Apple cider doughnuts are a staple of fall in New England , but does this delicious seasonal treat have its duds?

Last year, we heard from apple cider doughnut expert Alex Schwartz on exactly what makes it the perfect treat. They shared that the fry can’t be too crispy, nor too spongey. The doughnut should be between airy and dense, and the sugar or glaze shouldn’t be excessive. Schwartz even created an exhaustive map of all the best New England cider doughnuts. (They don’t recommend boxed doughnuts from the grocery store. Not even Trader Joes!)

But even with all the requirements for a good cider doughnut, sometimes all it needs is a crisp fall day. That sugary, apple taste against a backdrop of New England’s colorful foliage is hard to get wrong.

In 2023, Boston.com readers s

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