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Cinnamon sugar baked apple cider donut muffins with a soft muffin broken open on a serving plate.

Cozy Cinnamon Sugar Baked Apple Cider Donut Muffins

Soft baked apple cider muffins made with concentrated cider and warm fall spices, then brushed with butter and coated generously in cinnamon sugar.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 12 muffins
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • Apple Cider Muffins
  • 1½ cups apple cider reduced to ½ cup
  • 2 cups 240 g all-purpose flour
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon fine salt
  • ½ cup 113 g unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • Cinnamon-Sugar Coating
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

Method
 

  1. Pour apple cider into a small saucepan and simmer until reduced from 1½ cups to approximately ½ cup. Cool.
  2. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  3. Grease a 12-cup muffin pan or add liners.
  4. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt together.
  5. In another bowl, whisk melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar.
  6. Whisk in eggs one at a time.
  7. Add vanilla.
  8. Whisk in the cooled reduced cider and buttermilk.
  9. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined.
  10. Divide batter evenly among 12 muffin cups.
  11. Bake for 17–21 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  12. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a rack.
  13. Combine granulated sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl.
  14. While muffins are still slightly warm, lightly brush each with melted butter.
  15. Roll or dip the muffins in cinnamon sugar.
  16. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Measure the reduced cider: Cooking time is only an estimate. For consistent results, measure the finished cider rather than relying solely on the clock.
Don't overmix: Small lumps in muffin batter are preferable to overmixed batter.
For maximum cinnamon-sugar coverage: Bake directly in a greased muffin pan rather than using paper liners.
Make ahead: The apple cider can be reduced the day before.