These cake-type doughnuts are a traditional New England harvest treat — apple-y, tangy, and delicious. Our version is baked, not fried; but don't worry, you'll never miss the extra fat! The shiny cider glaze on top is both tasty and pretty.
To make the doughnuts: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Grease a standard doughnut pan.
Beat together the butter, oil, sugar, salt, and spices. Beat in the boiled cider and vanilla, then the egg. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl.
Whisk together the baking powder, baking soda, and flour. Stir the flour mixture into the wet ingredients alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with flour.
Spoon the batter into the pan, smoothing the tops.
Bake the doughnuts for 10 to 12 minutes, until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into one comes out clean.
Remove the doughnuts from the oven, wait 5 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.
To make the glaze: Place all the glaze ingredients into a saucepan.
Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the sugar is dissolved.
Bring the mixture to a boil, cover the pan, and boil for 3 minutes
Remove the cover and boil for a few more minutes, until the syrup reaches soft-ball stage, 240°F on a digital thermometer. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.
Carefully dip the doughnuts in the warm syrup; reheat the syrup if it's thickened too much. If you dunk them completely, place them on a piece of greased parchment or waxed paper, to set. If you dip just the tops, place them on a rack. There's enough syrup to dip each doughnut twice; the second dip yields a glossy finish. Note: any extra syrup will hold for up to a week, covered, in the refrigerator.
Top the doughnuts with chopped nuts while the glaze is still sticky, if desired.
Store any leftover doughnuts, loosely wrapped, at room temperature for a couple of days; freeze for longer storage.
Use 1 1/4 teaspoons Apple Pie Spice in place of the cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, if desired.
To substitute an opaque glaze for the shiny glaze given, mix together 1 1/2 cups (170g) confectioners' sugar, sifted; a pinch of salt; 3 tablespoons (57g) boiled cider, and 1 to 2 teaspoons milk, enough to make a thick, dippable glaze.
