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Best Easy Apple Cider Donut Muffins with Cinnamon Sugar

apple cider donut muffins - featured image
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These apple cider donut muffins have a chewy, slightly dense crumb, a crackly cinnamon sugar crust, and the unmistakable tang of boiled-down cider. They are quick, easy, and taste like a trip to the apple orchard.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (240 ml) apple cider
  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) vegetable oil
  • ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) buttermilk, room temperature
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar (for coating)
  • 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon (for coating)
  • ¼ cup (56 g) unsalted butter, melted (for coating)

Instructions

  1. Reduce the apple cider: Pour 1 cup apple cider into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to medium-low and simmer for 12–15 minutes until reduced to about ¼ cup. Remove from heat and let cool.
  2. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners or grease the cups.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, oil, and sugar until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla; whisk until pale and thickened, about 1 minute. Stir in reduced cider and buttermilk.
  5. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Fold with a rubber spatula until just combined (a few lumps are fine). Do not overmix.
  6. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each about ¾ full.
  7. Bake for 15–18 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Cool in pan for 5 minutes.
  8. While muffins cool, melt ¼ cup butter in a small bowl. In a shallow bowl, mix ½ cup sugar with 1½ teaspoons cinnamon.
  9. Remove muffins from pan. Working one at a time, brush warm muffin with melted butter, then roll in cinnamon sugar until fully coated. Place on a cooling rack.

Notes

Do not skip reducing the apple cider—it concentrates flavor and removes excess water. Use room temperature ingredients for best results. Brush muffins with butter while still warm so the cinnamon sugar sticks. For extra crunch, double-coat the muffins.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://cookyep.com/best-easy-apple-cider-donut-muffins-with-cinnamon-sugar/