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Cozy Apple Cider Donut Muffins Recipe with Easy Brown Butter Glaze

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These apple cider donut muffins capture the soul of a classic cider donut with the ease and comfort of a muffin, topped with a rich, nutty brown butter glaze. Perfect for fall mornings or cozy treats, they are quick to make and full of warm, seasonal flavors.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon allspice
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (110g) light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • ½ cup (115g) melted unsalted butter
  • 1 cup (240ml) apple cider
  • ½ cup (120ml) buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • For the Brown Butter Glaze:
  • 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter
  • 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • Optional: 1-2 tablespoons milk (if glaze is too thick)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease your muffin tin or line with paper liners.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt.
  3. Add granulated sugar and light brown sugar to the dry ingredients and whisk to blend.
  4. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs until slightly frothy. Stir in melted butter (warm, not hot), apple cider, buttermilk, and vanilla extract.
  5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently fold with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Divide the batter evenly into 12 muffin cups, filling each about ¾ full.
  7. Bake for 18–22 minutes, checking at 18 minutes with a toothpick; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Let muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
  9. To make the brown butter glaze, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, swirling occasionally until golden brown and nutty (3-5 minutes). Remove from heat immediately.
  10. Stir in powdered sugar, maple syrup or honey, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth. Add milk if glaze is too thick.
  11. While glaze is warm, spoon it over the cooled muffins. Let glaze set before serving.

Notes

Do not overmix the batter to avoid dense muffins. Check muffins starting at 18 minutes to prevent drying out. Brown butter carefully over medium-low heat to avoid burning. Cool muffins before glazing to prevent glaze from melting and running. Optional additions include chopped walnuts, pecans, or cranberries. For gluten-free, substitute flour with a 1:1 gluten-free blend. Vegan adaptations include flax eggs and dairy-free substitutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple cider donut muffins, brown butter glaze, fall muffins, easy muffin recipe, autumn baking, cozy breakfast, spiced muffins

Find it online: https://chrisfeasts.com/cozy-apple-cider-donut-muffins-recipe-with-easy-brown-butter-glaze/