Directions:
Before you begin the donuts, make the Cosmic Crisp® juice concentrate first. You will need it for both the donut dough and the glaze.
Special equipment: two 6-cavity donut pans
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray two 6-cavity donut pans with nonstick baking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon zest. Whisk for 30 seconds to distribute the leavening.
- In a liquid measure cup, combine the Cosmic Crisp® juice concentrate, buttermilk and vanilla.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar. Mix on medium-high until light and fluffy, 7-8 minutes. Scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well between each addition. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl.
- With the mixer on low, add the dry grated apple one-half of the flour mixture and then the Cosmic Crisp® juice mixture. While mixing add the remaining flour.
- Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and, using a large rubber spatula, fold the batter a few times to make sure the ingredients are well distributed.
- Transfer the batter to a piping bag or a large zip-close bag with a corner snipped off, and pipe into donut pan. Bake until the cake just springs back when gently touched, 12 to 114 minutes.
- Cool donuts in pan on rack for 5 minutes, then turn out onto the rack to cool completely.
- Dip the cooled donuts in the Cosmic Crisp® Glaze, allowing the excess glaze to drip off, then place back on rack.
- Sprinkle immediately with the coarse sanding sugar. Let dry completely.
- Loop the ribbons through the centers of the donuts and tie at the top into a simple bow. Hang on a table top tree to serve to guests.
Cosmic Crisp ® Juice Concentrate
Place the grated apples into the center of a large square of cheesecloth or a clean cotton kitchen towel. Over a large bowl, gather the fabric around the apple and squeeze to extract all the juice. Strain the juice to remove any stray pieces of apple; you should have about 1 cup of juice. Reserve 1/2 cup of the dry grated apple to incorporate into the donuts.
Pour the juice into a small saucepan and bring to a low boil over medium-high heat. Continue to simmer briskly until reduced to about ⅔ cup, about 15-20 minutes.
Cosmic Crisp® Glaze
Makes about ¾ cup
Place all the ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk until smooth.
Ingredients:
- Nonstick baking spray, for the pans
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- Zest of 1 lemon
- ⅓ cup Cosmic Crisp® juice concentrate (see below for method)
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup dry grated apple (from the juice concentrate)
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- Cosmic Crisp® Glaze, for dipping (recipe below)
- Sparkling sugar for decorating
12 12” long pieces of ⅜”-½” red satin or grosgrain ribbon
Cosmic Crisp® Juice Concentrate
Makes ⅔ cup
Ingredients
- 6 Cosmic Crisp® apples, grated
Cosmic Crisp® Glaze
Makes about ¾ cup
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar
- 1/3 cup Cosmic Crisp® Juice Concentrate
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon light corn syrup
Recipe by Gesine Bullock-Prado