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Easy Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cider Donut Muffins

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These Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cider Donut Muffins deliver everything you love about classic apple cider donuts—tender crumb, spiced warmth, and iconic cinnamon sugar crust—without the mess of hot oil or yeast dough. Quick, easy, and made with simple ingredients, they’re perfect for fall gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (240 ml) apple cider
  • 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup (50 g) light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (120 ml) buttermilk
  • For the cinnamon sugar coating:
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ cup (57 g) unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

  1. Reduce the apple cider: Pour 1 cup of apple cider into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about ¼ cup (12-15 minutes). Set aside to cool.
  2. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease well with butter.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
  4. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, eggs, vanilla extract, buttermilk, and cooled reduced apple cider until smooth.
  5. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Fold gently with a rubber spatula until just combined (a few lumps are fine). Do not overmix.
  6. Divide batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters full.
  7. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Rotate pan halfway through.
  8. Let muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Cool for another 5 minutes (they should be warm but not piping hot).
  9. While muffins cool, melt ¼ cup butter in a small bowl. In another small bowl, whisk together ½ cup granulated sugar and 1½ teaspoons cinnamon.
  10. Working one at a time, brush the top and sides of each warm muffin with melted butter, then roll in cinnamon sugar mixture until completely coated.
  11. Place coated muffins back on cooling rack. Let coating set for 1-2 minutes before serving. Best served warm.

Notes

Don’t skip the cider reduction—it concentrates the apple flavor. Use room temperature ingredients for best texture. Measure flour by spooning and leveling. Brush muffins with butter rather than dipping to avoid sogginess. For best coating, muffins should be warm but not hot (about 5-10 minutes out of the oven).

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://spoonmira.com/easy-homemade-cinnamon-sugar-apple-cider-donut-muffins/