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Easy One-Bowl Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cider Donut Muffins

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These Easy One-Bowl Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cider Donut Muffins are a simple, one-bowl recipe that delivers the classic apple cider donut flavor without deep frying. They are tender, moist, and coated in a crunchy cinnamon sugar topping, perfect for fall mornings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (240 ml) apple cider
  • 1 3/4 cups (220g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup (50g) light brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) buttermilk
  • 1/3 cup (75g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • For the coating:
  • 4 tablespoons (60g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners or grease well.
  2. Pour 1 cup apple cider into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until reduced to about 1/3 cup (80 ml), about 10-12 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  4. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Add buttermilk, melted butter, egg, vanilla extract, and reduced apple cider. Stir gently with a whisk until just combined (a few lumps are fine).
  5. Divide batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full.
  6. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. While muffins bake, prepare coating: melt 4 tablespoons butter in a small bowl. In a separate shallow bowl, mix 1/2 cup sugar with 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon.
  8. Let muffins cool in the pan for 2-3 minutes. Remove from pan while still warm. Working one at a time, brush each muffin with melted butter, then roll in cinnamon sugar mixture until fully coated.
  9. Place coated muffins on a cooling rack. Serve warm.

Notes

Don’t skip reducing the apple cider—it concentrates the flavor and prevents soggy muffins. Coat muffins while still warm for the best crunchy coating. For dairy-free, use melted coconut oil and almond milk with vinegar. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple cider muffins, cinnamon sugar muffins, one bowl muffins, fall muffins, donut muffins

Find it online: https://junomeals.com/easy-one-bowl-cinnamon-sugar-apple-cider-donut-muffins/