Apple Cider Donut Muffins
By Sammi Brondo — October 9, 2026
These easy apple cider donut muffins are soft, fluffy, and packed with warm cinnamon and apple cider flavor. Made with reduced apple cider and applesauce, these homemade muffins are brushed with butter and coated in cinnamon sugar for a delicious fall dessert or snack that tastes just like an apple cider donut.
A few weeks ago, I went apple picking with my family, like we do every fall.
I don’t care what people say about 2 year olds – in my opinion, age 3 is where kids get really spicy. And my 3 year old was definitely feeling it that day 😅
He was insistent that we had to get apple cider donuts before leaving. And honestly, I get it. Those donuts are so good.
But the apple orchard was packed that day. And the line to get donuts was SO long.
It probably would’ve taken us an hour to get the donuts. And waiting in a line like that with an impatient toddler? Fat chance.
After we picked our apples, we drove to a smaller orchard a few miles away to get the donuts. It was quiet, lovely, and the best decision ever.
Gotta hand it to my 3 year old – those donuts are really, really good.
And that outing inspired me to make something similar at home. There’s something that’s just so cozy enjoying a warm apple cider donut on a gorgeous fall day. So these Apple Cider Donut Muffins were born.
I first made them a few weeks ago when I had friends over for the Jewish holidays. Everyone was raving about them.
Even one of my friends who claimed she doesn’t like sweets (!) was obsessed with them and asking for the recipe.
They’re simple, soft, sweet without being overly sweet, and just so, so good.
Why You’ll Love These Apple Cider Donut Muffins
When you’re craving a delicious, warm fall dessert, these muffins are it.
These muffins are simple and easy to make. They have just a few basic ingredients that most home cooks would have (with the exception of maybe apple cider, but it’s easy enough to get in the fall!).
They’re also totally foolproof. You don’t need to be an expert baker to make them – you just need to be able to follow directions 🙂
And they’re quick. They take just about 30 minutes to make.
The result is a muffin that’s moist, soft, and sweet. They instantly give you apple orchard vibes and are the most perfect muffins to enjoy all autumn long.
If you’re looking for an easy, delicious, seasonal fall dessert or snack – these easily fit the bill.
How To Make Apple Cider Donut Muffins
Prepare ingredients
Prepare your ingredients to make these Apple Cider Donut Muffins. You’ll need apple cider, all-purpose flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, vegetable oil, brown sugar, eggs, and applesauce.
For the Cinnamon sugar topping, you’ll need butter, granulated sugar, and cinnamon.
Preheat the oven to 400 F. Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray or line with muffin liners.
Reduce the apple cider
Add the apple cider to a large saucepan and reduce over medium heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The apple cider should be fragrant and darker in color. Set aside and let cool.
Mix dry ingredients
In a large bowl, add the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix to combine.
Mix wet ingredients
In a smaller bowl, add the reduced apple cider, vegetable oil, brown sugar, eggs, and applesauce. Whisk until thoroughly combined.
Pour wet into dry ingredients
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
Scoop into muffin tin
Scoop the batter evenly into the muffin tin. You should have 12 muffins. Gently smooth the tops of the batter with a spoon.
Bake in oven
Bake in the preheated oven for 13-14 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Brush with butter
Once done baking, let the muffins cool for a few minutes. Brush the muffins gently with the melted butter.
Mix cinnamon sugar topping
Add the sugar and cinnamon for the cinnamon sugar topping to a large shallow bowl and mix to combine.
Roll in cinnamon sugar
Gently roll the muffins in the cinnamon sugar until well coated, or use your hands to sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over the muffins.
Enjoy!
Enjoy for a delicious snack or dessert.
If You Love These Apple Cider Donut Muffins, Try These
- Cinnamon Sugar Apple Beignets
- Chocolate Chip Apple Blondies
- Apple Cinnamon Skillet Cookie
- 5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Apple Bars
- Easy Caramel Apple Grapes
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Apple cider: Look for apple cider in the refrigerated section. Make sure you are NOT using apple cider vinegar!
- All-purpose flour: AP flour works best in these muffins. I haven’t tried them using another flour.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon is the main spice in these and is also used in the cinnamon sugar topping.
- Baking powder and baking soda: You’ll use both baking powder and baking soda to help the muffins rise.
- Salt: A little salt helps balance the flavor and maintain the structure of these muffins.
- Vegetable oil: While vegetable oil works best here, you can also use olive oil if preferred. It’s not as neutral, so it may change the flavor slightly.
- Brown sugar: Both light and dark brown sugar work – use whichever one you have or prefer.
- Eggs: You’ll need 2 medium-sized eggs.
- Applesauce: Opt for unsweetened applesauce. It contributes to the apple flavor!
- Butter: You’ll use a little melted butter once the muffins are baked to brush them with – this helps the cinnamon sugar to stick.
- Granulated sugar: This isn’t used in the actual muffins – just for the cinnamon sugar coating.
Apple Cider Donut Muffins Tips & Variations
- Reducing the apple cider: The apple cider will reduce to about 2/3 cup, so not much! Once reduced, it doesn’t need to cool fully, you just don’t want it to be piping hot.
- Spices: You can add more spices than just cinnamon if desired. A little nutmeg or apple pie spice would both be delicious.
- Spraying the muffin tin: Because we’re not using muffin liners, make sure to spray the muffin tin well with cooking spray so that the muffins don’t stick to the tin.
- Storage: Store these muffins at room temperature or in the fridge. They may get a little more dry as they sit because the sugar on the outside takes some of the moisture, but they’ll still be delicious 🙂
Frequently Asked Questions
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup apple cider
- 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup applesauce
Cinnamon sugar topping:
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 F. Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray or line with muffin liners.
- Add the apple cider to a large saucepan and reduce over medium heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. The apple cider should be fragrant and darker in color. Set aside and let cool.
- In a large bowl, add the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix to combine.
- In a smaller bowl, add the reduced apple cider, vegetable oil, brown sugar, eggs, and applesauce. Whisk until thoroughly combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Scoop the batter evenly into the muffin tin. You should have 12 muffins. Gently smooth the tops of the batter with a spoon. Bake in the preheated oven for 13-14 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Once done baking, let the muffins cool for a few minutes. Brush the muffins gently with the melted butter.
- Add the sugar and cinnamon for the cinnamon sugar topping to a large shallow bowl and mix to combine. Gently roll the muffins in the cinnamon sugar until well coated, or use your hands to sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over the muffins.
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