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Cozy Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cider Donut Muffins (Easy Recipe)

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These cinnamon sugar apple cider donut muffins combine the tender crumb of a muffin with the classic flavor of a cider donut. The secret is reducing the apple cider to concentrate its flavor, resulting in an intensely apple-y treat that’s quick and easy to make.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups apple cider
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup buttermilk, room temperature
  • ½ cup granulated sugar (for coating)
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (for coating)
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted (for coating)

Instructions

  1. Reduce the apple cider: Pour 2 cups apple cider into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about ½ cup and syrupy. Set aside to cool for at least 10 minutes.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or spray with non-stick spray.
  3. Whisk dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
  4. Mix wet ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, whisking well after each. Stir in vanilla extract, then whisk in buttermilk and cooled reduced cider.
  5. Combine wet and dry: Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Fold gently with a rubber spatula until just combined (a few lumps are fine). Do not overmix.
  6. Fill muffin cups: Divide batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups, filling each about ¾ full.
  7. Bake: Place muffin tin in preheated oven and bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Rotate pan halfway through if needed.
  8. Cool slightly: Let muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
  9. Make coating: In a small bowl, mix ½ cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon. Melt ¼ cup butter in another small bowl.
  10. Coat muffins: Working one at a time, brush each muffin with melted butter (or dip the top), then roll in cinnamon sugar mixture until fully coated. Best done while muffins are still warm.

Notes

Don’t skip reducing the cider—it concentrates the flavor. Use room temperature ingredients for best results. Overmixing will make muffins tough. For a gluten-free version, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For dairy-free, use plant-based butter and dairy-free milk with lemon juice. Muffins can be frozen uncoated for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://goldensimmer.com/cozy-cinnamon-sugar-apple-cider-donut-muffins-easy-recipe/