Vermont's defining autumn pastry: a cake-style donut made with fresh-pressed cider and warm spices, fried hot and rolled in cinnamon sugar at orchards and farmers markets September through November.

Apple cider donuts grew out of New England's apple-orchard tradition in the early 20th century, when farmers reduced cider into a concentrate to fold into donut dough. Modern Vermont cider donuts shifted to cake-style batter in the postwar period for speed; Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury (founded 1974) helped standardise the cinnamon-sugar coating and the on-site fry. In Burlington proper, the donuts appear at the Burlington Farmers Market through autumn, at Champlain Orchards stands, and at August First Bakery, which runs a Vermont-cider-and-maple version.

3 editor picks for Apple Cider Donut in Burlington, ranked by editorial score. All Burlington signature dishes · Apple Cider Donut across every city.

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