Travis dug into his latest Raddish Kids crate today, this month with a timely theme all about the harvest. The recipes are laden with harvest goodies, and this first one relies on apple cider. We were ready, with a recently-purchased pint of fresh cider from a local orchard! Travis was so excited when he saw all the ingredients. “This one needs lots of spices!” he declared

Ingredients:

For the donuts:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
• 3 tablespoons water
• 3 tablespoons melted Earth Balance butter
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup apple cider
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

For the topping:

• 4 tablespoons melted Earth Balance butter
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

1. To prepare the donuts, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon in a bowl; set aside.
2. In a second bowl, whisk together the flaxseed and water to make 1 flax egg. Add 3 tablespoons melted butter, the brown sugar, apple cider, and vanilla.
3. Divide the batter evenly among 6 donut molds and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 16 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, place the remaining butter in a small bowl. Combine the sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a second bowl.
5. Working with 1 donut at a time, invert the mold and gently pop out. Dip first in the butter, then in the cinnamon sugar, coating both sides. Repeat with the remaining donuts.

The family literally had to fight over these, everyone begging for more bites.

So next time we might need to make a double batch!

To finish up the delicious lesson, we read on the recipe card about how apples helped Newton discover gravity, plus more about all those fall spices.

For extra fun, turn it into a blindfolded test; set out spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cloves, and see if your child can guess by smell alone.