Bobbing For Apples

I love fall.

Everything. About. It.

I lust after it all year long.
And now that it is here I am giddy and full of utter excitement.

Eric and I will be making our annual pilgrimage to the pumpkin patch soon and I couldn’t be happier.

I am also excited to be seeing fall festivals pop up everywhere. If I am running late to something this time of year you can sure bet that it was because I took a detour to a fall festival.

I love browsing the craft booths. The fantastic smells of fall/carnival food cooking. And all the children (and sometimes adults too) look too freakin’ cute playing festival games like bobbing for apples or trying to eat the donut off the string. Hilarious!
Inspired by those fun memories, these Caramel Apple Donuts were born. A spiced cake donut full of apple flavor made even sweeter by a caramel glaze.

What do love most about fall?

One Year Ago: Breakfast Stuffing
Two Years Ago: Asian Peanut Butter Pork

Caramel Apple Donuts
by Heather of Kitchen Concoctions: www.kitchen-concoctions.com
Printable Version

Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 9-12 minutes Makes about 1 dozen donuts

2 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoon baking soda
1 ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1/2 cup apple cider
¾ cup applesauce
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 small apple, peeled and diced
Caramel glaze, see recipe below
¼ cup chopped pecans

Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray a donut pan with cooking spray.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Add eggs, apple cider, applesauce, butter, and vanilla. Beat just until combined. After mixing, gently fold in apples.

Fill prepared donut pan with the batter, filling each doughnut cup approximately 2/3 full. Bake in the preheated oven for 9-12 minutes or until doughnuts spring back when touched.

Let doughnuts cool in pan for 4-5 minutes before removing. Top cooled doughnuts with caramel glaze (recipe below) and chopped pecans.

Caramel Glaze
by Heather of Kitchen Concoctions: www.kitchen-concoctions.com
Printable Version

Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 5 minutes Makes 1/2 cup

¼ cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup confectioners’ sugar

In a saucepan, over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar. Cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes. Stir in the milk and vanilla and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in confectioners’ sugar. Immediately dip cooled doughnuts into glaze. Top with chopped pecans.