ended.  We jumped back into the car and found our way to the first farm only to learn there are some downsides when you go apple picking on a weekday.

Turns out you miss the crowds but you also miss the harvest fun.  There was no hot cider or donuts in sight!  So I went with it, picked way too many apples for 2 people to handle and jumped back in the car before the rain started up again.  The day didn’t go exactly as planned and let’s just say I was going to fix that cider donut craving.

If you’ve been reading this blog long enough, you know by now that I do not like to fry at home.  It has nothing to do with my dislike of fried foods.  I love fried foods but I’d rather let someone else take care of the mess instead of me.

Luckily it’s really easy to fake donut holes at home in the oven.  All that you require is a mini muffin pan  and about 30 minutes of your time to get that comforting smell of apple cider and cinnamon wafting through your home.

And yes, I do know that baked donuts don’t always taste like the real thing but in this case it works.  Apple cider donuts are always pretty cake-like to begin with and a butter bath before a heavy dose of cinnamon sugar totally seals the deal.  I also could have left this as it was and been happy but I didn’t.  In one moment I’ve taken a humble treat to an adult after dinner dessert.  You can have them any way you want but I prefer the hot buttered rum dipping sauce on the side.  It’s rich, I’ll give you that but it’s a treat that’s just perfect for a special (grown up) occasion.

This recipe for Apple Cider Donut Holes with Hot Buttered Rum Dipping Sauce originally appeared on Food Fanatic.

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