Infused Apple Cider Donut Bites (A Baked Fall Favorite)

There is a two-week window every fall when apple cider donuts show up at every orchard stand and farmers market, and then they vanish until next year. These infused apple cider donut bites fix that. They are baked in a mini muffin tin instead of fried, rolled in cinnamon sugar while still warm, and portioned into 24 evenly sized pieces so the dosing is predictable rather than a guess.

The one step you should not skip is reducing the cider. It is the difference between a muffin that vaguely tastes like fall and one that actually tastes like apple.

Key takeaways

• Makes 24 mini bites at roughly 5 mg THC each, assuming cannabutter at about 5 mg per teaspoon.
• Baked, not fried, in a mini muffin tin — no thermometer or fryer needed.
• Reducing 1 cup of cider down to 1/3 cup is what gives these real apple flavor.
• Use plain, uninfused butter for the cinnamon-sugar coating so the dose stays even across every bite.
• Start with one bite, then wait a full 90 minutes before deciding whether to have another.

Ingredients

For the bites

• 1 cup apple cider (to be reduced to 1/3 cup)
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup cannabutter, melted and cooled slightly
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1/3 cup buttermilk (or 1/3 cup milk plus 1 tsp vinegar, rested 5 minutes)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the cinnamon-sugar coating

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 3 tbsp regular unsalted butter, melted — not infused

Instructions

1. Reduce the cider. Simmer 1 cup of apple cider in a small saucepan over medium heat for 8 to 12 minutes, until it has cooked down to about 1/3 cup and looks syrupy. Set it aside to cool to room temperature.
2. Heat the oven. Preheat to 350°F and grease a 24-cup mini muffin tin thoroughly, including the top surface.
3. Whisk the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
4. Combine the wet ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk the melted cannabutter with both sugars until smooth. Add the egg, buttermilk, vanilla, and the cooled reduced cider, and whisk until fully blended. Make sure the cannabutter is warm and liquid, not solidified, so it distributes evenly.
5. Bring it together. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and fold with a spatula until just combined. A few streaks of flour are fine — overmixing makes the bites tough.
6. Portion carefully. Divide the batter evenly among all 24 cups, about 1 tablespoon each. This is the step that determines whether your dosing is consistent, so take an extra minute to even them out.
7. Bake. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the tops spring back.
8. Coat. Let the bites cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then turn them out. Stir the coating sugar and cinnamon together in a shallow bowl. Brush each bite lightly with the plain melted butter, then roll it in the cinnamon sugar. Serve slightly warm.

Dosing and safety

This recipe uses 1/2 cup of cannabutter, which is 24 teaspoons. If your cannabutter tests at roughly 5 mg of THC per teaspoon, the full batch carries about 120 mg spread across 24 bites — approximately 5 mg per bite. Homemade infusions vary a great deal in potency, so run the numbers on your own butter rather than relying on this estimate.

A few things worth keeping in mind:

• Start low and go slow. Have one bite, then wait a full 90 minutes before considering another. Edibles typically take 30 to 90 minutes to take effect, and the most common mistake is eating more during that window.
• Label everything. These look exactly like ordinary donut holes. Store them in a clearly marked, sealed container, well out of reach of children and pets.
• Coat with plain butter. Using uninfused butter for the cinnamon-sugar step keeps the dose in the batter, where you can actually control it.
• Know your local laws. Rules on home infusion and possession differ by state and locality. This is a food recipe for adults 21 and over, not medical guidance.

Frequently asked questions

How strong is one infused apple cider donut bite?

This recipe divides about 120 mg of THC across 24 bites, so each one lands near 5 mg — but that depends entirely on the potency of your cannabutter. Always calculate from your own butter’s tested strength, and treat any homemade estimate as approximate.

Can I use canna-oil or coconut oil instead of cannabutter?

Yes. Swap in the same volume of infused coconut oil or a neutral infused oil. The crumb will be slightly less rich, and the flavor a little more neutral, but the bake time and method stay the same.

Why do I have to reduce the apple cider first?

Straight cider is mostly water, so it thins the batter without adding much flavor. Simmering a cup down to about a third of a cup concentrates the apple flavor so it actually comes through after baking.

How should I store them?

Keep them in a sealed, clearly labeled container away from anything kids or pets can reach. They are best within two days at room temperature, or freeze them for up to two months and refresh in a warm oven.

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