Baked Apple Butter Donuts with Mulling Spices

Bring the flavors of fall into your kitchen with these homemade Baked Raven's Nest Apple Butter Donuts with Mulling Spices! Made with rich apple butter, warm cinnamon, nutmeg, and aromatic mulling spices, these soft, cake-like donuts are packed with cozy autumn flavor.

Baked in a donut mold tray and finished with a fragrant mulling spice coating, this easy fall baking recipe is perfect for crisp autumn mornings, weekend brunch, or pairing with a warm cup of coffee or homemade apple cider.

Ingredients

For the Donuts

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2  tablespoons Raven's Nest Mulling Spice 
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup Raven's Nest Apple Butter
• ¼ cup butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Required Equipment

• Donut mold tray
• Mixing bowls
• Whisk
• Spoon or piping bag
• Wire cooling rack

Important: A donut mold tray is required for this recipe to bake the batter into the classic donut shape.

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly grease your donut mold tray to prevent sticking.
2. Combine the dry ingredients. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, brown sugar, salt, and Raven's Nest Mulling Spices. 
3. Mix the wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, Raven's Nest apple butter, melted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth.
4. Prepare the batter. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and gently stir until just combined. Avoid overmixing to help keep the donuts tender.
5. Fill the donut mold tray. Spoon or pipe the batter into the prepared donut mold cavities, filling each about two-thirds to three-quarters full.
6. Bake the donuts. Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes, or until the donuts spring back lightly when touched and a toothpick inserted into a donut comes out clean.
7. Coat with Raven's Nest mulling spices. Allow the donuts to cool slightly before carefully removing them from the donut mold tray. While they are still warm, coat them with finely ground mulling spices. For a sweeter finish, mix the mulling spices with granulated sugar before coating.
8. Cool and serve. Transfer the donuts to a wire rack. Enjoy them slightly warm or allow them to cool completely before serving.

Tips for the Best Apple Butter Donuts

• Use a donut mold tray: This is essential for achieving the traditional ring shape with this baked donut recipe.
• Don't overmix the batter: Stir just until the ingredients are combined for a soft, cake-like texture.
• Coat while slightly warm: The gentle warmth helps the mulling spice coating adhere to the donuts.
• Grind the spices finely: A fine texture creates a more even coating and a better finish.
• Customize the coating: Add granulated sugar to the mulling spices for a sweeter, bakery-style finish.

Recipe Details

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
• Total Time: 20–22 minutes
• Yield: Depends on the size of your donut mold tray

Enjoy the comforting flavors of fall in every bite of these easy homemade apple butter donuts!