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This post is sponsored in conjunction with AppleWeek . I received product samples from sponsor companies to aid in the creation of the AppleWeek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

Apple cider doughnuts are an autumn essential! These classic doughnuts are fried, then rolled in cinnamon sugar. 

It is officially fall as of this past weekend, and this week, we’re celebrating an autumn staple: apples! All apple recipes, all week long! Almost 50 bloggers are sharing recipes both sweet and savory using apples, apple juice, apple cider, apple butter, or apple sauce! And yes, there is a giveaway with SEVEN winners! Read about the prizes from our generous sponsors, and enter the giveaway just below the prize pack descriptions.

The Prizes

AppleWeek Prize Pack #1 from Swiss Diamond

A XD 10 Piece Set Ultimate Kitchen Kit

Available in select stores only, Swiss Diamond’s XD 10 piece set features Swiss Diamond’s newest, most advanced diamond-reinforced nonstick coating. The new coating formulation contains 20% more real diamond crystals than the HD coating and was developed in Switzerland. The result is a significantly tougher cooking surface, 40% more durable with 40% better food release properties as compared to the Classic HD nonstick cookware. The are ideal for healthy cooking without oil and feature quick, easy clean-up with hot soapy water. They are PFOA-free and produced in an eco-friendly manner. The tempered glass lids have adjustable steam vents and the ergonomic handles and knobs are oven safe up to 500 F.

Swiss Diamond is a high-end cookware and kitchenware brand established in 2001, with a manufacturing facility in Sierre, Switzerland. The brand name originates from the company’s Swiss origin and it’s classic cookware line which uses a revolutionary nonstick coating made with diamond crystals for durability, superior heat conduction, and a long-lasting nonstick surface. Swiss Diamond is committed to meeting consumer needs by using safe, high-quality materials, by emphasizing innovative design with traditional European craftsmanship and by adhering to an eco-friendly production process.

AppleWeek Prize Pack #2 from Envy Apples

A $60 Pre-Paid Visa Gift Card and a shipment of Envy Apples!

When you’re this good they call you Envy™

It’s hard to put into words what makes Envy™ so remarkable. Each satisfyingly sweet crunch redefines what to expect from an apple. Since it was introduced, Envy™ has emerged as the apple with everything: beautiful skin, sweet flavor and a bright, tender flesh that remains white even after being cut. It’s a pure and pristine apple that’s a genuine work of orchard-growing genius.

Envy™ was born in New Zealand using natural plant-breeding methods, crossing a Braeburn with a Royal Gala apple. From there, a handpicked team of talented growers, planted trees in regions perfect for growing Envy, such as New Zealand, Washington state and Chile where they benefit from long, sundrenched days and crisp, cool evenings. Enjoy Envy™ just about anywhere—it’s nature’s passport to a magical moment of indulgent time. For more information visit envyapples.com

AppleWeek Prize Pack #3 from The Spice House

The Baker’s Gift Box

The Spice House has been sourcing premium spices since 1957, bringing you the finest selections from all over the globe. They provide the freshest and most flavorful ingredients possible via small, weekly batch grinding and blending.

Prize Pack #4 from Rodelle Vanilla

A Baker’s Dream Come True!

Package will include pure vanilla extract, gourmet dutch-processed baking cocoa, gourmet vanilla extract, gourmet vanilla beans, organic vanilla extract, organic chocolate extract, almond extract, vanilla paste, and some fun baking supplies to whip of your next batch of goodies with!

Rodelle believes ingredients makes all the difference, that’s why they are passionate about offering a complete line of superior baking ingredients, vanilla products and gourmet spice blends. Quality vanilla extract may cost a little bit more, but the flavors are worth it! Rodelle works with a farmer-owned co-op in Madagascar, Sahanala, to craft a farm-to-table vanilla that benefits the vanilla farmers and their families. Learn more about Rodelle’s vertical integration here. Or, Find out where to buy great Rodelle ingredients near you here.

Prize Pack #5 from Imperial Sugar

A Sweet Tooth’s Dream Come True!

The Winner will receive 1 case of 2-lb granulated sugar (20 bags) + 1 case of 2-lb light brown sugar (24 lbs), a silicone baking mat and a custom apron.

For 175 years, Imperial Sugar has been a trusted name in family kitchens across the South. Sweet things happen when people come together in the kitchen, and that’s why Imperial sugar has been at the heart of family traditions and celebrations for generations. We’re the secret ingredient in family-favorite recipes handed down from one generation to the next. Home cooks know that when you bake with love and Imperial sugar, that’s when memories are made. Visit ImperialSugar.com for over 100 years of time-tested recipes, kid’s crafts, how-to videos, coupons, giveaways and more.

Prize Pack # 6 from Flahavan’s Irish Oatmeal and Nairn’s Oatcakes

Flahavan’s and Nairn’s have teamed up to bring out an oatstanding prize pack filled with naturally creamy, sustainable Flahavan’s Irish Oatmeal and our go-to gluten free grahams by Nairn’s. We have a good gut feeling that you’re going to love it!

Flahavan’s Irish Oatmeal is sustainably grown and milled in Co. Waterford, Ireland by the Flahavan’s family since 1785. They have sourced the finest oats from the same Irish farming families for generations. Flahavan’s oats are milled in small batches and minimally processed according to 230 year old milling tradition and double kilned. They are non-GMO and naturally gluten-free.

Nairn’s Gluten Free Grahams are rather good in more ways than one.  For a start they’re made with only the finest wholegrain oats- naturally energizing and proven to reduce cholesterol. And at only 45 calories a piece, they’re a healthy alternative the the usual graham (also 40% less sugar!). But the real feel good factor comes from knowing every delicious gluten-fee bite is batch tested to Elisa standards so they’re truly safe to eat.

Prize Pack #7 from Nordic Ware

Perfect for baking all of these AppleWeek treats, Nordic Ware will give one lucky winner an apple cakelet pan and prism baker’s bundle with a quarter and half sheet pan!

Nordic Ware is a family owned and operated kitchenware company since 1946 and has steadily built its reputation as an internationally distributed kitchenware brand. As a leading manufacturer and innovator, Nordic Ware produces the vast majority of its products in America, at its Minneapolis headquarters, including bakeware, cookware, grillware, microwave, and kitchen gadgets and accessories.

The Giveaway Entry Form

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Apple Cider Doughnuts Recipe

Apple cider doughnuts are a relatively recent discovery for me. As a child, we would pick out pumpkins from a local farm that had already been cut from the patch and brought to the front of the farm and arranged on wooden tables where you’d pick out the one you want. There were no hayrides or petting zoos or anything. Pick your pumpkin and go home.

With our son, however, we go over to a farm in New Jersey, with hayrides to the pumpkin patch, corn maze, petting zoo, playground, a live band, and more activities. There is also a farmers market, with pies, fresh pasta, jams and jellies, and best of all, fresh cider doughnuts.

Honestly, I don’t know who gets more excited to go pick pumpkins, me or my son. My poor husband just humors us and comes along for the ride. He’ll never admit it, but I think he looks forward to the cider doughnuts, too.

Now that I can make them at home, maybe I won’t feel like I have to eat three when we go pick pumpkins, because I know it won’t be the ONLY time I get to eat them that season. Maybe I’ll still eat three anyway, because they are SO delicious.

Now, this dough is VERY sticky. You might think you haven’t added enough flour, but do NOT add more to make it easier to work with. If you do, once the doughnuts are fried, they will become very dense and chewy, not light and fluffy like good cider doughnuts should be.

It is best to work with well-floured hands, and COLD dough. Don’t try to use a rolling pin, just pat the dough to a roughly even layer with your hands. Make sure to pop the cut doughnuts and holes into the freezer for 5 minutes before frying, because if the dough is too warm when it hits the oil, the doughnuts will break when you try to flip them.

One final tip: NEVER pour used oil down your sink. You can actually use frying oil at least twice. Filter it through cheesecloth before using a funnel to pour it back into its original container. Once you’ve used it twice, funnel it back into its original container, tape the lid so it doesn’t twist off, and put it out with the trash. Alternatively, you can find out if you have an oil recycling program in your area.

Apple Cider Doughnuts

Yield: 16 doughnuts

Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Cook Time: 4 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 24 minutes

Slightly adapted from New England Today, apple cider doughnuts are an autumn essential! These classic doughnuts are fried, then rolled in cinnamon sugar. 

Print

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups apple cider
• 1 cup Imperial sugar
• 5 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for work surface
• 1 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 gallon canola oil
• 1 1/2 cups Imperial sugar
• 3 tbsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Pour apple cider into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and let boil until reduced to 1/3 of a cup, about 12 to 15 minutes. Pour into a heatproof measuring cup, and set aside to cool. Can be made up to a day ahead, covered with plastic wrap and stored in the refrigerator. 
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat together the sugar and butter until mixture is pale and fluffy, 4-6 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating a minute after each and scraping down the sides of the bowl. 
3. In a medium-size bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg; set aside.
4. Combine the buttermilk, boiled cider, and vanilla, then add to the sugar/butter/egg mixture. Mix well, and don't worry if the mixture looks a bit curdled; it'll smooth itself out. Add about one third of the flour mixture and mix in on low speed, then add another third and mix, then add the final third and mix just until combined. 
5. Line two baking sheets with waxed paper or parchment paper and dust generously with flour. Scrape the dough out onto one baking sheet and with floured hands, pat gently into 3/4-inch-thickness. Sprinkle dough with additional flour, cover with plastic wrap, and place in the freezer for 10 minutes to firm up. 
6. Meanwhile, pour enough oil into a large Dutch oven to at least 3 inches in depth. Set over medium heat. Add a deep-fry or candy thermometer, and heat the oil to 325 degrees. Once oil approaches 325 degrees, lower the flame under the pot of oil so it doesn't go too far over 325 degrees. 
7. Remove dough from the freezer; use a lightly floured 3-inch round cutter to cut out as many doughnuts as you can. Use a second, smaller cutter about 3/4 of an inch wide to cut out the centers. Keep the smaller circles to fry as doughnut holes. Place cut doughnuts on the other baking sheet as you go; then transfer to the freezer for 5 minutes to firm up again.
8. Line a plate with a few layers of paper towels and set it nearby. Also, in a wide, shallow dish, combine the 1 1/2 cups sugar and 3 tbsp cinnamon. Stir well, and set near the paper-towel-lined plate. 
9. Drop 2 or 3 cold doughnuts into the oil, being careful not to crowd the pan. Cook until browned on one side, about 2 to 3 minutes (1 minute for doughnut holes); then use a slotted spatula to carefully flip and cook until browned on the other side, about 1 to 2 minutes longer (another minute for doughnut holes). Doughnuts that are not cold when you drop them into the oil will be more likely to break apart during flipping. Use the slotted spatula to remove the cooked doughnuts from the oil and slide onto the paper towels. 
10. Repeat with the remaining dough (if you find that it's getting too soft as you work your way through the batches, pop it into the freezer again for 10 minutes). When doughnuts are cool enough to handle but still warm, transer to the dish of cinnamon sugar and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1 Serving Size: doughnut
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 2285 Saturated Fat: 19g Cholesterol: 30mg Sodium: 279mg Carbohydrates: 56g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 33g Protein: 3g

Tag @TheRedheadBaker on Instagram and hashtag it #TheRedheadBaker.

More AppleWeek Recipes

• Apple Cinnamon Cakelets by Amy’s Cooking Adventures
• Apple Fritters by Seduction in the Kitchen
• Apple Pecan Sticky Bun Bites by Soulfully Made
• Apple Pie Monkey Bread by The Bitter Side of Sweet
• Apple Pull Apart Bread by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Apple Sage Turkey Breakfast Sausage by Simple and Savory
• Apple Slaw by Girl Abroad
• Apple Spice Cake by Mildly Meandering
• Applejack Rabbit Cocktail by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Applesauce Nut Bread by Palatable Pastime
• Cider Braised Chicken Breasts by Everyday Eileen
• Fresh Apple Granola by An Affair from the Heart
• Caramel Apple Whoopie Pies by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
• Seared Steak with Envy-able Apples by Culinary Adventures With Camilla
• Warm Spiced Apple Topping by Family Around the Table

Disclaimer: Thank you AppleWeek Sponsors: Swiss Diamond, Nordic Ware, Envy Apples, Imperial Sugar, The Spice House, Rodelle Vanilla, Flahavan’s Irish Oats and Nairn’s for providing the prizes free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for AppleWeek recipes. All opinions are my own. The AppleWeek giveaway is open to U.S. residents, age 18 & up. All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Seven (7) winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. The AppleWeek Bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household cannot enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the AppleWeek posts or entry.