Autumn Traditions::Apple Cider Donuts

If you live in New England I would bet my blueberry money you eat a cider donut or two sometime in Autumn. All the orchards produce these through the apple picking season and a bit beyond. These donuts are quite addictive and if you eat one chances are you will have two. They are best warm and I like mine with a cup of tea. Children and corgis don't need tea, they just grab them as their made and run back for seconds and thirds! They are very easy to make and I encourage you if you haven't tried one you must! Ahem..not a fat free food.
A few Autumns ago I was a guest at the Tudor's for an Autumn Gathering. We dipped beeswax candles in the cauldron, binded a pretty journal and made scented sachets. The most memorable part of the day, besides tea with Tasha Tudor herself of course, was pressing apple cider and sampling the many different varieties of apples Amy Tudor had bought. I believe there were six varieties and most were heirloom. All made exquisite cider!

Tasha pressed cider as an Autumn tradition from a young girl to many years later. She is quoted in Heirloom Crafts as not being too fond of cider as barrels of it were stored in the cellar as a child and it accompanied many meals. Too much of a good thing I guess!

Many of her illustrations show apples, cider and old saltware and glass jugs full of apple nectar. In Tasha Tudor's Heirloom Craft's, on page 88, there is a photo of an old glass jug with cider. An old cutter is on the wooden table. On page 89 is a picture of Tasha giving the crank a good turn as her corig and kitty watch her, probably hoping to catch a drop or two.

In A Time To Keep, A Tasha Tudor Book of Holidays , there is a delightful illustration on the October page of Tasha's family pressing cider. The border of the illustration has drawings of jugs of cider, baskets of apples and pumpkins interspersed through the woven stalks. The page says, "October was the time to make cider".

In Tasha's book Seasons' of Delight, A Year on an Old-Fashioned Farm, which is a three dimensional pop-up book you will find another enchanting illustration of cider pressing whilst the hens peck about the baskets of apples. An old wooden barrel tub filled with apples that young boys are bobbin for follows with the caption , "Autumn; it's time for picking apples, for making cider and baking apple pies".


If there are any cider donuts left, remember to cover them with an old shoo fly cover or for longer storage perhaps a glass container. I have on my list of "wants" a wooden cider press. Cider is so readily available where I am that I am not sure we will purchase one, but it is a possibility. My son could drink a gallon a day alone!

Another receipt I would like to share is for Apple Cider Donut Bread Pudding--just delicious! You can buy day old cider donuts at an orchard or buy fresh and let them sit for a day. Do let me know if you try this, I can attest it is wonderful!

Apple Cider Donut Bread Pudding
Makes 8-10 servings

14 apple cider donuts, broken apart and dried overnight
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
3 cups whole milk
1 cup farm-fresh cider
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
1 large Gala apple, cored, peeled, and chopped

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13-2 inch pan.

Put the day-old donuts into a mixing bowl.

In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, butter, sugars, milk, cider, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour this custard over the broken donut pieces, and let sit for 15-20 minutes.

Add the apple to the mix.

Pour the mix into the baking pan and bake for one hour, or until it has totally set. Serve warm or room temperature, with a touch of whipped cream or ice cream if you like.


Enjoy this Autumn tradition!


****Many have asked for the cider donut recipe. I use the one from Country Living, but there are many on the internet.