Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray a donut pan with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and apple pie spice. Set aside.

In another medium bowl cream together the butter and sugar.

Add in the eggs and vanilla and mix well.

Stir in the apple cider and applesauce.

Add the butter and sugar mixture to the flour mixture and mix until combined.

Fold in the apples.

Place the donut batter in a zip top baggie or piping bag and cut off the tip.

Pipe into the donut pan.

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until donuts are baked through.

Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Meanwhile place the sugar, apple pie spice, and pecans in a food processor and process until crumbly.

Melt the butter in a shallow bowl.

Dip the top of the donuts into the butter and then press into the pecan sugar mixture.

Return the donuts to the wire cooling rack to let the excess sugar fall off.

Enjoy!