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Best Easy Cozy Baked Apple Cider Donut Muffins

baked apple cider donut muffins - featured image
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These tender, perfectly spiced muffins capture the warm, cidery flavor of classic apple cider donuts but are baked, not fried. They come together in one bowl and are ready in under 30 minutes, making them the perfect fall breakfast or snack.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (188g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (1 stick, 113g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • ½ cup (100g) packed light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • ½ cup (120ml) buttermilk, room temperature
  • ½ cup (120ml) apple cider, reduced to ¼ cup (60ml)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar (for coating)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for coating)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (for coating)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. Reduce ½ cup apple cider in a small saucepan over medium heat until it becomes ¼ cup, about 5-7 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt.
  3. In a separate larger bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until combined. Whisk in egg, buttermilk, reduced apple cider, and vanilla extract until smooth.
  4. Pour dry ingredients into wet ingredients. Fold gently with a rubber spatula until just combined; do not overmix. Batter will be thick and slightly lumpy.
  5. Divide batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups, filling nearly to the top.
  6. Bake on the center rack for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Let cool in the pan for exactly 2 minutes.
  7. While muffins cool, melt 3 tablespoons butter for coating in a small bowl. In another small bowl, mix ¼ cup granulated sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
  8. Transfer warm muffins to a cooling rack. Working one at a time, brush or dip the top of each muffin in melted butter, then immediately dip into the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat the top and sides. Let cool completely or enjoy warm.

Notes

Don’t skip reducing the apple cider; it concentrates the flavor. Room temperature ingredients ensure a tender crumb. The 2-minute pan rest is crucial for structure. For a gluten-free version, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum and let the batter rest for 15 minutes before baking. For a dairy-free version, substitute vegan butter and dairy-free buttermilk. Muffins can be frozen without coating for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple cider donut muffins, baked donut muffins, fall muffins, apple cider muffins, cinnamon sugar muffins, easy muffin recipe

Find it online: https://breezybake.com/best-easy-cozy-baked-apple-cider-donut-muffins/