Apple Cider Donut Muffins
These Apple Cider Donut Muffins capture the essence of fall with a soft, tender muffin infused with reduced apple cider and coated in a cinnamon sugar crust, offering all the flavor of classic apple cider donuts without frying.
Equipment
- Muffin tin
- Saucepan
- - Mixing bowls
- - Whisk
- - Spatula
- oven
- Ice cream scoop
Ingredients
Muffin Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour spoon and leveled
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup unsweetened apple cider reduced to ¼ cup (60ml)
Topping
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted - for brushing muffins
- ½ cup granulated sugar for coating
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon for coating
Instructions
- Pour ¾ cup unsweetened apple cider into a small saucepan and simmer over medium heat until reduced to about ¼ cup. Cool completely.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners or grease and lightly flour the tin.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- In another bowl, combine melted butter and sugar. Whisk in the egg and vanilla extract, then add the cooled reduced apple cider.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Fold gently with a spatula until just combined, keeping some lumps.
- Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling about two-thirds full.
- Bake 18-22 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean and tops are golden brown.
- While muffins bake, melt butter for topping. Combine sugar and cinnamon in a shallow dish.
- Cool muffins in tin 5-10 minutes, then brush warm muffins with melted butter and roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat.
- Place muffins on wire rack to cool completely or serve warm.
Notes
For best flavor, don’t skip reducing the apple cider. Coat muffins while warm for the best cinnamon sugar adherence. Try variations like maple glaze, adding apple chunks, or vegan adaptations.