Apple Brandy Doughnut Holes

Ingredients

• For the apple brandy doughnuts:
• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 1 apple, grated
• 2 tablespoons brandy
• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 quarts vegetable or peanut oil
• For the cinnamon sugar:
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Combine the apple cider, grated apple, and brandy in a small saucepan. Set it over medium-high heat and simmer until the mixture has cooked down to 3/4 of a cup, then set it aside to cool.
2. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon, then create a hollow in the middle. In another bowl, whisk the egg, sugar, butter, milk, and vanilla. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and stir until everything is evenly incorporated, then let the batter rest for 15 minutes.
3. Set an oven rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 200 degrees F. Warm the oil in a large wok, Dutch oven, or deep fryer until it reaches 350 degrees F. With 2 spoons, ease portions of batter into the hot oil and fry until the first side is browned, about 3 minutes. Flip the doughnuts and cook the second side until browned, about 2 minutes longer. Lift them out with a slotted spoon, move them to a paper towel-lined plate, then place them on a rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet and hold them in the oven. Continue with the rest of the batter until every doughnut is fried.
4. Stir the sugar and ground cinnamon together in a large bowl. Just before serving, toss the hot doughnuts in the cinnamon sugar and serve right away.