These spiced apple cider muffins are BURSTING with fresh spiced apple cider flavor and taste just like your favorite apple cider donut!
Reduced apple cider and the perfect blend of spices are baked into these fluffy muffins, which are then blanketed in a thick coat of cinnamon sugar.
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Why you will love this recipe:
This is the perfect recipe for you if you are a lover of all things apple cider! I am a massive apple cider fan and love to use it in several recipes; this bourbon apple cider cake, apple cider cupcakes, and bourbon apple butter are all full of apple cider!
Key Ingredients:
Apple Cider: apple cider is key in these muffins; it helps the batter to taste like apple cider. Any cider will do, but I would choose one that is well spiced.
Vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice: these occasion muffins are all about the spices. The balance of these flavors brings out and complements the cider perfectly.
Eggs: The eggs in this recipe work double-time as a binding agent for all the ingredients, but they also help the muffins rise.
All-purpose flour: AP flour is what gives the muffin its structure.
Cinnamon Sugar: after these muffins are baked, they are given a generous dusting of cinnamon sugar to really give them that apple cider donut effect.
Step by step instructions:
Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time. Then mix in the vanilla.
Next, mix in the reduced apple cider.
Followed by the flour, spices, salt, and baking powder.
Let the muffins cool for 5 minutes, then brush with the melted butter and toss in the cinnamon sugar.
Tips for success:
- Don't over-mix the batter; the key to the perfect muffin texture is just mixed batter.
- Thoroughly grease the muffin tin with non-stick spray. Greasing with butter also works, but I have more consistent luck with a flavorless non-stick spray like PAM.
- Adding a little maple syrup to the melted butter helps the cinnamon sugar to stick to the muffins. Any sticky syrup will do, so you could use molasses, agave, ect.
- Baking at a high temp and then lowering it halfway through baking helps to create a big dome muffin top.
Storage
Store these muffins in an airtight container for 2-3 days at room temperature or freeze them for up to 3 months.
Variations
- If you don't have any apple cider, you can substitute it for apple juice, but it will have a less "spiced" flavor.
- Looking for an apple cider cupcake, these bourbon apple cider cupcakes have a similar taste but in cupcake form and are topped with a bourbon frosting!
Equipment
- Muffin tin
- Electric mixer
FAQ
Yes and no, they taste like the cider that gives them their name. That cider contains apple and all the fall spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and clove.
They will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Looking for more muffin recipes?! Check these out!
The Best Spiced Apple Cider Muffins
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 muffins 1x
- Category: Muffin
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: american
Description
These spiced apple cider muffins are BURSTING with fresh spiced apple cider flavor and taste just like your favorite apple cider donut!
Ingredients
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground clove
- ⅛ ground nutmeg
- ¾ tsp allspice
- ½ cup softened butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
Cinnamon sugar topping:
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 3 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Start by reducing the apple cider to ½ cup in a saucepan. Then sit aside to cool. Pre heat the oven to 425 degrees
- Then cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time. Then mix in the vanilla.
- Next, mix in the reduced apple cider.
- Followed by the flour, spices, salt, and baking powder.
- Add the batter to a very well-greased muffin tin filling ¾ of the way up.
- Bake at 425 for 10 minutes then lower to 375 and bake for 15-20 minutes more.
- Melt the butter with the maple syrup and sit aside. Combine the sugar and the cinnamon in a bowl.
- Let the muffins cool for 5 minutes, then brush with the melted butter and toss in the cinnamon sugar.
Elizabeth says
These tasted just like an apple cider donut!! So delicious!!
★★★★★
Mike says
Recipe sounds delicious. Unless I missed it though, I didn't see the amount the apple cider is supposed to be reduced to. Hoping you can advise before I make them. TIA.
Pate Giltner says
Thanks so much! Reduce the apple cider by half to 1/2 cup. I’ve updated the recipe and thanks so much for letting me know!
Chelsea says
Can you make these into a loaf?