It's the first day of fall! My absolute favorite season of the year has started. In celebration of this, I think it's time for all things baked and spiced! For the handful of years I lived in NYC, one of my absolute favorite things to do was to go apple picking. Sure, the picking of apples was fun, but the best part was enjoying fresh apple cider donuts. They're truly one of life's simple pleasures. These apple cider donut muffins are an ode to (one of) my favorite fall treats.
These cute little muffins have a light and fluffy inside, with a crunchy sweet and spicy outside. With all the traditional flavors and textures of their namesake, they are made for fall snacking and breakfast eating. Honestly, these apple cider filled muffins are so good, you'll find yourself popping them into your mouth all day long!
In a few words, these apple cider donut muffins are:
- Sweet
- Soft
- Light and fluffy and a crunchy sugar coating.
- Filled with apple flavor and are perfectly spiced.
- The best little muffins for all your fall breakfast, brunch and snacking needs!
Want more baked treats that are perfect for fall mornings? Check out my Banana Mini Muffins, Mini Blueberry Muffins, Cinnamon Streusel Muffins, Cinnamon Sugar Donuts and Maple Donuts.
What ingredients do I need to make these muffins?
- Apple cider or unfiltered apple juice
- NOT apple cider vinegar!
- if you can't find apple cider, use unfiltered apple juice
- All purpose flour
- Cake flour
- See the recipe notes for an easy DIY version.
- Chai spice, pumpkin spice or ground cinnamon
- Salt
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Sour cream or greek yogurt
- Vanilla extract
- Unsalted butter
- Eggs
- Granulated sugar
Do I need any special baking tools to make these mini muffins?
These cider filled mini muffins use basic kitchen tools:
- 24 ct. mini muffin pan
- This recipe makes about 36 mini muffins so you can use two pans or make them in two batches.
- (1) 12ct. muffin pan also works well for this recipe. Baking times will need to be adjusted accordingly.
- A small or medium sauce pan to make the reduced apple cider or apple juice. various sized bowls
- Large for mixing the batter
- Medium for mixing the dry ingredients
- Two small bowls for mixing the apple cider/sour cream and the spiced sugar coating
- A whisk, spoon, silicone spatula for mixing the batter.
- A small or medium cookie scoop
- Use a small tablespoon sized one for mini muffins.
- A medium (2) tablespoon sized one works well for regular sized muffins.
- Food scale as this is the most accurate way to make this recipe.
- I use one for all my recipe development. Plus, it means less dishes to clean up!
How can I make these "bakery style"
In order to get those gorgeous dome tops you'll need to do the following:
- Decide to make these as regular muffins.
- Rest the batter for 1 hour at room temperature or in the fridge overnight
- If the batter rests in the fridge overnight, bring to room temperature for 15-20 minutes before baking.
- Alternate muffin wells 1 full, 1 empty for 6 total muffins in a 12 count muffin pan.
- Fill each muffin well to right below the top.
- Bake at 400 F (204C) for 10 minutes. THEN REDUCE the oven temperature to 350 F (177C) for the remaining time. For regular muffins, this will be 18-22 minutes.
- Cool the muffins in the pan for 5-10 minutes or until they can be removed easily.
- Roll them in the cinnamon sugar as written in the recipe.
Tips and tricks for the perfect apple cider donut muffins:
- Read through the recipe before starting.
- For the MOST apple cider flavor, you have to reduce it! Reducing the cider gives a concentrated flavor without all the liquid.
- If you don't want to reduce it, use 1/2 cup (118ml) fresh apple cider.
- Use a “light hand” when folding the ingredients together.
- Look for the signs the muffins are done rather than stick strictly to the baking times.
- The sides will pull gently from the edges of the pan.
- The top will be golden brown, but not burned.
- A toothpick inserted into the center will come out with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool in the pan on a cooling rack for no more than 5-10 minutes for mini muffins or 10-15 minutes for regular sized muffins.
- It's HIGHLY recommended to roll the muffins in the spiced sugar to give them the classic flavor and texture of an apple cider donut.
- Keep the muffins stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days.
more apple recipes to try!
- Apple Cobbler from Cake Mix
- Maple Apple Loaf Cake
- Caramelized Apple Spice Cake
- Apple Cupcakes with Tahini Buttercream
- Apple Tahini Crisp (vegan)
- Caramelized Apple Mini Dutch Baby Pancakes
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Make sure to tag me on instagram @olivesnthyme. For more delicious dessert ideas follow me on pinterest
apple cider donut muffins
these apple cider donut muffins are mini muffins filled with classic flavors of an apple cider donut. soft and fluffy on the inside, with a crunchy cinnamon sugar coating on the outside for even more fall flavor and texture.
Equipment
- mini muffin or regular muffin pan
- non stick spray
- small or medium sauce pan
- large, medium and small mixing bowls
- whisk and spoon/spatula
- small cookie scoop/ melon ball scooper or small spoon
Ingredients
apple cider donut muffin
- 2 c (473ml) apple cider, reduced and cooled to Luke warm (not apple cider vinegar) see recipe notes
- 1 c (120g) all purpose flour
- 1 c (120g) cake flour
- 1-2 tsp chai spice, pumpkin spice or ground cinnamon see recipe notes
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 c (120g) sour cream or greek yogurt, room temperature
- 1 tsp (5ml) vanilla extract
- 1/2 c (113g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 c (200g) granulated sugar
- 2 (106-114g) large eggs, room temperature
spiced sugar
- 1/2 c (100g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp chai spice or pumpkin spice
Instructions
- Pour the apple cider in a small or medium sauce pan. Heat over medium heat to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook until the cider has reduced to about 1/2 c of concentrated apple cider. This takes about 30-35 minutes. Remove from the heat to cool until warm, but not hot to the touch. This takes about 15 minutes. It is recommended to make this about 1 hour (up to 1-2 days) before using in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven to 375 F (190 C). Lightly spray a 24 ct. muffin pan or 12ct. regular muffin pan with non stick spray. Set aside.
- Whisk the flours, spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt together until well combined.
- Once the reduced apple cider has cooled to warm, pour this into a bowl with the room temperature sour cream and vanilla. Stir until well combined. Set aside.
- Whisk the eggs and sugar together until pale yellow and frothy, about 2 minutes.
- Slowly whisk in the melted butter. Whisk the eggs, sugar and melted butter until well combined and emulsified.
- Alternate stirring in the dry ingredients with the apple cider/sour cream mixture into the wet in this order: dry, apple cider mixture, dry, apple cider mixture, dry. Stir until JUST combined with no flour streaks.
- Using a small cookie scoop (about the size of a melon ball scooper) or small spoon for mini muffins or medium cookie scoop for regular muffins, fill each muffin well of the prepared muffin pan about half way to the top.
- Bake the muffins in a 375F (190C) for:10-12 minutes for mini muffins18-22 minutes for regular muffinsThe edges will be set and golden brown. The tops of the muffins will dome, have slight cracks and a toothpick inserted in the center will yield a few moist crumbs.
- Cool the muffins in the pan for 5 minutes.
- Gently run a butter knife around the edges of the muffins to loosen them from the pan. Gently work each muffin out of the pan to cool on a cooling rack.
spiced sugar
- Mix the spice mix used in the muffin batter with the sugar until well combined. Taste and adjust the balance of spices as needed.
- Once the muffins have cooled until warm or room temperature, roll the muffins in the sugar mix until fully coated.
Notes
reduced apple cider: As noted in the recipe, this process takes about 1 hour from start to recipe ready. This can be made up to 2 days ahead of time. Store the reduced apple cider in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use in the recipe. bring to room temperature.
- Unfiltered apple juice can also work well in place of the apple cider
- if using unfiltered apple juice, it is suggested to use 2-3 tsp of a spice blend
- if using apple cider, this is already generously spiced, so 1-2 tsp is plenty
- 1/3 c ground cinnamon (32 g)
- 2 1/2 tbsp ground ginger (15 g)
- 2 1/2 tbsp ground ginger (15 g)
- 1 tsp ground allspice (4g)
- 2 tsp ground nutmeg (4g)
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamon (1g)
- mix all ingredients together in a small mixing bowl until well combined
- store in an airtight container such as spice jar or small glass mason jar
- 3 tbsp ground ginger (16g)
- 2 tbsp ground cinnamon (15g)
- 1 tbsp ground allspice (6g)
- 1 tbsp ground cardamon (6g)
- 1.5 tsp ground nutmeg (3.5g)
- 1.5 tsp ground cloves (3.5g)
- place all ingredients in a bowl. mix well to combine
- store in a spice jar or small mason jar
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I have some apple cider syrup in the fridge that I made. It has the consistency of honey. Can I use a 1/2 cup of this? Should I thin it out with a little water? Wondering how thick your reduced version gets and if my syrup might be a little too concentrated. Thanks!
Hi Giorgianna, the reduced apple cider is the consistency of a syrup. I think your apple cider syrup would work well as is. Please let me know how it turns out for you!
These turned out great, light and very yummy!!!
Hi Dana, I'm so happy to read that you loved the apple cider donut muffins! Thanks for making them!
im so excited to make these! can you make these ahead? how many days before?
Hi Joanna,
I would make these and cool them to room temperature. Then I would freeze them until you are ready to eat them. Defrost at room temperature, melt 1/2 cup (113 g) butter, quickly dip them in the butter and then roll in the spiced sugar. Hope this helps!
How are these turn out using a flower substitute such as coconut flour or almond flour?
I haven't tested this recipe with alternative flours. My best suggestion would be to use a Gluten free 1-1 substitute.
Do you dip them in butter or something before rolling in spiced sugar?
You definitely can! I would melt 1/2 cup butter, quickly dip the muffins and then roll in the spiced sugar.
Okay thanks, I just wasn't sure if they would stick to the muffin if not rolling in butter first.