Apple Cider Donut Muffins
These baked muffins (or donuts if you have a donut pan!) are a delicious treat that are full of all of your fall favorites: yummy apples, warm cinnamon, and a hint of nutmeg. Give them a try!
Equipment
- Stand mixer or hand-held mixer
- Muffin pan or donut pan
- Fine-mesh strainer
- Pastry brush
Ingredients
Muffins
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup apple juice or cider concentrate
- 6 tbsp butter, room temperature
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1¼ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Topping
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Using a stand mixer or hand-held mixer, cream together the softened butter, the granulated sugar, and the brown sugar until nice and fluffy. About 3-4 minutes.
- Mix in cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Beat in eggs one at a time.
- Mix in the apple cider/apple juice concentrate and the vanilla extract.
- In a small bowl, use a fork to whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder and then add to the bowl with the wet ingredients. If you have a fine-mesh strainer, use this to sift the flour mixture into the wet batter. This will help prevent clumps. Mix just until the batter comes together.
- Prepare a muffin tin or baked donut pan with baking spray or oil to prevent sticking. Divide the batter evenly amongst 12 muffins. If you are using a donut baking pan, the quantity may be more or less depending on the size of the donuts.
- Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes for a muffin tin, and about 12-15 minutes for a donut pan.
- Once the muffins are baked, remove them from the muffin tin and transfer to a wire rack. Using a pastry brush, coat the top of each muffin with melted butter, then dip the buttered top into your extra sugar to coat.
- Muffins can be served warm or cold. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Video
Notes
Apple sauce or apple butter also work really well in this recipe in place of the juice concentrate.