Books & Bites Book Review: Cozy Up with The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn + Homemade Apple Cider Donuts

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Is it fall already? No. 🍂 But am I so ready for it? Absolutely yes. Valerie Bowman’s The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn was the perfect way to slip into that cozy autumn mood even though it’s still technically summer. This book gave me all the best vibes—think Hallmark movie meets Gilmore Girls… but sexier.

I am so excited about this post, not only because of the book I am reviewing, but also because it is the official kickoff of a series I ‘ve been dreaming about: Books & Bites. This series pairs books I love with recipes either inspired by the story or featured in it. And what better way to start than with the cozy apple orchard vibes of this book and a batch of warm, homemade apple cider donuts? This small town romance gave me all the feels and plenty of sweet moments. And let me tell you, pairing it with these donuts made the experience even more perfect. So, let’s start with the book.

Pub Date: September 9, 2025

Thank you: Huge thanks to Valerie Bowman, Harper Collins and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

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The Story

Ellie’s life has taken a bit of a nosedive—both personally and professionally—so she heads back to the comfort of her family’s cozy inn nestled in their scenic apple orchard, just in time to help with the annual Harvest Festival. She’s looking for a reset, a moment to catch her breath, and maybe figure out what the heck comes next. What she doesn’t see coming? Her little apartment on the inn property already has a tenant: Aiden—aka Mr. Abs. (And yes, the nickname is very well-earned. 😍) She keeps telling herself he’s the last kind of distraction she needs right now… especially since they’ll have to work side by side to pull off the festival their families are co-hosting. Their families go way back, sharing the same land for generations, with Ellie’s parents running the Honeycrisp Inn right at the heart of it all.

What I Loved. This book had everything I want in a cozy romance:

🍎 Small-town charm – The orchard, the Harvest Festival, the townsfolk—I wanted to move there.

🍎 Forced proximity – Sharing the same space? Yes, please.

🍎 Grumpy-sunshine dynamic – She’s the spark; he’s the slow burn. Perfect.

🍎 Apple orchard coziness – Every scene felt like a warm mug of cider on a chilly day.

Though this is a standalone story (for now 👀), it feels like the start of something bigger. There are a few secondary characters I need more of, and I’m crossing my fingers we’ll see future books set in this charming world because this book set things nicely for turning this into a series.

Final Thoughts. If you’re craving a feel-good romance with heart, humor, and a touch of spice, The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn deserves a spot on your TBR. It’s the kind of story you’ll want to curl up with, preferably with a cozy blanket and a slice of apple pie.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 cozy stars! Mark your calendars—The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn releases September 9, 2025.

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Now, on to the apple cider donuts (which are apparently magical in the book). One of my favorite things about this book is how it uses food to bring people together and capture the coziness of the season. The mention of apple cider donuts stuck with me—and since it’s been a while since I’ve made them (and the temperatures are finally starting to cool here in Minnesota), I figured it was the perfect time. Between this book and these donuts, I’m officially ready for sweater weather. Here’s the recipe I used!

Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Yield: 12 donuts

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

For the Donuts:

• 1 cup apple cider (reduced – see instructions)

• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• ½ tsp ground nutmeg

• ¼ tsp ground cloves (optional)

• ¼ tsp salt

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

• ½ cup light brown sugar, packed

• ¼ cup granulated sugar

• 1 large egg

• ½ cup buttermilk (or substitute: ½ cup milk + ½ tsp vinegar or lemon juice)

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Topping:

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

1. Reduce the Cider: In a small saucepan, simmer the apple cider over medium heat until it reduces to about ½ cup, about 10–15 minutes. Let it cool slightly. This intensifies the apple flavor.

2. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a standard donut pan.

3. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves (if using), salt

4. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, egg, buttermilk, vanilla extract, reduced apple cider.

5. Combine: Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until just combined. Don’t overmix.

6. Fill the Pan: Spoon the batter into a piping bag or zip-top bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe into the donut wells, filling each about ¾ full.

7. Bake: Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the tops spring back when lightly pressed and a toothpick comes out clean.

8. Cool Slightly: Let donuts cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

9. Add Topping: While warm, brush each donut lightly with melted butter, then toss in the cinnamon sugar mixture until well coated.

🍂 Tips & Variations:

• For extra apple flavor, stir in 2 tbsp applesauce to the batter.

• Don’t skip reducing the cider — it’s key to that rich, spiced apple flavor.

• No donut pan? Use a muffin tin — they’ll be “donut muffins” instead!

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