Apple-y Garden Party October 30th

Sometimes we might write the words ‘coffee’ and ‘sourdough’ and you mostly have seen what that meant to us… but sometimes we write the word ‘donuts’ and that only happens once a year, and this year it’s happening this Saturday, October 30th. Together with Night Heron Bread we’ve got an apple-themed garden party in the works, 10-noon at the usual spot (312 Santa Clara, Alameda). For our part, along with the usual coffee and such, we’ll have hot mulled cider and apple cider donuts for sale, just like they do all over the midwest and the northeast of the USA this time of year.

What’s with apple cider donuts?

I grew up in an apple town in Sonoma County, with an apple blossom festival and then a harvest festival in mid-August, so I was already kind of into apples... But when I moved to the East Coast, apple cider donuts were a huge revelation. In the Fall, apple cider donuts are everywhere on the East Coast, New England, Upper Midwest... I was in college in New York City and on my way to school as I passed through the Union Square farmers market I'd grab a hot cup of cider and a bag of donuts and munch while I hurried to class. I really miss this! So, every year I am compelled to start up the fryer and try to a) satisfy the cravings of East Coasters & Midwesterners and b) ignite the fervor for the West Coasters. Come get them while they are hot (or maybe just nice and warm). :D

There’s nothing too fancy about these donuts, they are meant to mimic the best kind of roadside apple cider stands in say, Vermont or New York. They’re supposed to be the kind that a grandmothery person would have tucked into your hand along with an admonition to pull your scarf a little more tightly around your neck. That is to say, they are comforting, and comfortable, and will bring comfort in a way that only donuts can.

These are made with baking powder, baking soda, no yeast, nothing fancy except that the apple syrup is from Philo Apple Farm and the cinnamon is from Oaktown Spice Shop. We do also use really nice buttermilk. Maybe the sneakiest part is that these donuts are fried in coconut oil, so beware of that if you have any allergies to coconut. We’ll post the ingredients for ye at the garden party but if you can’t make it, you can make them yourself using the same recipe we do. I found in in New England Today magazine after trying several others which were nowhere near as good, or as delightfully simple.