10.24.2011

Squared Cider Doughnuts: Secret Recipe Club

It's a beautiful fall weekend here in Connecticut and we are in apple mode. Unfortunately, we haven't had any free time to go apple picking ourselves, but bestie Joanne's industrious mother somehow managed to get a few bushels gratis and gave a dozen to Joanne to share with us. Thank you so much, Mrs. K! Chris is loving his annual apple pie!




Anyway, seeing all those apples made us hungry the cider doughnuts we missed by not going picking. But it just so happened that our assigned blog for this month's Secret Recipe Club had the perfect recipe for them. That blog is Veronica's Cornucopia! Veronica's blog is awesome - filled with all types of recipes from sweet to savory, as well as inspiring stories ("Thankful Thursdays") and interesting projects "The Postcard Project"). We very much enjoyed browsing Veronica's Cornucopia, but those "Easy Apple Cider Doughnuts" of hers really got us going. As promised, they were 1) easy, 2) tasty, and 3) the perfect fall treat!!! And we had plenty to share with the neighbors because we got 24 doughnuts (plus doughnut holes!) from following Veronica's recipe.

The most important ingredient


Make, knead and roll the dough


Cut out doughnuts and punch out the holes


We didn't adapt the recipe whatsoever except for making our doughnuts square because all we had on hand for cutting them was a square biscuit cutter. Here is a nice tip for cutting out the doughnut holes - use the top end of a baster (without the suction thingy)! It is just the right size and the doughy circles pop right out with a light tap.


Fry them up



Coat them in cinnamon sugar while they're hot


Squared Cider Doughnuts
"Easy Apple Cider Doughnuts"
recipe from Veronica's Cornucopia
Makes 24 doughnuts plus 24 doughnut holes

Ingredients:

canola oil for frying
1 egg
1 1/4 cup sugar, divided
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup apple cider
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup flour
2 cups baking mix (we used Bisquick)


Preheat oil in a large pot, skillet or deep fryer to 375 degrees, checking the temperature often using a candy thermometer. Whisk together egg, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, cider and vanilla. Using a wooden spoon, stir in flour and baking mix. On floured surface, with floured hands, knead dough several times and roll to 1/2-inch thick.  Cut with a donut or biscuit cutter, and make holes in the center of each. Carefully drop into hot oil. Working in batches of six, cook until golden brown, flip, and cook other side until golden brown. Adjust the heat on the burner as necessary to keep the temperature steady at 375.  Drain on sheets of newspaper or paper towels. Mix together remaining 1 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon; while doughnuts are still hot, coat in cinnamon-sugar. Eat while still warm!

20 comments:

kita said...

These are perfect little treats for this time of year! Great recipe choice for this months SRC!

Feast on the Cheap said...

These look so yummy, they're my favorite post-apple-picking treat!

Kelly | Eat Yourself Skinny said...

So glad to be in Group C with you, these look fantastic! Great SRC post!! xoxo

Angie - Big Bears Wife said...

I love that they are square! Makes me want to grab one... or 5

Rhonda said...

Why not square? I see myself biting off every corner and working my way in! A perfect fall donut.

Lisa~~ said...

Cider doughnuts are so perfect this time of year. Great SRC choice.

If you haven't already, I'd love for you to check out my SRC recipe this month: Thin Mint Irish Coffee.

Lisa~~
Cook Lisa Cook

Jo said...

Oooo, these look fabulous. I may need to make some this next weekend, we are helping to paint my brother's new place and doughnuts may be the fuel we need!

365daysofbaking said...

These look SO much better than the ones I made. I'd rather fry than bake my doughnuts anyway.
It was great getting to know you both through the SRC! The Early-Apple Crumbly Pie was delicious! Thanks for sharing it!

Melissa said...

Oh my goodness! This looks delicious! Perfect for fall...and I have cider in my fridge. Thanks for sharing :)

Veronica said...

Ah, they look so cute in squares! I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe, now you've reminded me how much I like it and I'm starting to eye the apple cider in my fridge! :) I love your photos--fantastic!

Eliotseats said...

I have been wanting to make donuts with the nephews. I think this will be on our Thanksgiving breakfast/brunch table. I love the squares! Great SRC post.

Unknown said...

I have never had a cider doughnut-- too many other treats at the apple orchard! These look really great!

Bubbe Bites said...

I love donuts. Veronica's site is awesome. Great pick for SRC. It is a wonderful recipe also. Thanks for sharing.

Jenn @ Baking Jenn's Blog said...

These look almost good enough for me to break my no-fried-foods rule! That's saying a lot! Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

I'm loving the fact that these are square. Heck, I've never seen a square biscuit cutter so that's as new as the square doughnut. Great pick for the SRC.

Lindsey@Lindselicious said...

I just made cider donuts last weekend. Yours look amazing (mine were baked) I need to do it again this time FRIED!

Susan Lindquist said...

Wow ... a New England fall tradition. And to think I can make these in my very own kitchen!

Peggy said...

Apple cider doughnuts are my favorite part of going apple picking in the fall! Good to know I can keep the tradition alive all year long at home - but I think I still may have to keep it a fall treat =)

jck said...

I wish we were neighbors!!! Glad you could use my mom's apples in such a yummy way.

Desi said...

Oooh la la I love your square donuts! What a fun twist on the traditional donut :)