7 Spots Serving Apple Cider Donuts That Could Feel Perfectly Fall

Fall isn’t complete without the sweet, spiced taste of fresh apple cider donuts. These warm, sugar-dusted treats capture the essence of autumn with every bite.

I’ve rounded up ten amazing spots across the country where you can find these seasonal delights that pair perfectly with crisp air, colorful leaves, and all your favorite fall activities.

1. The Donut Hole Los Angeles, California

Driving through a giant donut might seem gimmicky, but The Donut Hole’s apple cider creations prove this LA landmark delivers substance along with style. Their secret weapon is a 50-year-old sourdough starter that gives their cider donuts a distinctive tangy undertone.

How do they achieve that perfect crumb? The bakers incorporate fresh apple pieces directly into the batter alongside the reduced cider, creating pockets of intense flavor. Each donut receives a generous coating of maple-cinnamon sugar while still hot from the fryer.

During fall weekends, lines of cars stretch down the block as Angelenos wait patiently to drive through the iconic donut-shaped building and pick up boxes of these seasonal treasures proof that even in sunny LA, fall cravings run deep.

2. Honey Pot Hill Orchards Hollis, Massachusetts

When Massachusetts locals debate the best cider donuts, Honey Pot Hill consistently tops the list. This working orchard has been perfecting their recipe since 1926, creating what many consider the platonic ideal of an apple cider donut.

The farm’s approach is refreshingly simple they press apples on-site daily, using the fresh cider while it still has that vibrant, just-pressed quality. I watched in awe as their vintage donut machine churned out perfectly uniform rings that get an immediate dunk in cinnamon sugar.

Did you know they make over 15,000 donuts on peak fall weekends? Nothing beats grabbing a warm half-dozen after apple picking, then finding a spot overlooking the orchard’s rolling hills to savor each bite while surrounded by New England’s spectacular foliage.

3. The Donut Experiment Colorado Springs, Colorado

Mountain air and apple cider donuts create an irresistible combination at The Donut Experiment. This innovative shop takes a made-to-order approach, frying each batch only after customers place their orders.

Their alpine twist on the classic involves incorporating local Colorado honey and a touch of pine-infused sugar that perfectly complements the apple notes. During fall, the shop’s large windows frame the changing aspens, creating a golden backdrop for their donut-making theater.

If you’re feeling adventurous, try their signature “Mountain Morning” – an apple cider donut topped with maple glaze and candied bacon that’s been cured with their house apple cider. The sweet-savory combination might sound unusual, but the flavor harmony perfectly captures Colorado’s rugged yet refined character in donut form.

4. Old Mill Apple Barn Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Tucked alongside a historic water-powered gristmill, Old Mill Apple Barn crafts cider donuts using techniques that haven’t changed in generations. The 200-year-old millstones still grind the flour used in their batter, creating a distinctive texture you won’t find elsewhere.

Though many places claim authenticity, watching them mix heritage apple varieties grown on surrounding hillsides into fresh-pressed cider right before your eyes proves their commitment to tradition. Each donut gets fried in small batches, then rolled in a sugar mixture containing the mill’s stone-ground cinnamon.

Enjoying these treats on the covered bridge spanning the mill stream, with the water wheel turning steadily nearby, creates a sensory experience that feels like stepping into a living postcard of autumn in the Smokies complete with the perfect handheld souvenir.

5. Applecrest Farm Orchards Hampton Falls, New Hampshire

America’s oldest continuously operated apple orchard brings centuries of expertise to their legendary cider donuts. Applecrest’s historic barn-turned-bakery produces these autumn treasures using a recipe that dates back to the 1920s.

Their method stands out through patient fermentation the batter rests overnight, developing deeper flavor compounds before frying. The resulting donuts have an almost sourdough-like complexity beneath their classic cinnamon-sugar coating.

My favorite discovery was their weekend “sunrise batch” if you arrive before 8am, you can watch the bakers pull the first donuts from the fryer as morning light streams through the barn’s original wavy glass windows. This early morning ritual, accompanied by the orchard’s own pressed-to-order hot cider, creates a quintessential New England fall experience that captures all the sensory magic of the season in one perfect moment.

6. Bob’s Donuts San Francisco, California

San Francisco’s beloved donut institution adds a seasonal twist to their already famous lineup each autumn. The family-owned shop has perfected their apple cider donuts through three generations of donut-making expertise.

What makes their version special is the locally-sourced apple cider reduced to a concentrated syrup that infuses every bite with authentic orchard flavor. I love watching them fry these beauties to golden perfection before rolling them in their signature cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Though the city rarely experiences typical fall weather, stepping inside Bob’s with its warm, spice-scented air instantly transports you to a cozy autumn day regardless of San Francisco’s famous fog outside.

7. Blue Star Donuts Portland, Oregon

Portland’s artisanal donut scene reaches its peak when Blue Star unveils their seasonal apple cider creation. Using a brioche-based dough gives these donuts an extraordinarily light, pillowy texture unlike traditional cake-style cider donuts.

The kitchen team reduces Hood River Valley apple cider for hours, creating an intensely flavored base. Each donut gets dipped in a brown butter glaze that forms a delicate shell, then finished with a dusting of cardamom sugar an unexpected but brilliant complement to the apple flavors.

If you’re lucky enough to visit on a rainy Portland morning, grabbing one of these still-warm treats along with their house-made drinking chocolate creates the ultimate fall comfort experience.