Spiced Apple Cider Muffins
Spiced Apple Cider Muffins are the perfect fall breakfast — full of warm spices and apple goodness. These fluffy muffins are easy to put together and share for any occasion. Makes 15 muffins.
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Spiced Apple Cider Muffins recipe
I’m all about the fall flavors these days, and this year, I’m really into anything involving apple pie spice. (Hello, Apple Snickerdoodles and Apple Pie Bars.)
These Spiced Apple Cider Muffins were made in the same timeframe with the same spice blend, and holy cow, can I just say that they are incredible?
I’m a sucker for muffins, in general, and these fall-flavored muffins are special because they highlight a few fruits of the season.
Think of ’em as something that could be Apple Cider Donuts in muffin form, though we aren’t tossing them in melted butter and coating them in cinnamon sugar. Our process here is a little different than that.
Why I love this recipe:
My family is utterly obsessed with this Apple Cider Muffin recipe for several reasons.
The apple flavor is light. The muffins are tender and easy to eat. Coated with a spiced sugar that adds a nice crunch, this combination of flavors is hard not to love.
Please note that we are not adding fresh apples to this recipe but delicious apple products…
Here are some things we are all digging about ‘em:
- They capture familiar flavors we know and love, but they’re a little different than Apple Cinnamon Muffins.
- The muffins are moist and utterly delicious… thanks in part to a large helping of apple butter.
- They are great to bake on a lazy weekend morning. They also double as an afternoon snack or a playdate nibble because kids (mostly, sometimes) love muffins like these.
More muffin recipes to try: Chocolate Chip Muffins | Sour Cream Blueberry Muffins | Coffee Cake Muffins
What you need to make this recipe:
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- 12-cup muffin pan or tin
- Parchment paper liners (or silicone baking cups)
- Baking spray
- Kitchen scale
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Whisk
- Rubber spatula
- Cookie scoop or ice cream scoop
- Toothpick or cake tester
- Wire rack for cooling
- Muffin and cupcake storage container
Let’s talk ingredients!
In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
Here’s what you’ll need to get at the grocery store:
- All-purpose flour — we like to use unbleached AP flour in our household, but the regular kind works, too. I have not tried this with a gluten free flour blend, however.
- Baking powder — always make sure your baking powder is fresh. Get a new one every few months, even if you haven’t used it all.
- Apple pie spice — this is needed for both the muffins and the topping. I like to make my own apple spice, but you can use storebought if that is easier. Apple pie spice blends typically involve ground cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, among other cozy spices.
- Kosher salt — kosher salt is the best salt for baking. I like Diamond Crystal.
- Apple butter — this is going to give us that excellent apple flavor. I prefer using a sweetened apple butter, but every brand is a little different in sweetness and the spice level.
- Granulated sugar — this is also known as white sugar. Don’t swap it for brown sugar or the batter won’t set up right. We also need a little of this for the topping of the muffins. It adds the most crispy, caramelized texture on top of the muffins.
- Apple cider — this is our other apple ingredient. Get spiced or fresh cider from the store (or apple orchard) and add it here. This is not the same thing as apple cider vinegar.
- Large eggs — use the best eggs you can afford. I grab a carton at the grocery, but you can use eggs from farmer’s markets or your own backyard if you have chickens.
- Vanilla extract — high-quality vanilla extract makes a big difference in your baking recipes. Another secret ingredient so to speak!
A note on the recipe testing process: When I wrote this recipe, I tried a few iterations before landing on this final one. Initially, I used sour cream instead of apple butter, which I enjoyed, but did not give any apple flavor. I also tried it with some avocado oil (or another neutral oil, like canola oil), and I ended up swapping that with more spiced cider.
Customizations and substitutions
Gluten-free muffins: I haven’t tried this recipe with a gluten-free flour blend, but a 1:1 mix should work fine. Let me know if you try it!
Mini muffins: Use a mini muffin pan to make tinier muffins. These are great for a party with more guests. You’ll need to adjust the baking time, as they won’t need to bake as long as regular muffins.
How to make Spiced Apple Cider Muffins
Let’s get into this fluffy apple cider muffins recipe!
First, measure all your ingredients and preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a muffin tin with baking cups, then spritz with baking spray. Set the tray aside.
Measure the flour, baking powder, apple pie spice and kosher salt in a medium bowl. Whisk to combine. Set aside. These are the dry ingredients.
Pro tip!
Use a kitchen scale to weigh your ingredients for best results.
Combine the apple butter, sugar and apple cider in a large mixing bowl.
Whisk together until fully incorporated and smooth.
Crack the eggs and measure the vanilla extract into the apple butter mixture.
Whisk it all together until well combined.
Slowly sprinkle the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing with a rubber spatula until just combined.
Be sure not to overmix, or your muffins will become tougher and less tender.
Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling them almost to the top. (I added 4 tablespoons or ¼ cup of batter to each.)
Combine the remaining sugar and apple spice, and mix together. Sprinkle the sugar-spice mixture over the tops of the muffins, then transfer to the preheated oven.
Bake the muffins for 25-28 minutes, or until the tops have browned slightly and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Let the muffins cool for 15-20 minutes on a wire cooling rack, then enjoy with your favorite breakfast beverage! Might I recommend something orange? We love these prosecco mimosas and this sunrise mocktail.
How to store and freeze
Store these apple muffins in a food-safe, airtight container and keep at room temperature for up to 5 days.
You can also freeze fully baked and cooled muffins. Place them on a baking sheet and flash freeze for one hour — this prevents them from sticking. Then put them in a zipper-locking bag. To reheat, heat in the microwave for about 45 seconds to 1 minute.
Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips
These muffins would make a lovely splash at any at-home brunch or even a playdate because everyone loves a muffin.
If I were hosting and serving these muffins, here are some things I would consider:
- Make a double batch for a big group. Or make them into mini muffins!
- Serve them warm in a basket or bowl lined with a kitchen towel. This helps to preserve some heat.
- Bring them to a party or gathering in a muffin storage container. They’ll be an instant hit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Apple butter is the ingredient in these muffins that makes them super soft, fluffy and moist. It’s like adding applesauce to baked goods, except this is thicker and more decadent in flavor!
Yes, you could use apple juice in place of apple cider. These would then be Apple Juice Muffins, though I think that’s a technicality.
Apple cider is typically fresh and unfiltered and seasonal, so it’s not always available. Apple juice is typically filtered and pasteurized, which means it is available year-round. Some brands sell unfiltered apple juice.
Quick tips and tricks to making the best Apple Cider Muffins
- Don’t skip the homemade apple pie spice blend. It adds such wonderful warming notes to the muffins!
- Only mix until the muffin batter is just combined. If you overmix it, your muffins could be on the tougher side.
- Different apple butters have different sugar and spice contents. I used Musselman’s* (affiliate link) for testing this recipe and really liked what it brought.
- Use muffin liners to prevent sticking. Or follow these tips for greasing a muffin tin.
More recipes featuring apple cider:
- Apple Cider Pancakes
- Apple Cider Margaritas
- Easy Spiced Apple Cider
- Apple Cider Pulled Pork with Apple Coleslaw
Here’s how you can make these muffins in your own house…
Spiced Apple Cider Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour 240g
- 2 teaspoons baking powder 10g
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice 2g
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt 4g
- ¾ cup apple butter 248g
- 1 cup granulated sugar 200g
- ½ cup spiced apple cider 122g
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract 7g
Topping
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 25g
- ½ teaspoon apple pie spice
Equipment
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a muffin tin with baking cups, then spritz with baking spray. Set aside.
- Measure the flour, baking powder, 1 teaspoon of apple pie spice and kosher salt in a medium bowl. Whisk to combine. Set aside.
- Combine the apple butter, sugar and apple cider in a large bowl. Whisk together until combined and smooth.
- Measure in the eggs and vanilla extract. Whisk together until completely incorporated.
- Slowly sprinkle the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing with a rubber spatula until just combined.
- Scoop the batter into the prepared baking cups. (I added 4 tablespoons of batter to each.)
- Mix the remaining sugar with the remaining apple pie spice in a small bowl. Sprinkle the sugar-spice mixture over the tops of the muffins, then transfer to the preheated oven.
- Bake the muffins for 25-28 minutes, or until the tops have browned slightly and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the muffins cool for 15-20 minutes, then enjoy with a favorite breakfast beverage!
Video
Nutrition
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
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