According to at least one record, an organization called the Doughnut Corporation of America created the “apple cider doughnuts” category in the 1950s as a seasonal marketing ploy. (Before you ask whether doughnuts really need help marketing themselves (no), there was a Doughnut Corporation of America and its story—and the rise, so to speak, of the iconic American doughnut—is actually a classic tale of immigration and the American Dream.)
Whatever their origin, apple cider doughnuts came into the American snacking consciousness in the mid- to late-20th century. And yes, the doughnuts are actually made with apple cider, which is mixed into a (typically) spiced, sweet buttermilk-based cake doughnut batter. They can be eaten straight out of the fryer, dusted with powdered or cinnamon sugar, even shipped across state lines in bulk. Truly, cider doughnuts are as much a fall tradition as searching for that impossibly perfect pumpkin or buying, and then never using, multiple jars of apple butter. To give you a head start on your seasonal snacking, we rounded up six places to get some of the best apple cider doughnuts in New Jersey.
Mood’s Farm Market
Mullica Hill
Moods Farm Market is located in Mullica Hill, not far from the recently reopened Blueplate restaurant, and William Heritage Winery. If you’ve never been there, it’s kind of hard to miss—the wide market building painted with a big black “Mood’s” sign gleams white and clean against those richer fall blue skies. (It’s a pretty spot, for any snack.) Not only does Mood’s do a solid apple cider doughnut (petite, golden brown, delicately sweet, some people say they’re the best they’ve ever eaten) but they even host annual doughnut eating contests (the next is September 28), where the person who finishes his or her cider doughnuts in the shortest amount of time wins a small cash prize and, you guessed it, a bag of cider doughnuts. 901 South Bridgeton Pike, Mullica Hill; 856-478-2500
Johnson’s Corner Farm
Medford
Johnson’s Corner Farm in Medford doesn’t play around when it comes to (at least) two things: creating the perfect quaintly charming backdrop for some rustic farmers market retail and making exquisite cider doughnuts. The doughnuts by themselves are just right—a nice golden-toffee-brown coated with sparkling granules of sugar (which do double duty sweetening your coffee with every dunk). But Johnson’s takes it even further into seasonal hedonism with cider doughnut ice cream sandwiches. It’s the perfect dessert to bridge summer and fall (meaning yes, you have to go try one). 133 Church Road, Medford; 609-654-8643
Hacklebarney Farms Cider Mill
Chester
Yes, they do delicious classic powdered cider doughnuts at this charming, classically barn-red, multi-generational family farm in Chester, but they also do slightly less expected fall treats like maple-glazed doughnuts each individually crowned with crumbled bacon and “Cider Dogs,” hot dogs slow simmered in their very own apple cider (because why not?). Another reason to visit, not only does Hacklebarney have a strong cider game, they actually give the occasional cider-pressing demonstration. 104 State Park Road, Chester; 908-879-6593
Abma’s Farm
Wyckoff
Abma’s Farm in Wyckoff is five generations deep—so it’s no shock they have their apple cider doughnuts perfected. Just a day ago, the farm posted this picture of fresh apple cider doughnuts, hazelnut-brown with a frosty coating of granulated sugar and specks of cinnamon. The farm market and bakery are located in a two century-old Dutch barn, and there’s even a petting zoo where things like this happen. Granted, it’s a popular destination, but you’ll get a ton done (pumpkins, weekly produce, local honey, one or two or six pies you didn’t necessarily “need”), and the reward for your patience is a seasonally spot-on backdrop for some focused “me time” cider doughnut consumption. 700 Lawlin’s Road, Wyckoff; 201-891-0278
Delicious Orchards
Colts Neck
It’s less of an outdoorsy country experience here and more of a sleek-and-expansive-farmers-market experience, but that doesn’t make this any less of a cider doughnut destination. Truly, Delicious Orchards calls its apple cider doughnuts “famous” for good reason—they’re soft, delicately sweet, but sturdy enough to endure a few eager dunks in some coffee or hot cider. There’s cider and ample seating inside and out, not to mention a market teeming with produce and product (you can easily rationalize your doughnut day as a weekend shopping trip with a slightly more autumnal grocery list). Bonus: you can take a tour of the bakery, and if you do it slowly enough, maybe you can get an idea how they make their doughnuts so damn, well, delicious. (In case that doesn’t work out, you can always buy the doughnuts online.) 320 Route 34, Colts Neck; 732-462-1989
Montclair Bread Co.
Montclair
If you can’t make a farm trip—or just have zero interest in buying doughnuts and decorative seasonal gourds—you can nix all the other autumnal stuff and head to Montclair Bread Co. Among their bevvy of beautiful golden brown baked goods, you’ll find stacks of authentic, expertly made apple cider doughnuts (they’re the ones towering in the foreground here). Festive fall ambiance is lacking and you won’t find anyone offering hay rides (if you do, politely decline), but the caliber of baking at Montclair is so high that you’ll have all your fall cravings met in the sweet, lightly apple-kissed, warmly golden fried doughnut. Buy extras, make friends. 113 Walnut Street, Montclair; 973-509-2525