Next Post
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
Easy Apple Cider Honey Muffins — the coziest way to welcome the weekend and the fall season! These soft, warmly spiced muffins are made with boiled-down spiced apple cider (for extra apple flavor), raw honey, apple butter, brown sugar, and a mix of cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. They’re baked until perfectly fluffy, then dipped in sweet cinnamon sugar for that irresistible finish.
I promised no pumpkin until October — and I’m sticking to it! There are still so many apple recipes I’m excited to share first. The weather this week has me fully in fall baking mode. Around here, it feels like mid-to-late October: chilly, colorful, and perfect for cozy baking days.
These muffins disappeared the second I baked them. I made a few with chocolate chips just for my sister and little brother, Oslo — they’re obsessed! They’re easy enough to make with kids, and Oslo loves adding the chocolate chips. They pack beautifully for school lunches, and they’re great for a fall gathering.
While Asher and Oslo are team chocolate chip, my mom and I love them with toasted, chopped pecans. They feel perfectly autumn, and add a lovely crunch.
Here are the details
Ingredients
- apple cider – I love a spiced apple cider, no added sugar
- salted butter
- vanilla extract
- eggs
- honey – I recommend a thicker raw honey
- apple butter – use my homemade, it’s the best
- dark brown sugar
- all-purpose flour, you can use whole wheat too
- baking powder
- cinnamon
- nutmeg
- all-spice
- cloves
- salt
- honeycrisp apples
- toasted pecans or chocolate chips – optional
And for the Topping
- melted butter
- cinnamon
- granulated sugar
Tools for Success
For these muffins, you’ll just need the basics — a standard 12-cup muffin pan lined with paper liners, a good mixing bowl, and a small pot to boil the cider and concentrate all that cozy apple flavor.
Steps
Step 1: boil the cider
I love using spiced cider — no sugar added! Boil the cider on the stove until it’s reduced to about 1 cup. This concentrates the flavor and makes each muffin especially delicious with lots of cozy apple flavor.
Step 2: make the batter
Mix the browned butter with the eggs, honey, apple butter, brown sugar, and vanilla. Add the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves.
Stir in the chopped apples. I like to cut mine thinly with a mandolin, then chop them for little apple bits in every bite.
Step 3: bake the muffins
Fill the muffin cups almost to the top. Bake for about 30 minutes, until the tops are deeply golden and your kitchen smells incredible.
Step 4: add the topping
This next step is a yummy addition. Melt a bit more butter and brush the tops — and sides, if you’d like — of each muffin.
Mix the cinnamon and sugar together, then dip each warm muffin to coat. It’s like a cozy apple cider doughnut in muffin form!
These muffins aren’t too sweet — just perfectly spiced and moist with a subtle honey sweetness. Such a great fall treat to bake all season long (and even through the holidays).
Looking for more apple recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Brown Butter Apple Blondies with Cinnamon Maple Glaze
Salted Maple Apple Tarte Tatin with Cinnamon Pumpkin Seeds
Cinnamon Spiced Apple Fritters with Vanilla Coffee Glaze
Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts with Cinnamon Maple Glaze
Lastly, if you make these Easy Apple Cider Honey Muffins, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love hearing from you and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Easy Apple Cider Honey Muffins
Servings: 12 Muffins
Calories Per Serving: 204 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups apple cider
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup honey, preferably raw
- 1/3 cup apple butter
- 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground all-spice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 honeycrisp apple, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
- 1/2 cup toasted chopped pecans or chocolate chips (optional)
Topping
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) salted butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line 12-14 muffin tins with paper liners.2. Bring the apple cider to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat. Simmer 10-15 minutes or until reduced to about 1 cup. Remove from the heat. Let cool.3. In a bowl, stir together the boiled cider, melted/browned butter, eggs, honey, apple butter, brown sugar, and vanilla until combined. Add the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, all-spice, cloves, and salt, mix until just combined. Stir in the apples. If desired, add the nuts/chocolate.4. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans. Bake 25-30 minutes, until just set. 5. Mix the cinnamon and sugar. Brush the tops of each muffin with melted butter and dip each in the cinnamon sugar. Enjoy!
This post was originally published on September 26, 2025
Hi Tieghan,
Thank you for yet another wonderful recipe. These muffins were delicious and very moist. My trial yielded about 16 regular sized muffins. As a personal preference, I would omit the cloves which I find to be overpowering.
Hi Arlette,
Happy Friday! I appreciate you making this recipe and your feedback, love to hear it was enjoyed!
Hey Tieghan,
I loved these muffins so much! The smell of these muffins baking are out of this world! The taste didn’t disappoint at all! Every morning I would have one with breakfast. I can’t think of a better way to start the morning to be honest. Definitely love Apple cider and apples are good so it was a must try! Thanks for sharing such another tasty recipe. Have a great weekend.
Thanks so much, Mike! So glad to hear these muffins turned out well for you, I appreciate you making them!
So yummy !! It does taste just like an apple cider donut !
Hey Donna,
Happy Sunday!🎃 Thanks for giving this recipe a whirl, so glad it turned out nicely for you!
Hi can I substitute apple sauce for apple butter?
Hi Renee,
Sure, that should be okay for you to use. I hope you love this recipe!
Easy and delicious. Wonderful fall recipe.
Thanks so much, Casey! Love to hear these muffins were enjoyed, I appreciate you making them!
Great flavor and texture. Perfect for a fall brunch.
Hey Christy,
Happy Sunday!! I am so glad to hear this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it!
I recently moved to the mountains and made these following the recipe as written because I was excited to see no modifications were needed. Sadly, mine sunk in the middle and were pretty dry. I would try again if I knew what changes to make.
Hi Beth,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, sorry to hear you had some issues. There aren’t any changes I would recommend, as this is exactly how I make them. So sorry!
Baking now and they smell so good! Can you tell me the best way to store these?
Thanks so much for trying this recipe, Paula! You can store in an airtight container at room temp. Please let me know if you have any other questions!
Great flavor and texture. These are a family favorite.
Hey Diane,
Happy Friday!! I appreciate you giving this recipe a try, I’m so glad it was a winner!
Is the one tablespoon of baking powder correct or should it be tsp ?
Hi Katie,
The 1 tablespoon of baking powder is correct. Please let me know if you have any other questions!
I don’t understand how you create recipes at sea level when you live at elevation, but then you also say not to adjust for elevation. If elevation doesn’t matter, why do you specify that you cook at sea level? I’m so confused. Can you clarify before I attempt this recipe? Thank you!!
Hey Janey,
I am a bit confused as well. I cook from my home in Colorado. We are at an elevation and not at sea level. I have team members at sea level that can help test recipes when needed.
Hope this clarifies a bit more for you!