Easy Apple Cider Muffins

These fall-ready apple cider muffins are as delicious as apple cider doughnuts from apple orchards! They’re incredibly easy to make, no mixer required.

Want to make apple muffins but don’t have fresh apples on hand? Bake these quick and easy apple cider muffins instead!

They’re like the muffin version of the apple cider doughnuts sold at apple orchards. 😋

Filled with sweet, crisp apple flavor and the ever-comforting warmth of apple pie spice, this apple cider muffin recipe is the best way to kickstart your fall baking journey—no mixer required!

What Are Apple Cider Muffins?

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but I’m not talking about Christmas. I’m talking about the season for baking all things sweet and warm: autumn. 

And if there’s a fall treat that’s so irresistible, even just smelling it will induce nostalgic cravings, it’s apple muffins. 

Full of apple flavor and cozy spices, these muffins are a must for autumn baking. 

But what if you don’t have fresh apples? These spiced apple cider muffins are here to tell you, “Relax, I got you!” 🍎

Apple cider muffins are apple muffins that are full of apple flavor even without fresh apples mixed into the batter! The secret is, as you have probably guessed, apple cider!

I know we often enjoy apple cider as a drink to cozy up with fall’s crisp weather, but hold your cups because apple cider can also satisfy your apple muffin cravings.

These apple cider muffins taste as delicious as apple cider doughnuts (those dangerously addictive treats usually sold in apple orchards.) But best of all, you don’t need a mixer to make them!

You won’t even exhaust any arm muscle because the secret to a perfectly fluffy apple cider muffin is to not overmix the batter. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Tastes Like Apple Cider Doughnuts: These spiced apple cider muffins will bring the nostalgia of apple picking with loved ones. They’re as delicious and comforting as apple cider doughnuts sold at orchards!
• No Mixer Needed: This easy apple cider muffin recipe won’t leave you with a sink full of things to wash. It doesn’t need a mixer to whip up, and everything comes together so easily; I bet you can bake these muffins even on a lazy fall morning!
• Full Of Fall Flavors: Even if you don’t have fresh apples, you can still bake the most amazing apple muffin using apple cider. These muffins are also full of warm spices plus apple pie spice sugar on top for that extra sugary bliss.

What Do Spiced Apple Cider Muffins Taste Like?

Thanks to apple cider, these apple cider muffins do not fall short on apple flavor even without fresh apples baked into them!

The blend of warm spices from apple pie spice also seals the deal if you’re looking for something new to add to your fall baking list.

And if you have a sweet tooth, these spiced apple cider muffins are also dipped in butter and covered with apple pie spice sugar on top. So, if you want a “dessert” for breakfast, I think these apple muffins are perfect! 😋

Ingredients For Apple Cider Muffins With Spiced Sugar Topping

Apple muffins:

• All-purpose flour – You can’t go wrong with good old all-purpose flour for the perfect crumb. Using whole wheat flour might give you denser muffins.
• Baking powder – The leavening agent to help our apple cider muffins achieve the best shape and texture. 
• Granulated sugar – To boost the sweetness of these spiced apple cider muffins. It also improves the tenderness of the baked treats.
• Apple pie spice – We’ll use this spice blend on the sugar topping and muffin batter.
• Salt – Balances the sweetness of this fall muffin recipe. 
• Apple cider – Take note that these apple muffins use apple cider. Not apple juice. Not apple cider vinegar!
• Milk – This adds moisture to the muffins. 
• Eggs – They help bind the ingredients together and ensure that the muffins will achieve the coveted domed tops. 
• Oil – Any neutral-tasting oil works.

Spiced sugar topping:

• Unsalted butter – To help our apple pie spice sugar stick on the muffins.
• Apple pie spice – Feel free to make your own spice blend if you’re not a fan of the other spices in apple pie spice. You can even just use ground cinnamon and make a cinnamon-sugar mixture!
• Granulated sugar  – Adds a lovely, bakery-style topping to the apple cider muffins. 

Tools Needed To Prepare Apple Cider Muffins With Spiced Sugar Topping

• Mixing bowls for mixing the dry and wet ingredients
• Whisk for combining the ingredients
• Muffin pan for baking the apple cider muffins
• Muffin liners for lining the muffin baking pan
• Wire rack for cooling the spiced apple cider muffins

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Apple Cider Muffins

Oats

If you want to add texture to these apple cider muffins, you can include rolled oats in the batter. Plus, the fiber boost is highly welcomed!

Walnuts

The nutty crunch from walnuts is always delicious for fall and beyond. Add them to your apple muffins, and the only thing that’s missing is a drizzle of syrup! 🤤

Apples

The best thing about these spiced apple cider muffins is they’re not short on apple flavor, even without fresh apples. But if you have one lying around, you might as well peel and dice the apple up and add it to the batter. 

How to Make Apple Cider Muffins

Ingredients:

For the apple muffins:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp apple pie spice
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup apple cider
• 1/4 cup milk, room temperature
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 2 tbsp oil

For the spiced sugar topping:

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tsp apple pie spice
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar

Tools you need:

• Mixing bowls
• Whisk
• Muffin pan
• Muffin liners
• Wire rack

Instructions:

STEP 1: Gather and measure the ingredients for your apple cider muffins and preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the muffin baking pan with muffin cups.

STEP 2: Combine the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.

STEP 3: Whisk the wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Add the wet mixture to the flour mixture.

STEP 4: Stir to form the muffin batter. Do not overmix. It’s okay if there are a few lumps.

STEP 5: Pour the batter into each muffin cup about 2/3 of the way full.

STEP 6: Bake the apple cider muffins for 20 minutes.

STEP 7: Insert a toothpick in the center of the muffin. If it comes out clean, remove the muffin pan from the oven.

STEP 8: Let the muffins rest in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

STEP 9: Combine apple pie spice and sugar in a bowl.

STEP 10: Dip the top surface of the muffins in the melted butter. This will help the topping stick.

STEP 11: Dip the tops of the muffins in the spiced sugar. Serve and enjoy!

What To Serve With Spiced Apple Cider Muffins

Serve these apple cider muffins with maple syrup for a fall-inspired breakfast worth getting out of bed for. You can also just have them with butter or cream cheese on the side. 

For dessert, slice these spiced apple cider muffins in half and present them like a whoopie pie! Fill the center with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, caramel, or even hazelnut spread for a luscious experience. 

Will you be hosting a fall gathering? Instead of a dessert table, why not have a muffin table? 

Showcase autumn-ready muffins like our pumpkin muffins and gluten-free apple muffins (because you can’t have too many apple muffins) alongside these apple cider muffins. 😋

Tips About Making Apple Cider Muffins

• Always do the scoop and level method when measuring the flour for this apple cider muffin recipe. If you just scoop the flour with a measuring cup, it will compact the flour, which leads to dry muffins. 
• Check the expiration date of your baking powder. Otherwise, it won’t be as effective, and you might end up with muffins that sink in the middle. 
• Do not overmix the batter, or you’ll get dense spiced apple cider muffins! Just combine the ingredients until there are no more visible streaks of flour.

How To Store Apple Cider Muffins

• Fridge: I recommend storing these muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 to 3 days. But for longer storage, you can refrigerate them for up to 5 days. Just keep in mind that refrigerating muffins for too long can dry them out. 
• Freezer: You can store your leftover spiced apple cider muffins in a freezer-safe container for up to 6 months. 
• Reheating: Allow your muffins to come to room temperature before serving. But if you like them warm, reheat them in the microwave for a few seconds.

Why Do You Put Apple Cider Vinegar in Muffins?

Take note that these apple cider muffins are made with apple cider, not apple cider vinegar!

However, there are apple muffins with apple cider vinegar.

Some baked goods use apple cider vinegar as it adds moisture and tenderizes the dough. The vinegar’s tangy kick also balances the sweetness. 

Can You Substitute Apple Cider Vinegar for Cider Vinegar?

It depends, as the difference between apple cider vinegar and cider vinegar is a bit tricky. 

Sometimes, cider vinegar and apple cider vinegar are terms used interchangeably. However, there are also other types of cider vinegar, like strawberry cider vinegar, which means cider vinegar products are not limited to the popular ACV. 

For these baked muffins, I don’t recommend substituting apple cider with apple cider vinegar, as the latter can impart a tangy flavor or change the texture of the muffins.

Here’s how apple cider is made to further help you understand what it is and why it’s not the same as ACV.

FAQ About Apple Cider

Conclusion

If there’s a must-have baker’s dozen this fall, it’s a batch of these apple cider muffins!

They’re as delicious as apple cider doughnuts to give you the nostalgia of apple picking in an orchard.

No mixer? No problem! Just whisk the batter until combined, and you’re ready to bake.

And even though this apple muffin recipe is made with no apples, it does not fall short on sweet apple goodness. 

The warm apple pie spice and spiced sugar topping on moist, tender muffins combine to give you the essence of fall in every bite. 🤤

And if you need more recipes with fall’s favorite fruit, these apple recipes are for you:

• Apple Butter Cookies
• Apple Sugar Cookies
• Easy Spiced Apple Mug Cake
• Apple Cinnamon Brownies (Apple Cinnamon Blondies)
• Moist Apple Cinnamon Bread Recipe