Apple Cider Muffins
Warm, spiced, tender Apple Cider Muffins are rolled in sweet cinnamon sugar. A simple, bakery-style fall treat that’s soft, fluffy, and full of apple flavor.
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Nothing says fall quite like Apple Cider, and these muffins are bursting with fall flavor in every bite. These moist muffins are perfect to grab any time of day and pair nicely with other fall favorites like Apple Cake and Apple Cinnamon Rolls.
Why You Should Make These
The apple cider really takes the apple flavor over the edge. They aren't just flavored with a little apple extract or a dash of apple juice. No, these fluffy muffins are the real deal with real apple cider.
They're soft, fluffy, and crumbly, just like you get from the big-time bakeries. One of the best things is that they're freezer-friendly, so they can be enjoyed all year long. They taste just as good then as they did when you first made them.
Let's gather The Ingredients
- Apple cider: Be sure you grab the right thing, you do not want apple cider vinegar
- Baking essentials: All-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt
- Apple pie spice: You can also make your own recipe in the notes.
- Oil: Vegetable or canola oil helps keep the muffins super moist.
- Sugars: Brown sugar and granulated sugar
- Eggs: Room temperature is always recommended.
- Unsweetened applesauce: you can use store-bought or use some of your own Homemade Applesauce
- Melted butter: Brushed on top to help the sugar mixture stick and prevent them from getting soggy.
- Cinnamon: Also used for topping with more sugar
How To Make Apple Cider Muffins
- Step 1: Add apple cider to a pot on the stove and reduce it down. Set aside to cool or store if prepping this and not making muffins immediately.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and apple pie spice with a whisk.
- Step 3: In a separate bowl, add oil, sugars, eggs, applesauce, and reduced apple cider. Stir to combine.
- Step 4: Combine wet ingredients with dry ingredients and stir to combine. Do not overmix the batter.
- Step 5: Transfer muffin batter to the muffin pan. Divide evenly among each of the wells and fill them up.
- Step 6: Bake in a preheated oven.
- Step 7: While muffins are baking, melt butter in a small bowl and mix cinnamon and sugar in a separate small bowl. Once muffins have finished baking, remove from the oven and brush with melted butter.
- Step 8: Roll muffins in cinnamon and sugar mixture before serving and enjoying.
Recipe Tips
- Fill muffin cups to the top, this helps create tall, bakery-style muffins.
- Check for doneness before serving these favorite fall treats. Use a toothpick to insert into the center of a muffin. It should come out clean with no wet batter.
- No apple pie spice? Make your own with 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon allspice, ¼ teaspoon cloves, and ¼ teaspoon nutmeg.
- Try pumpkin purée instead of the applesauce for another fall twist.
- Line your muffin pan with wrappers or prep with grease before adding batter.
Recipe Faq's
Apple cider is best since it has a stronger, spiced flavor. Apple juice will work in a pinch, but the muffins won’t have as much depth.
Absolutely. Wrap each perfect muffin in plastic wrap, place it in a freezer-safe bag, and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temp or warm in the microwave for 15-20 seconds.
More Muffin Recipes
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Apple Cider Muffins
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup apple cider not apple cider vinegar
- 1 ¾ cups all purpose flour spoon and leveled
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons apple pie spice see notes
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
For The Sugar Topping
- 3 tablespoons butter melted
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- In a small pan heat the apple cider on medium heat. Simmer until it has reduced to about ½ of a cup. (this just intensifies the apple flavor) set aside to cool or refrigerate until needed.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees place liners in a muffin tin or spray with cooking spray.
- n a large bowl add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and apple pie spice and whisk until combined.
- In a large bowl whisk together the oil, sugars, eggs, applesauce, and reduced apple cider until combined.
- Whisk the dry ingredients into the wet until fully mixed.
- Divide the batter into the muffin cups they will fill all the way to the top.
- Bake for 5 minutes then reduce the oven temp without removing the muffins to 350 degrees and bake for another 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- In a small bowl mix the sugar and cinnamon together. Lightly brush some melted butter over the muffins and roll each muffin top into the cinnamon sugar mixture.
