Apple Cider Donut Muffins with Brown Butter Cinnamon Maple Glaze
A fall classic meets bakery perfection — these muffins are fluffy, spiced just right, and glazed in a silky maple cinnamon topping. Each bite is packed with cozy apple flavor, warm spices, and a touch of crunch from cinnamon sugar. Double the batch, because one is never enough!
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 40 mins
- Yield: 24 muffins 1x
Ingredients
3 cups apple cider
4 tbsp salted butter, melted
4 tsp vanilla extract
4 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup apple butter
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
4 cups all-purpose flour
3 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp kosher salt
2 honeycrisp apples, chopped (~1 cup)
2 tbsp cinnamon sugar
Brown Butter Cinnamon Maple Glaze:
8 tbsp (1 stick) salted butter
2/3 cup maple syrup
1½–2 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp instant coffee
1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
Simmer apple cider in a saucepan over medium heat until reduced to 1½ cups. Let cool.
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line two 12-cup muffin tins.
In a bowl, whisk cider, melted butter, vanilla, eggs, apple butter, and brown sugar.
In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt.
Mix dry ingredients into wet until just combined. Fold in apples.
Divide batter among muffin cups. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Bake 18–22 minutes or until tops are golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
For glaze, brown butter in a pan. Remove from heat, whisk in maple syrup, powdered sugar, instant coffee, and cinnamon until smooth.
Drizzle glaze over warm muffins. Let set slightly before serving.
Nutrition
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 22g
- Fat: 10g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Protein: 3g