Ingredients

  • 1 cup (210g) granulated sugar
  • 5 tablespoons (70g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 3 1/2 cups (505g) all purpose flour, plus additional for work surface
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons table salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) lowfat buttermilk
  • 1/3 cup (80 ml) boiled apple cider (see Notes)
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • Canola or safflower oil for frying
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • Hand-held or standing mixer
  • 2 large baking sheets
  • Parchment paper or wax paper
  • 3-inch donut cutter or 2 biscuit cutters (one 3 inches and one 1 inch)
  • 4- to 5-quart Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot
  • Instant-read thermometer (see Notes)

Method

  • In a large bowl using a hand-held or standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat together the sugar and butter until the mixture is pale and fluffy, 4 to 6 minutes.
  • Add the eggs, one at a time, beating for a minute after each.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg; set aside.
  • Pour the buttermilk, boiled cider, and vanilla into the sugar-butter-egg mixture.
  • Mix well, and dont worry if the mixture looks a bit curdled; itll smooth itself out.
  • Add the flour mixture and gently mix just until fully moistened.
  • The mixture may appear a bit lumpy, but the most important thing is not to over-mix.
  • 3 Line the baking sheets with wax paper or parchment paper and dust generously with flour.
  • Turn the dough out onto one baking sheet and gently pat into a 3/4-inch-thickness.
  • Sprinkle dough with additional flour, cover with plastic wrap and put in the freezer for 10 minutes to firm up.
  • Remove the dough from the freezer and use a lightly floured 3-inch donut cutter (or two concentric biscuit cutters) to cut out about 18 donuts with holes.
  • You can gather the scraps and re-roll as needed, but you may need to chill the dough more to firm it up.
  • Put the cut donuts on the other baking sheet as you go, then transfer to the freezer for 5 minutes to firm up again.
  • Preheat the oven to 200F and set a rack in the middle position.
  • Set a plate lined with a few layers of paper towels nearby.
  • In a Dutch oven or large pot, heat 3 inches of oil to 370F (test with a thermometer).
  • Drop 3 or 4 donuts into the oil, being careful not to crowd the pan.
  • Cook until browned on one side, about 1 minute, then flip over and cook until browned on that side, about one minute more.
  • Transfer the donuts to the paper-towel-lined plate and keep warm in the oven as you cook the rest.
  • Repeat with the remaining dough (if you find it getting too soft as you work your way through the batches, pop it in the freezer again for 10 minutes).
  • When the donuts are cool enough to handle, but still warm, sprinkle all over with the cinnamon-sugar or confectioners sugar.
  • Serve immediately.