Sweet cherries are ripe early this year at Spring Valley Orchard! Now is the perfect time to come enjoy delicious pick-your-own cherries, or just savor the good weather out here in Afton with refreshing cherry slushies and apple cider donuts.
Kicking off the season on Thursday, May 23, 2024, Spring Valley Orchard will be open from 10 AM to 6 PM every weekday and from 9 AM to 5 PM on the weekends. Come quick though, cherry season won’t last long! The retail market and picnic area are free to visit with convenient onsite parking.
To enter the orchard and pick your own sweet cherries, you’ll need an Orchard Pass for any visitors 2 or older. Orchard Passes are $5/person, and available for purchase online or onsite while availability lasts.
Before picking, you’ll pre-pay based on container size (minimum one container for every two people):
“Some of the most gorgeous, sweetest cherries you’ll ever eat… I’ve been two years now & I plan to go every spring to pick cherries for as long as I possibly can! Everyone has been friendly, it’s absolutely beautiful up there, a lovely drive! I’m really looking forward to cherry season 2024!”
Posted by :Ivy Group Developer On : September 27, 2023
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If you asked our visitors to pick our most delicious offering, our apple cider donuts would surely be near the top of every list. With a dusting of cinnamon and sugar on the outside and that soft, chewy interior, it’s easy to see why they’re a fan favorite. If you’re looking for more ways to enjoy this treat, try a unique recipe that uses cider donuts or find a pairing that brings out the best of its flavor.
Though our homemade cider donuts are easy to freeze and enjoy later, a creative dessert can be a crafty and delicious solution to leftovers. From savory to extra sweet, our apple cider donuts can be transformed to fit a party of one or to feed a crowd.
Apple Cider Donut Ice Cream Sandwich
Transform your apple cider donut with just a slice down the middle and a scoop of ice cream.
Cider donuts classically pair with a good scoop of our Country Store & Bakery’s soft-serve vanilla ice cream, but if you’re enjoying your treat at home, you might want to try another flavor. Caramel, cranberry, or chocolate ice cream sandwiched by a cider donut create a flavor combination you’ll have to have a bite of.
Apple Cider Donut Cake Pops
This recipe that uses apple cider donuts is fun to make with the whole family, and they can turn just a few cider donuts into a treat to share with a crowd.
Crumble apple cider donuts into a bowl.
Fold donut crumbles and white chocolate ganache into a batter.
Chill mixture until firm.
Scoop out and form into even-sized balls.
Roll donut balls in cinnamon sugar.
Add a toothpick or bamboo skewer for a cake-pop look, or serve them without the stick as donut holes!
Chiles Peach Orchard’s donut sundae is a can’t-miss variation on the classics. Dip your donut or mix it in to make that perfect bite of apple cider donut and soft serve for this incredible duo. It’s quick, easy, and so, so good.
If you’re making one at home, just put together some ice cream, whipped cream, and a cider donut. Don’t forget the seasonal fresh fruit from the orchards on top!
Waffled Cider Donuts
Another easy and delicious option to spice up your apple cider donuts is to throw them under a waffle iron. With its crispy edges and easy excuse for more maple syrup, this recipe can be enjoyed in the morning or as a special snack!
One of the simplest and most satisfying ways to enjoy one of our apple cider donuts is to pair it with its flavorful companion, apple cider.
Take a trip up the mountain to dunk your cider donuts in a hot cup of Carter Mountain Orchard’s apple cider in the colder months, or have it on the side of one of our cider slushies in the warmer months.
Cider Donut Bread Pudding
An inviting bowl of bread pudding is sometimes all you need to turn a good day into a great one. This warm, gooey recipe that uses apple cider donuts is packed with an amazing apple cinnamon flavor.
Maybe you’re looking for a simpler way to shake things up?
Nothing pairs better with our apple cider donuts than a nice, creamy slathering of our Chiles Family Orchards apple butter. If you’re looking to branch out into more fall flavors, try our rich and scrumptious pumpkin butter.
A good tip for this dessert is to heat up your apple butter and toast your donut.
Apple Cider Donut Panini
If it’s time for lunch, you’re in luck! An especially creative recipe that uses cider donuts is this cider donut panini. Your friends will thank you on your next lunch date for introducing them to this savory and sweet combination.
Cut your apple cider donut in half.
Spread ricotta cheese, a drizzle of honey, and some cinnamon onto one side.
Line the other donut half with a few apple slices.
Cook apple cider donut sandwich in a panini press until golden brown.
The Classic
Last but certainly not least, we can’t forget that our apple cider donuts are delicious all on their own. We make our cider donuts fresh daily for visitors to enjoy. One bite and you’ll immediately know what all the fuss is about.
This must-try treat is sure to be a highlight of your visit to Carter Mountain Orchard, Chiles Peach Orchard, or the Charlottesville City Market.
After trying these cider donut recipes at home, make sure to tag our Instagram page (@cartermountain) to show off your tasty treats.
Planning a trip to Charlottesville? You’ve probably heard by now that C’ville packs a serious punch when it comes to dining options. From fine dining to cheap eats, the town rivals cities twice its size in the culinary arena.
With world-class restaurants come mouth-watering signature dishes that represent the best of the town. Here’s some of the best food in Charlottesville: iconic fare that you can’t miss while visiting.
Bagels from Bodo’s
Ask anyone from Charlottesville about the best places for a quick bite, and they are sure to mention Bodo’s. Their bagels are a veritable Charlottesville institution and “the number one thing people miss when they move away from Charlottesville” (Real Estate Weekly). This locally-owned bastion of deliciousness has 3 locations with New York-style bagels baked fresh all day, packed with quality meats, veggies, and spreads.
Photo courtesy of skinnypignyc on Instagram
Ham Biscuit from JM Stock
Provisions
Named the “signature dish of Charlottesville“, the ham biscuit is a staple southern fixin’ that can be dressed up or down for any occasion. J.M. Stock Provisions, a local, whole-animal butcher shop has one of the best in town, if you ask us. Just look at that perfectly flaky biscuit and heaping hammy helping.
Photo Courtesy of ilovecville on Instagram
Peach Ice Cream from Chaps
Chaps serves premium quality ice cream in a delightful 50s-diner atmosphere, right on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall. Our flavor of choice? Peach! Using fresh Chiles peaches, the ice cream is a special treat, available only for a limited time during the summer.
Photo courtesy of April H. from Yelp
Sandwich with House Dressing from Take It Away
A University of Virginia tradition since 1992, Take It Away serves house-made sandwiches with high-quality ingredients. Their legendary house dressing, made with a secret proprietary recipe, is the perfect spread for any sandwich. Choose your own bread, protein, and embellishments, then layer on the house dressing for added creaminess and that signature flavor.
Photo Courtesy of takeitawayuva on Instagram
Bronut from Marie Bette
The Brioche Feuilletée, commonly dubbed the Bronut, is a lavish creation by Marie Bette Café and Bakery. Layers of perfectly flaky brioche, butter, sprinkled sugar, and fillings like hazelnut-praline or orange-vanilla form this delectable bakery treat. The Bronut is a can’t-miss C’ville staple and example of European inspiration that adds to our city’s cultural charm.
Photo courtesy of Casey S. from Yelp
Roasted Chicken from Al Carbon
Do you ever get the urge to devour a whole roasted chicken? You don’t have to lie, we’ve been there too. Luckily, Al Carbon is an easy stop off 29 North, especially convenient on the way back to Washington, DC. There you’ll find delicious whole chickens cooked over coals in ovens imported from Peru. The chicken can be enjoyed family-style with sides, or in a giant cemita (Mexican sesame seed bun) piled high with avocado, adobo chipotle peppers, and fresh Oaxacan cheese.
Photo Courtesy of FoodPhotographer from Instagram
Farmer’s Market Tacos
The Farmer’s Market Tacos, aka Maria and Ignacia Mexican Tacos, are a bit more elusive than some of the other dishes on this list. They are served at the Saturday morning IX Art Park Farmer’s Market and at other pop-up locations. C’villians rave about their freshness and authenticity. You’ll want to keep coming back to try all the varieties—chicken, steak, veggie, beef, chorizo, and al pastor.
Photo Courtesy of Mexican Tacos Facebook
Kimchi from Sussex Farm
Sussex Farm, also known as The Mama Bird Traditional Korean Cuisine, sells the best kimchi and other Korean staples around. Named Charlottesville’s 2020 Best Food Truck, you can catch them at the IX Art Park Farmer’s Market. Don’t forget to take home some of their beyond free range eggs and homemade BBQ sauces!
Brown’s Fried Chicken
Are we really including fried chicken from a roadside mini-mart among The Best Food in Charlottesville? Yes, yes we are. It’s that good. The regional food blog Roadeats describes Brown’s chicken as “drippy and juicy, fine and fatty, tingling with pepper and a shot of some subtle, sneaky spice that veritably glows on your tongue”. As an added bonus, it’s located along Avon Street heading south out of town, right on the way to Carter Mountain Orchard!
Photo Courtesy of Javier M. from Yelp
Chiles Family Orchards Cider Donuts
Folks from across the country rave about our apple cider donuts. Made fresh every day, they are melt-in-your-mouth amazing. In addition to the famous apple cider donuts, we also offer strawberry and peach cider varieties in season! Cider donuts are available at both Carter Mountain Orchard and Chiles Peach Orchard.
Carter Mountain has one of THE best apple cider donuts we ever had. With a taste of fall in each bite, we most definitely finished the box in a record time!
Ramanoodleseats, Instagram, 10/29/18
There you have it: ten must-eats, the best food in Charlottesville. It was nigh-impossible to narrow down this list—we could have chosen 100 dishes and there would still be some left out. Now if you’ll excuse us, we’re about to go chow down on some apple cider donuts. We worked up quite an appetite going through all of these.
Posted by :Ivy Group Developer On : March 25, 2021
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We’ve taken our famous apple cider donuts to the next level with this cider donut bread pudding. Easy to make and sinfully delicious, this recipe is perfect for satisfying the sweet tooth of any hungry crowd. Visit Carter Mountain Orchard for the apple cider donuts and apples you need to whip this recipe up at home.
Ingredients
For the bread pudding
12 Chiles Family Orchards apple cider donuts
2 apples (Granny Smith and Fuji work well)
4 eggs
1.5 cups whole milk
1.5 cups heavy cream
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp cinnamon
4 tsp butter, cut into cubes (for topping)
sugar (for topping)
For the glaze
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp milk
1 cup powdered sugar
Our doggy-decorated spatula, branded mason jar mug, and vintage-inspired tea towels make cute cooking accessories and are also available in our Country Store.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
1. Tear the cider donuts into bite-sized pieces.
If you’ve been looking for a way to use day-old donuts, this is it. Stale donuts soak up the wet ingredients better than fresh donuts, giving you a moist bread pudding.
When ripping up the donuts, aim for one-inch pieces.
2. Chop the apples into small pieces.
When baking with apples, choose a variety that will keep its structure. We recommend Granny Smith or Fuji for this recipe.
Peel and cut the apples into slightly smaller than bite-sized pieces.
Combine the donut and apple pieces in a large mixing bowl.
Read our apple profiles guide for flavors and recommended uses for different apple varieties.
3. Mix the wet ingredients.
Whisk together the heavy cream, milk, cinnamon, vanilla, and eggs.
4. Prepare and fill the baking dish.
Choose a baking dish that leaves about an inch of space at the top. We like the look of a large, deep round dish but a 13×9 inch pan with high walls would also work.
Spray the baking dish with cooking spray.
Fill the prepared dish with the chopped apples and donuts. Slowly pour in the wet ingredients. Allow this mixture to soak for about 20 minutes.
5. Top with butter and sugar.
Just when you thought this dish couldn’t get any more decadent, we bring butter and sugar to the party.
Cut the butter into small—about 1/4 inch works well—cubes and dots across the top. Then, evenly sprinkle over some cinnamon sugar.
6. Bake for 40-45 minutes.
In a 350 degree oven, bake the cider donut bread pudding until a tester comes out clean.
Baking time will vary by the size of your dish; for example, deeper containers may take longer to cook completely, so check your bread pudding often after the 35-minute mark.
7. Prepare the glaze.
This dish was never going to be healthy: embrace the indulgence by topping the bread pudding with a glaze.
While the bread pudding bakes, whisk up the glaze using vanilla, milk, and powdered sugar. Look for the perfect drizzling consistency: if the glaze looks a little thin, add more powdered sugar.
Try experimenting with different glaze flavors! Apple cider, maple syrup, and bourbon all make delicious additions.
8. Drizzle with glaze and serve.
Bread pudding is a dish best served warm. Top with the glaze, snap some pics for the Insta (tag us, we’re @cartermountain!), and enjoy with family and friends.
Craving this dish but don’t have time to bake? Our homemade apple cider donut bread pudding is available for sale in the Country Store.
