15 Ways to Use Apple Cider, From Glazing Meat to Infusing Desserts

Who can resist picking up fresh apple cider at farms and cider houses, farmers markets, or grocery stores throughout the season? Fortunately, we have far more to justify your next jug than sipping. Boost the dressing flavor for your next fall salad. Glaze or braise a centerpiece protein. Or enjoy a weekend baking project with recipes for cider-infused cake, pie, and doughnuts. Here are some of our favorite sweet, tart, and tangy ways to cook with apple cider this autumn — apple cider cocktail pairings optional.

Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts

Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Use fresh apple cider to flavor your homemade doughnut and mix cinnamon and sugar for coating in this one-hour recipe for the requisite fall treat.

Apple Cider-Glazed Chicken

Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Christine Keely

Upgrade a weeknight chicken dinner this season by combining chicken jus and apple cider for the pan sauce and serving an apple-kohlrabi slaw on the side.

Apple Cider Glazed Ham

Photo by Greg DuPree / Prop Styling by Missie Crawford / Food Styling by Ali Ramee

Make an irresistible apple cider glaze with light brown sugar, honey, and Dijon mustard to brush onto this bone-in spiral-cut ham as it bakes for a sticky, caramelized crust.

Apple Fritters

Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Fold cooked Honeycrisp apple pieces into the batter before frying these sweet and crisp doughnuts, then flavor the glaze with apple cider vinegar for a tangy kick.

Cider-Braised Apples, Bacon, and Garlic

Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Christine Keely

Blend apple cider and chicken stock to turn this braising liquid into a sauce that’s infused with alliums and fresh sage. Serve it over the tender apples and crispy bacon lardons for autumnal side that steals the show.

Rack of Pork with Cider-Pepper Glaze

Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

The full trio of apple cider, a Granny Smith apple, and apple cider vinegar packs a glaze with apple flavor for chef Patrick Clark’s centerpiece-worthy succulent roast rack of pork.

Apple Flambé Pie

Photo: Victor Protasio / Food Stylist Torie Cox /Prop Stylist Claire Spollen

The filling for this dessert stunner combines fresh, cooked, and dried apples with apple cider, toasted fennel seeds, and fragrant orange zest. It’s finished with flaming apple brandy for peak fall flavor.

Reverse-Seared Pork Chops with Apple Cider Pan Sauce

Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Barrett Washburne

Apple cider, apple cider vinegar, and a Granny Smith apple come together with baking spices in this pan sauce for slow roasted and quickly seared pork chops that are on the table in an hour.

Soft Apple-Cider Caramels

Harness the flavor of candy apples in candy form, thanks to tart apple cider, buttery caramel, and fall spices.

Apple Cider Cake

Abby Hocking / Food & Wine

Apple cider flavors the Granny Smith apple cake and the glaze in this crowd-pleasing dessert that can be made ahead.

Apple Cider-Braised Duck Legs

Andrew Zimmern balances the sweetness of apple cider and honey with the acid of salt and vinegar in these tender braised duck legs served with carrots, mushrooms, and pearl onions.

Apple Cider Cream Pie

Allison Kave and Jay Horton combine cream pie and apple pie in this recipe that featured local apple cider, won a bake-off, and inspired Fave to open her pie business, First Prize Pies, in Brooklyn.

Mustard Greens with Apple Cider-Dijon Dressing

Dress hearty greens, Granny Smith apple slices, and dill with a mixture of apple cider vinegar, canola oil, stone-ground mustard, and lemon juice for a simple fall salad that sings.