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.
August First Bakery ★ 4.6
downtown · 149 S Champlain St, Burlington, VT 05401
Phil Merrick and Jodi Whalen's downtown bakery in a renovated garage on South Champlain. Maple biscuits have taken home Best of Vermont multiple years;
Burlington Farmers Market vendors ★ 4.5
south-end · 345 Pine St, Burlington, VT 05401
The Saturday market in the South End brings 80-plus vendors including a rotating roster of prepared-food stalls. Empanadas, momos, breakfast tacos in summer.
Burlington Winter Farmers Market ★ 4.5
south-end · 180 Flynn Ave, Burlington, VT 05401
The winter market runs twice a month November-April at the Burlington Beer Company taproom on Flynn Avenue. Hot-house greens, root vegetables, cheese, meat,