Apple Cider Cinnamon Knots
Soft sweet Apple Cider Cinnamon Knots are perfect for fall parties!
I’ve been craving them for a several weeks… Apple Cider Cinnamon Knots, that is.
To be a bit more accurate, I physically ache for them morning, noon and night. I lay in bed at night and see floating golden knots of heavenly bliss, covered in sugar crystals… And they’re smiling at me.
This has been going on for days. It’s become a bit of an issue.
I’m seeking therapy.
One thing I’ve learned about food obsessions, is that a sure cure comes from developing a perfect recipe. That way, you know you can get your fix any time you want.
It removes the lure, you see.
I created this Apple Cider Cinnamon Knots recipe several years back after visiting an orchard and tasting apple cider donuts for the first time.
I hate to deep fry at home so true donut making was out of the question.
However, do you think I would I let a little thing like frying stop my desperate need for homemade apple cider donuts?
Of course not. There are always ways to get around frying!
This baked Apple Cider Cinnamon Knots recipe was created to cure my craving for donuts, yet it created a new ravenous craving of its own.
Ever since I first made them, I start obsessing over these little guys at the beginning of apple season and I can’t stop thinking about them until I get my fix.
They are ultra soft, apple-icious, bathed in butter, kissed with shimmering cinnamon sugar, and easy to make!
Apple Cider Cinnamon Knots might be my best invention yet.
Apple Cider Cinnamon Knots
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups apple cider, divided
- 1 package dry active yeast
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil + oil for kneading
- 4 cups bread flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 cup melted butter (1 stick)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
Instructions
- For the dough: Place ½ cup of warm apple cider in your electric mixing bowl. Add the yeast and allow it to swell for 5 minutes. It should look foamy. Then add 1 ¼ cups of room-temperature apple cider, plus the oil and salt.
- Place a bread hook attachment in an electric mixer. Mix on low, adding the flour a little at a time. “Knead” in the mixer for 3-5 minutes until well combined but tacky.
- Oil a large bowl. Place the dough in the bowl and turn it to cover in oil. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise for 2 hours.
- When to dough is more than double the original size, punch it down and place it on a floured work surface.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Divide the dough into two equal pieces, to make it easier to work with. Use your hands to turn the edges of the dough under to create a perfectly round, smooth mound.
- Roll the dough (from the middle out) into a 12-inch circles. Then using a pizza cutter (or sharp floured knife) cut the dough into strips ¾ X 4 inches long.
- Flour you hands and roll each strip into a 6-inch “snake.” Then cross the ends and tie the snake into a loose knot. Place it on a piece of parchment paper and repeat with the rest of the dough. The knots will expand, but not much. You can put them fairly close together.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large bowl. While the knots are still hot, toss them in the butter—coating each completely.
- Place the sugar and cinnamon in a brown paper bag. Using a slotted spoon, scoop the knots out of the butter and place them in the bag. Shake the knots until they covered in cinnamon sugar. Serve warm!
They look mouthwatering! I want 1. Or 10.
Good grief Sommer! These look mouthwatering! I can't believe I've lived in NC for 2 years and haven't had an apple cider doughnut yet. I definitely need to whip a batch of these up!
Wow…u baked these and coated these with cinnamon sugar!! If I would not have read the post , I would have thought that they are fried!really clever!!
Love anything apples…gotta try this one for sure!
Sommer,
I just made a batch up for dessert and the fam LOVED them! I am thinking it might be fun to try them using the Brioche recipe from Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day- a bit lighter/flakier but not too much.
Loving reading your blog and trying out some of your recipes!
Amy
Sommer…if it's not particularly that girl's time of the month…then, yes, I'd seek therapy.
Before, you do…send some knots my way…those look scrumptious ;o)
Flavourful wishes,
Claudia
Those do look addicting :)
Wow, never heard of apple cider donuts…and after seeing these…I don't even need to have tried them in order to crave them…they look so light and tasty…yummie!
Those sounds wonderful! What a great idea..and so glad you cured your yearning for those cider donuts.
I hate to fry as well – phobia of some sort that I need to get over. These look amazing and look FRIED :)
Cider is so wonderful. Those doughnuts look divine!
Cheers,
Rosa
Wow! You can tell something must be good if it's soaking through the paper bag!! These look amazing. Great invention.
OMG, you genius you, how awesome are these, I love this recipe…..great job recreating your craving….
sweetlife
These look fabulous. I can totally relate to the fear of deep-frying, which is what keeps me from trying all the awesome deep-fried food I keep seeing on other people's blogs. Plus, apple fritters and their ilk are like my kryptonite. I could eat them all day and still beg for more.
So how much do I love that this recipe is actually doable even for us non-frying types? Tons, that's how much. Yay! :)
Mmm Mmm Mmm!! I can almost smell them through the screen of my computer. They look SO good!
I loved your curry apple turnovers, and these are fantastic, too! If only I had one with my coffee right now!
Those look too delicious for words!!
I love the pictures and would give anything to have one of those yummy pastries jump out of the screen onto my plate. I never fry anything either and like your idea of baking them in the oven.
These look so scrumptious! I need to make them asap!