Apple Cider Donut Muffins

Nothing says fall quite like the cozy flavor of apple cider, cinnamon, and sugar. These mini Apple Cider Donut Muffins bring all the nostalgic goodness of your favorite orchard treat into an easy, tender muffin that’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon coffee break. One bite, and you’ll be reaching for another before they’ve even had a chance to cool.

Easy Apple Cider Donut Muffins Recipe

There’s just something magical about the arrival of apple season. Cooler mornings, colorful leaves, and weekend trips to the orchard all seem to call for cozy baking, and these Apple Cider Donut Muffins answer that call in the most delicious way. They’re soft, tender, and infused with the sweet-tart flavor of apple cider, then brushed with melted butter and generously coated in cinnamon sugar to capture all the charm of a classic apple cider donut. The best part? You get all that nostalgic orchard flavor without frying a single donut.

Whether you’re serving them for a leisurely weekend breakfast, a fall brunch with friends, an after-school snack, or alongside a steaming mug of coffee or hot apple cider, these muffins fit right in. They’re equally welcome on a holiday breakfast table, tucked into a lunchbox, or shared with neighbors on a crisp autumn afternoon. One bite of their buttery cinnamon-sugar coating and tender crumb, and you’ll understand why they’re destined to become a favorite fall tradition.

Key ingredients to make homemade Mini Donut Muffins Recipe: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card and quantities.)

• Apple Cider – Apple cider adds moisture to the batter and gives these muffins their signature flavor.
• Flour – All purpose flour for the muffin batter.
• Leavening – Baking powder and baking soda give rise to the muffins while baking and salt balances the flavor.
• Butter – Unsalted butter for a rich taste.
• Warm Spices – Apple pie spice and ground cinnamon add a hint of spice to the taste of the muffins. 
• Sugar – Brown sugar for sweetness.
• Whole Eggs – Large eggs stabilize the batter.
• Oil and Apple Butter OR Applesauce – Vegetable oil and apple butter add the liquid necessary for moisture and they also serve to amp up the flavor.
• Coating – Ground cinnamon and granulated sugar (white sugar) for the coating.

How to Make Apple Cider Donut Muffins Recipe

• Heat Oven and Prepare Pans – Preheat the oven and spray a muffin tin generously with cooking spray.
• Reduce Apple Cider – In a small saucepan, heat the apple cider over medium heat to reduce. You can do this in advance to save time.
• Sift Dry Ingredients – Use a whisk to sift the flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, apple pie spice and one teaspoon cinnamon.
• Wet Ingredients – In a separate bowl, beat the brown sugar and butter on medium speed until crumbly, eggs and the vegetable oil and continue beating until smooth.
• Combine – On low speed add flour mixture alternately with reduced apple cider.  
• Oven – Transfer batter to prepared pan and bake per the recipe until a toothpick inserted into the center comes back clean.
• Dip in Melted Butter and Roll in Cinnamon Sugar While Warm – Dip the warm muffin into the melted butter, coating all sides. Immediately roll into the cinnamon sugar mixture. 
• Let Set – Place the muffin on a cooling rack to cool and dry, then enjoy.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Apple Cider Doughnut Muffins

• Mini muffin pan. You can use a 24-cup or two 12-cup mini muffin pans.
• Electric Mixer. You can use a hand mixer or a stand mixer.
• Large bowl, medium bowl.
• Measuring cups and measuring spoons.
• Whisk.
• Small saucepan.
• Rubber spatula.
• Shallow bowl or plate for the cinnamon sugar.
• Wire rack.

Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

• Apple Pie Spice Substitution – Apple Pie Spice Substitution: Use 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon allspice, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/8 tsp cardamom.
• Adjust Baking Time According to Pan Finish – Dark colored baking pans tend to bake faster than lighter, silver muffin pans.
• Apple Butter – Applesauce will work fine if you don’t have apple butter on hand. You can experiment using using maple butter to change the flavor profile slightly. Apple butter can typically be found in grocery stores where they sell jams and jellies. You can also find it at most Farmer’s Markets. It gives these muffins a ton of apple flavor.
• Pan Options – You can make these into full-size muffins using a 12-cup muffin pan. Larger muffins will take longer to bake, adjust the baking time as needed.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers – Store leftovers at room temperature in an airtight container or ziploc bag for up to 4 days. 
• Freezer – You can freeze these doughnut muffins. To freeze the muffins, allow them to cool completely before placing them in an airtight container or a plastic bag.  Freeze for up to 3 months.  Thaw on the counter until room temperature before dipping them in butter and coating the outside. 

More Muffin Recipes to Make

• Double Chocolate Buttermilk Muffins feature a chocolate batter that’s filled with chocolate chips.
• Cinnamon Roll French Toast Muffins are a fun way to make a pull apart muffin to share.
• Blueberry Muffins are classic and the same recipe could be made with raspberries or blackberries.
• These two bite Pecan Pie Mini Muffins are addictive.
• Cranberry Muffins are a must-make when fresh cranberries are in season.
• Cinnamon Streusel Oatmeal Muffins are dense and cake-like with warm cinnamon and nutmeg in the batter.
• Strawberry-Rhubarb Crumble Muffins from Food Network.

Thanks for visiting come back soon!

Disclosure ~ If a purchase is made using one of the affiliate links on this website we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!