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Apple Cider Muffins

5
/5
35 mins
45 Comments
Jump to Recipe
By: Rachel GurkPosted: 10/17/2011Updated: 06/17/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

There’s so much apple flavor in apple muffins, packed full of tender chunks of apple, with apple cider in the batter, and spiced with cinnamon and cloves.

Apple muffin split in two halves on a white plate. A clear glass mug of hot apple cider is also pictured.

It is time again for the Secret Recipe Club (SRC)! You can browse my previous recipes that were part of the SRC: Zucchini, Red Pepper and Carrot Pancakes, Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Grape Sauce, Asian Grilled Chicken, and Chicken Enchiladas Verde.

This recipe for apple cider muffins is adapted from Apple Cider Bread from Recipe Girl, another blog that I love, so I was sure this would be a winning recipe. The first time I tried the recipe, I made a loaf of bread like Lori did …

but

I failed.

Undercooked apple muffin.

I told you from the beginning that I would share my failures. So there it is. Ugly, gooey, and blurry to boot. Still tasty though. Hubby ate all the outside of the failed bread and said, “This is the best bread I’ve ever tasted!” Have I mentioned how much I love this guy?

I thought the toothpick was clean, when I tested the bread, I really did! Turns out it was very much under-baked in the middle so I went back to the drawing board. This time I decided to stick with muffins.

I made a couple of adaptations to the recipe, as always. I subbed out half of the all-purpose flour for whole wheat flour to give it a little health-boost. (Note: The preparation photos are actually of the bread, not the muffins–the bread was entirely all-purpose flour, I added the whole wheat to the muffins only.)

Dry ingredients in a glass mixing bowl (flour, cinnamon, baking powder, nutmeg).

I also left the peels on the apples.

Why?

  • I like the color the peels add.
  • They get quite tender if they are cut small enough.
  • Extra fiber.
  • I’m very lazy and I had to make this recipe twice. <—real reason.

Apple muffin dough.

These muffins did not disappoint. They are delicious.

If you like, sprinkle cinnamon sugar on the muffins before baking for a nice crunchy cinnamon top. They are great with an apple cider and powdered sugar glaze, too. If you’d rather not have big chunks of apple, grate the apples instead of cutting them up.

Close-up view of a half of an apple muffin.

 

Apple muffins in a basket, one apple cider muffin split in two halves on a white plate, and a glass of apple cider, all on a wooden background.

More muffin recipes

I promise you that these muffin recipes have been tested many times and are pretty much no-fail. My family loves muffins! Try:

 

  • Triple Chocolate Banana Muffins 
  • Strawberry Chocolate Chip Muffins
  • Healthy Apple Bran Muffins
  • Healthy Apple Muffins
  • Blueberry Wheat Bran Muffins
  • Skinny Banana Bread Muffins
  • Cornbread Muffin Recipe with Herbs and Cheddar
  • Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
  • Savory Quinoa Muffins
  • Carrot Cake Muffins with Cream Cheese Filling

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Close up view of a half of an apple cinnamon muffin.
Recipe

Get the Recipe: Apple Cider Muffins

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 35 mins
18 muffins
Print Rate Recipe
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There's so much apple flavor in apple cider muffins, packed full of tender chunks of apple and spiced with cinnamon and cloves.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 cup softened butter
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup apple cider
  • 2 1/4 cups chopped apples
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350*F. Grease, spray, or line muffin tins (makes about 18).
  • In a medium bowl, mix together flours, baking powder, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves.
  • In a separate large bowl, cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar. Beat in eggs. Add half of the flour mixture, mix until just combined, then add half of the cider, mix until just combined. Repeat with the rest of the flour and cider.
  • In another small bowl, mix together chopped apples with lemon juice. Fold these into the batter.
  • Scoop into muffin tins and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comers out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack before removing from muffin tins.

Notes

  • If you prefer, shred the apples instead of chopping them for less visible pieces of apple.
  • Top the muffins with a cinnamon sugar mixture before baking. Or glaze the muffins after baking with a glaze made of powdered sugar and apple cider.
  • Adapted from Apple Cider Bread from Recipe Girl.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1muffin, Calories: 132kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 27mg, Sodium: 245mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 13g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk
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  1. sam says

    November 29, 2012 at 5:34 pm

    i made them just now. I was out of clove powder so just used cinnamon. I did peel the apples though, my 3 year old does not like apple peels. They were am-mazing! the best muffins I have ever had. Thanks so much. Even my little finicky eater gave it two thumbs up!

    Reply
    • Rachel says

      November 30, 2012 at 8:02 am

      I’m so glad you liked them! Thanks for coming back to let me know!

      Reply
  2. Ashley A says

    December 23, 2011 at 6:10 pm

    Hi! I found your website by searching for a recipe for these amazing “ugly apple” muffins I get at my favorite cafe in LA. Your recipe has helped me to home-make these. Only thing I do different is add walnuts and raisins. Maybe you want to try it too! Thanks and have a Merry Christmas!!

    Reply
    • Rachel says

      December 24, 2011 at 10:58 am

      Sounds delicious, I’ll try that! Merry Christmas!

      Reply
  3. Telebrands says

    October 25, 2011 at 5:08 pm

    The fall months are always welcoming when you have a nice glass of apple cider. Thanks for the muffin recipe.

    Reply
  4. Val says

    October 25, 2011 at 12:04 pm

    I have never seen a better looking muffin. MMM

    Reply
  5. Tina @ MOMS CRAZY COOKING says

    October 20, 2011 at 2:35 pm

    I have NEVER thought of leaving the peel on! I am totally down for that, I hate peeling everything! This week I am making a few apple recipes and I will be sure to try it! Thanks!

    Thanks for being a part of the SRC, Group B, I love being your host (new assignments coming soon)! My recipe was for Frozen Breakfast Burritos. Check it out if you haven’t had the chance already, I know I am a few days behind (sorry!)

    http://momscrazycooking.blogspot.com/2011/10/frozen-breakfast-burritos-secret-recipe.html

    Reply
  6. amy says

    October 19, 2011 at 10:01 am

    Yum! Looks great! Fun to participate in SRC with you!

    Reply
  7. Lisa~~ says

    October 19, 2011 at 2:13 am

    These look wonderful and I will be making them.

    If you haven’t already, I’d love for you to check out my group “A” SRC recipe this month: Levain Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies.

    Lisa~~
    Cook Lisa Cook

    Reply
  8. Tracey says

    October 18, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    I love that all of the apple pieces are so visible in the muffins. They look wonderful!

    Reply
  9. Krista {Budget Gourmet Mom} says

    October 18, 2011 at 5:33 pm

    I just love muffins. These look so good! I’d leave the peel on the apple too, for the same reason. ;)

    Reply
  10. SnoWhite @ Finding Joy in My Kitchen says

    October 18, 2011 at 9:16 am

    looks like a great recipe — nothing like a warm cider muffin with apples for the fall.

    Reply
  11. brandi says

    October 18, 2011 at 9:06 am

    these sound fabulous! i love the big chunks of apples.

    Reply
  12. Deborah says

    October 18, 2011 at 9:04 am

    These sound delicious, and perfect for fall!! And we all have failures – I’m always grateful when bloggers share theirs so that I don’t feel like I’m the only one who doesn’t have things come out perfectly!

    Reply
  13. Alli says

    October 18, 2011 at 8:27 am

    Looks like a yummy fail. I always find myself eating the edges of my fails too. I tell myself it is for recipe research. I love apple muffins. These look like the perfect fall grab and go breakfast.

    Reply
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