Scrolling through cookbook author Susan Branch's recipes, I noticed her apple cider donut recipe. I liked her technique for cooking down apple cider into a syrup, concentrating both the apple flavor and the sweetness. I wondered, could I find a paleo apple cider donut recipe?
I found one at lexiscleankitchen.com. I've followed her recipe closely, but instead of using 1/3 c. of apple cider, I reduced 1 cup of apple cider down to 1/3 cup, giving it more flavor. I also increased the nutmeg and salt a bit. These little muffins or donut holes are great for afternoon tea.
Yield: 16-20 donut holes or mini-muffins
1 c. apple cider (fresh, or use Martinelli’s), reduced to 1/3 c. (see instructions)
2 eggs
2 Tbs. maple syrup
½ tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. almond flour
2 Tbs. coconut flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
¼ tsp. salt
For coating:
2 Tbs. coconut oil, melted
1 Tbs. brown coconut sugar
1 Tbs. cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350. Grease donut hole or mini-muffin pans generously with solid coconut oil. If using mini-muffin tins, you could skip the greasing and use paper cupcake liners.
Place apple cider in a small saucepan, and simmer gently, until cider is reduced to 1/3 c. Cool.
Whisk cider, eggs, syrup, and vanilla together. In another bowl, whisk the almond and coconut flours, the cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg and salt. Whisk liquid ingredients into the dry mix and blend well.
Drop a tablespoon of batter into each hole, and bake in preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Carefully remove the donut holes from the pans (you may need a thin spatula to assist), and cool on a rack.
Place melted coconut oil in a shallow bowl. Place coconut sugar and cinnamon in another shallow bowl and mix well. Dip tops of donut holes, first briefly in coconut oil, then in sugar mixture. Serve immediately, or store in the fridge a few days, wrapped tightly, bringing to room temperature before serving. They stay quite moist.
Recipe adapted from lexiscleankitchen.com/apple-cider-donut-holes.
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