Ingredients

  • 2 cups apple cider
  • 1/2 cup peeled grated apple (1 large apple)
  • 1/2 cup apple butter
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 ounces (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 1/4 cups (about 137/8 oz.) all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Peanut oil

Method

  • Combine apple cider and grated apple in a small saucepan over medium-high, and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about 1/2 cup, about 25 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, and cool to room temperature. Stir in apple butter, vinegar, and vanilla.
  • Beat butter and sugar with an electric stand mixer on medium until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add egg, and beat until combined. Whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt; add to butter mixture alternately with apple cider mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat on low just until blended after each addition. Turn dough out onto a floured surface, and roll into a 12- x 9-inch rectangle, about 1/2 inch thick.
  • Pour 2 inches of oil into a large Dutch oven, and heat over medium-high to 350°F.
  • Cut dough using a 2 1/2-inch round cutter. Use a 1-inch round cutter to cut out the middle of dough rounds, reserving the cutouts as doughnut holes. Reroll scraps once. Fry in batches until golden brown, about 1 minute per side for doughnuts and 45 seconds per side for holes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Toss warm doughnuts in
  • . Or cool to room temperature and dip in
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