Apple Cider Donuts

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups of apple cider
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. apple pie spice
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 2 tbsp. unsalted butter, must be completely melted
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup light or dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup milk, make sure it's room temperature or luke warm
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Topping:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 3/4 tsp. apple pie spice
• 6 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

Instructions:

1. Set the oven to 350F and either use cooking spray or a paper towel dabbed in vegetable oil to grease the donut pan
2. Start by simmering the apple cider in a small sauce pan over low-medium heat until it boils down to 1/2 cup. *this took me about 30-35 minutes and it could take you less time or longer. Just continue to check it - it will eventually evaporate down to 1/2 cup
3. Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. This includes the flour, baking soda, baking powder, ground cinnamon, apple pie spice, and salt
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, egg, brown sugar, granulated sugar, milk, and vanilla *make sure the butter is completely melted and that the milk is room temperature or else the cold milk will chill the butter into chunks instead of combining it into a smooth mixture
5. Mix together the wet and dry ingredients, and then pour the 1/2 cup of hot apple cider into the mixture. Whisk until it's evenly combined
6. Use either a spoon or cut the corner of a plastic bag to pipe the batter into the donut pan rings and fill halfway up. Bake for 10-11 minutes. The donuts will be ready when they are a golden color and bounce back at the light touch of your finger 
7. Allow them to cool in the pan for a few minutes before popping them out of the donut pan and onto a wire rack to continue cooling for another 10-15 minutes
8. While they are cooling, whisk together the sugar, ground cinnamon and apple pie spice in a bowl. Then melt the butter in a separate bowl. Dunk the cooled donut into the warm melted butter and then drop it into the sugar cinnamon topping, coat evenly and enjoy while its warm!