The Underground Donut Tour, which has helped to promote America’s greatest donuts and donut shops through its city tours for almost a decade, is looking to place the spotlight on a popular fall flavor as we head into the new season: apple cider.

With that in mind, the individuals behind the Underground Donut Tour have started a new holiday this year called National Cider Donut Day, which will take place on Thursday, October 10. They wanted to form a holiday to celebrate one of the season’s best treats and have created a website to help center the effort around.

Donut shops and bakeries around the country are encouraged to highlight their cider donuts and other seasonal harvest flavors (apple fritters, pumpkin spice, etc.) on that date.

According to the National Cider Donut Day website, apple cider donuts are rooted in New England’s fall traditions. They can be traced back to the early 19th century when apple cider became a popular beverage among settlers. As apples were abundant, families sought innovative ways to utilize cider beyond just drinking it. Donuts quickly gained recognition in local orchards and farm stands as a tasty way to celebrate the apple harvest, especially at cider mills where fresh cider was pressed.

Since that time, apple cider donuts have become a staple at autumn festivals and farmers markets, becoming synonymous with the crisp air and colorful foliage of fall. They are often spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, offering a warm, spiced flavor that perfectly complements the natural sweetness of apples.

Last year, the Underground Donut Tour mixed up the donut flavors on its tours to highlight the fall flavors its partners had to offer. Some of its featured partners and their seasonal flavors included:

Boston

  • Kane's Donuts: Maple Glazed, Apple Cider, and Caramel Apple Crunch
  • Red Apple Farms: Classic Apple Cider

Brooklyn

  • Doughnut Plant: Apple Compote Crumble
  • Peter Pan Donuts: Apple Fritter, Maple Cake, and Pumpkin Cake

Brighton

Urban Legend: Apple Crumble

Chicago

  • Firecakes: Apple Fritters and Apple Cider
  • Stans Donuts:  Full Size and Mini Apple Cider and Pumpkin Old Fashioned

Cork

  • Offbeat Donuts: S'mores Donuts
  • Golden Bites: Nutella Churros

Dublin

  • Rolling Donut: Apple Crumble and S'mores Donut
  • Sweet Churro: Cinnamon Sugar Churros

London

Crosstown: Rum & Pecan Caramel, Pumpkin and Dulce de Leche

Nashville

  • Parlor Doughnuts: Salted Caramel, Apple Pie and Pumpkin Chai Cheesecake
  • Rise Biscuits & Donuts: Pumpkin Spice Biscuit Beignets

New York

  • Doughnut Project: Pumpkin Cake with Chocolate Chips
  • Dough Doughnuts: Apple Almond Streusel

Portland

  • Voodoo Doughnut: Apple Cider Donut
  • Blue Star Donuts: Pumpkin Spice Pecan Old Fashioned

Philadelphia

  • Dotties: Apple Fritters
  • Federal Donuts: Pumpkin Roll

Santa Monica

  • Duck Donuts: Caramel Apple Pie
  • Sidecar Doughnuts: Saigon Cinnamon Crumb

Seattle

  • Top Pot Doughnuts: Glazed Pumpkin Old Fashioned
  • Dahlia Bakery: London Fog and Peach Cobbler

Toronto

  • Bloomers: Triple Berries Maple Fritter
  • Pancho's Bakery: Cinnamon Sugar Churro

Vancouver

  • Breka Bakery: Pumpkin Pie Donuts
  • Cartems Donuts: Apple Pie Stuffy

Victoria

  • Empire Donuts: Spiced Apple Chai
  • Frickin' Delights Donuts: Apple Cider and Pumpkin Pie