Woo Hoo!!! It is Spiked! Recipe Challenge time again, and this time the spiked ingredient is…..
FALL BEERS! What? Pumpkin, or apple beers used to make…..? My mind went blank…again! I have already told you before that I do not drink beer, so I obviously have no idea what a fall beer would taste like or what I should make with it. Then it dawned on me…..
What if I make apple cider doughnuts, using apple ale instead of cider!!! That should work…right? So I headed off to the grocery store to speak to the wonderfully helpful employees and ask about apple beers. She didn’t even have to think about it, she immediately said REDD’S Apple Ale. Then the cute construction worker that that was standing in front of the beer cooler, wholeheartedly agreed with her. So REDD’S Apple Ale it is!
These are a cake like doughnut, that starts out rather sticky…..
I do not have an official doughnut cutter, since I almost never make doughnuts, so I used a 3 inch circle cutter and an apple corer. It seemed appropriate to use an apple corer to make the smaller hole! 😉
Then you have your choice of toppings, you know me and choices. We have the glazed version shown above, or the cinnamon sugar coated version…..
I prefer the glazed version, and so does my camera. I had a heck of a time trying to get it to focus and take a picture! These doughnuts DO NOT taste like beer at all!! When they are still warm, the apple flavor is more prominent than it is the next day. They are delicious and disappeared very quickly! Even though I chose apple, I am sure that these would work just as well with a pumpkin ale! Oooh, maybe I will try those next. 😉
A big thank you to Julie and Carrie for hosting this challenge!! It is a lot of fun. 🙂 Make sure you stop by and check out all of the other recipes!!
***Update: I WON!!! That’s right, these delicious Apple Ale Doughnuts won the Spiked! Recipe Challenge!!! Thank you so much Carrie and Julie! I can’t wait to see what the featured spirit is in November. 🙂
Apple Ale Doughnuts
Print recipe | Serves | 20 |
| Prep time | 1 hour, 10 minutes |
| Cook time | 10 minutes |
| Total time | 1 hour, 20 minutes |
| Meal type | Breakfast, Dessert, Snack |
Ingredients
- 1 cup apple ale (can substitue apple cider)
- 3 1/2 Cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 Teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 Large eggs (at room temperature)
- 1/2 cup buttermilk (1/2 cup coconut milk + 1 teaspoon vinegar)
- oil for frying
- Apple Ale Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 Tablespoons apple ale (or apple cider)
- Cinnamon Sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
Directions
 Heat the apple ale (or cider) in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until it is reduced to 1/4 cup, about 20 - 30 minutes. Set aside to cool. | |
 Mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg together is a medium sized bowl. Set aside. | |
 In a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, beat the butter and granulated sugar together until smooth. | |
 Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until fully incorporated. Use a rubber spatula to occasionally scrap down the sides as necessary. | |
 Gradually add the reduced apple ale and the buttermilk, mixing just until combined. | |
 Add the flour mixture, and continue to mix just until dough comes together. It was very sticky. | |
 Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and generously coat with flour. Turn the dough out onto one of the baking sheets, and press down with your hands until it is about 1/2 inch thick. Use more flour is dough is still wet. Place the dough and baking sheet in the freezer for 20 minutes until slightly hardened. | |
 Remove from freezer, and cut out 3 inch circles with 1 inch holes in the center. | |
 Place the cut doughnuts and doughnut holes onto the second baking pan. Re-roll dough scraps and cut out remaining circles. Refrigerate the doughnuts for 20 to 30 minutes. | |
 Heat 2 to 3 inches of oil in a large deep-sided pan until a candy thermometer reaches 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with several layers of paper towels and set aside. | |
 Gently drop a few doughnuts at a time into the hot oil. Do not overcrowd the pan. Fry until golden brown, turn over and fry the other side. | |
 Remove doughnuts from oil and drain on paper towels for one minute. | |
 Dip the warm doughnuts into the glaze or cinnamon sugar. | |
This recipe will be partying at these link parties, and was featured here!
Oh goodness. I am not usually a donut fan but these are tempting. I hope you’ll let us know if you try a pumpkin version.
What a great idea! These look really yummy. It’s fun seeing what everyone is coming up with!
Oooooh! These sound delish! LOVE the idea! Now I know what to do with my leftover apple beer. I’m not a beer drinker either so I have 5 bottles of the Apple Shock Top left! 🙂
Girl. I hope you know how much i love these!!! Redd’s is DELICIOUS!!! Also– we are visiting a hard cider mill tomorrow and I am totally trying out this recipe. The cure construction worker was likely my other half — giving sage beer advice… sounds about right. Thanks Lisa for giving us such an awesome fall recipe!!
This is such an amazing and delicious idea, Lisa! I LOVE these, and am so wishing I could have 1 or 2 of these for breakfast tomorrow. Think you could FedEx them overnight? I take bribes… 😉 lol!
Good luck in the Spiked! Fall Beers Recipe Challenge! 🙂
I love this recipe and I love your step by step tutorial with the pictures! Awesome!!
These doughnuts simply look HEAVENLY !!!
Lisa these look SO yummy!! Right up my ally – I want one now! Pinned and sharing tomorrow on FB/Twitter!! xoxo
OMG, seriously…WOW!! Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday linky party!
Jenny
YUM! I love what you have come up with, Lisa! Apple Ale Donuts? I think Dunkin Donuts needs to have you start making these for their Fall donut collection! 🙂 Thanks so much for participating in the Spiked! Challenge!
I’m not much for beer, but doughnuts Oh YES! they look amazing
Yum!! I don’t drink alcohol, but apple cider donuts are one of favorite things. I am going to have to try these because they look delicious! PS – I just saw that you’re in Eastern Iowa. I went to law school at University of Iowa. I love that area!! =)
Congrautulations on winning the challenge! Yum! These look awesome! I have a deep fryer and I’m thinking a batch of these needs to be made SOON!
Happy Saturday! Cathy
looks amazing, wish i had one right now! thanks for sharing
Deanna from cookingtherecipe.com
Ooooh! My MIL and I were just talking last week about how hard it is to find a good apple cider donut recipe (they either fall apart or don’t have enough apple oomph). I’m gonna have to tell her about this one! They’ll be eaten within hours of being made, so no need to worry about disappearing flavor 😉
Wow, Lisa!!! These look so absolutely delicious and congratulations on the win!!! Oh my gosh, I would LOVE to have one of these!!! Can you bring some to the party Friday night? 😉 Great job, my friend!!! Pinning!
Where have these been all my life! I drink Redds all the time and never thought to bake with it – GENIUS! I am going to have to try and save a bottle the next time and try this! You rock!
Hi Lisa – thanks for linking these up to MM this week! Will be shared on FB and pinned! They look amazing!!
Hi Lisa,
Your donuts look delicious!
What a delicious recipe!! I love how different and unique it is. (The pictures turned out great by the way!)
Stopping by from the Tasty Tuesday Blog Hop! Love your blog!!!! Looking forward to following along.
This donut looks legit! I want a dozen 🙂
Oh these look SO incredibly delicious!!! I could definitely eat one (or a few!)
O my….must make this in the near future. Pinning.
Ellya
Great idea with the apple ale. Probably gave the donuts a richer flavor. Thanks so much for sharing these with us on foodie friday.
You have me officially craving doughnuts this morning! These look so good!!!
What a great recipe! My husband loves Redd’s apple apple so I am sure he would love these.
Oh my gosh, Lisa, these looks absolutely fabulous!
A craving for apple bread something just hit me this afternoon (after buying mangoes and pineapples…) …this looks so good!
Thank you so much Christine. 🙂
I’ve been wanting to buy a donut pan lately, and now I’m wishing I already had one! I know that fried donuts are way tastier, but I hate dealing with hot oil 🙂 These look amazing! Pinning.
Thanks for sharing at Saturday Dishes! Hope to see you back for the party again tonight!
Thank you Jamie, but this recipe will not work with a donut pan. These will need to be fried in order to cook properly. 😉
Oh do these doughnut look and sound amazing!!!! I have to give this recipe a try! Saying hello from freedom Fridays!
Cathy
What an irresistible treat for the weekend! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
Wow donuts and ale?!?!?!?! Best combo ever, thanks again for sharing!
I have never made donuts before, Lisa, but these look amazing! I have to see if I can find that apple ale! These look like the perfect fall treat!