Apple Cider, Cinnamon & a Little Taste of Fall
The first time I tried an apple cider donut was during a visit to my best friend in Michigan. It was also my first time visiting an apple orchard, which made the experience feel pretty special. Growing up in Southern California, I was used to going to pumpkin patches in the fall, so visiting an apple orchard felt like one of those classic East Coast fall experiences I’d mostly seen in pictures and movies.
The place we went to was such a fun experience. We got to pick our own apples and take as many as we wanted, walk around the orchard, listen to live music, and visit the petting zoo. There was even an old tree swing that I remember sitting on while absolutely melting in the humidity. I definitely remember that part, too!
But what really stuck with me was that first apple cider donut.
They made them fresh right behind the counter, and you could actually watch through a window as they prepared them. I remember getting one while it was still hot, with that sweet sugar coating on top, and washing it down with freshly made apple cider. There’s something about eating a warm donut right after it’s been made, especially when you’re at an apple orchard, that makes the whole experience feel special.
I don’t think I fully appreciated how much that little experience would stick with me, but I still think about it whenever apple cider donut season rolls around.
Living in Southern California, we don’t get the same traditional fall weather that people in other parts of the country experience. October can still be pretty warm here, and I’m usually waiting for the temperatures to drop. I love fall, though, and I don’t want to wait for cooler weather to start enjoying everything that comes with the season.
This year, I want to try more fall recipes and make a little more time for the things I look forward to every October. Between comfort food, Halloween movies, cozy nights at home, and all the seasonal flavors that show up this time of year, there’s plenty to enjoy even when it’s still warm outside. Trying a few new recipes feels like a good place to start.
Baked Apple Cider Donut Muffins
Ingredients
For the Muffins
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
- ½ cup apple cider
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Cinnamon-Sugar Coating
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3 tsps unsalted butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a standard muffin pan or line it with paper muffin liners.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, brown sugar, melted butter, apple cider, milk, and vanilla extract until combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing so the muffins stay tender.
- Divide the batter evenly among 10–12 muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.
- Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the muffins cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
- Mix the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Once the muffins are cool enough to handle, brush the tops lightly with melted butter and dip or sprinkle them with the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Serve slightly warm with a cup of coffee, tea, or apple cider. The cinnamon-sugar topping gives these muffins that familiar apple cider donut feel without the extra work of making traditional donuts.
What food reminds you of a favorite memory or a special time in your life?
“Food is our common ground, a universal experience.” — James Beard
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