It’s gettin’ hot in here, (so hot)...

Oh wait, that’s not right. It’s getting cold out there (so cold), so let's make some dooough (doughnuts)!

There, that’s better. 

It’s time to hibernate through the winter with lots of comfy, cozy time. But what do you need to have for the perfect brisk morning? Well, you definitely need coffee (and hopefully that coffee happens to be pumpkin-spiced), but obviously, coffee isn’t the same without its brekkie counterpart, donuts!

These little sweet rings of goodness are not your mom's (or Homer Simpson’s) traditional circular pastry.  They’re insanely fluffy, all thanks to our secret ingredient—Lemon Bubbles! 

Bubbles brings the light and airy party thanks to its signature teeny, tiny micro-bubbles, which give these perfect little pastries a cloud-like finish that’s impossible to resist. So maybe keep these ones locked away in that inconveniently placed secret candy stash drawer you use to keep from devouring that jumbo bag of Peanut M&M’s you could take down faster than you can say “sugar coma.”

What You’ll Need…

Doughnuts:

• 2 cups bread flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. apple pie spice
• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar 
• 1 egg 
• 3/4 cup apple cider 
• 3/4 cup Lemon Bubbles 
• 1 tsp. vanilla 
• 1 cup pecan pieces

Spiced Glaze:

• 2 cups powdered sugar 
• 1/2 tsp. apple pie spice
• 1/2 tsp. lemon zest 
• 4 TBS. milk 
• 1 tsp. vanilla 

Apple Pie Spice:

• 4 TBS. cinnamon
• 2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1 tsp. cardamom
• 1 tsp. ginger
• 1/2 tsp. allspice

What You’ll Do…

1. Preheat the Oven: Get that oven heated to a toasty 350°F. Your future donuts will thank you!
2. Cream It Up: In a stand mixer (or with a hand mixer if you’re feeling adventurous), cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until it’s light and fluffy – about 2-3 minutes. You want it to be so fluffy that it could float away!
3. Egg-citing Addition: Add the egg to your butter-sugar mixture and mix it in like you mean it. Don’t forget to scrape down the sides – we want everything to join the party!
4. Sift Happens: In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and apple pie spice. This is where the magic begins!
5. Mix It Up: Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in three increments, beating until just combined. Then, while the mixer is still on, pour in the apple cider, Lemon Bubbles, and vanilla. Your kitchen is about to smell AMAZING!
6. Prep the Pan: Spray your donut pan with non-stick spray. Trust us, you don’t want your donuts to stick – that would be a tragedy.
7. Fill ‘Er Up: Either spoon or pipe your batter into the prepared donut pan, filling each cavity halfway. We’re going for fluffy, not overflowing!
8. Bake Away: Pop those beauties in the oven for 10-12 minutes or until the tops spring back when touched. Remove them from the pan and let them cool – patience is a virtue, my friend!
9. Glaze It Up: While the donuts are cooling, let’s make that spiced glaze! Sift together the powdered sugar, lemon zest, and apple pie spice. Then, add the milk and vanilla and mix until it’s smooth and dreamy.
10. Dunk and Decorate: Once the donuts are cool, dip each side into the spiced glaze and sprinkle with pecan pieces. Voilà! You’ve got yourself some gorgeous Apple Cider Donuts!