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These Applesauce Donut Muffins are packed with applesauce, bake up so tender, and coated in crispy cinnamon and sugar for the perfect Fall treat.
Baking up recipes using applesauce is a favorite Fall activity of mine and these applesauce donut muffins are a definite vibe.
It’s an Applesauce Donut Hole Sort of Situation!
Ever heard of donut muffins? They’re a treat we’ve been making for years now and now we’ve given them a little Fall-inspired makeover by using applesauce in the batter.
Part muffin, part donut hole, these are sure to be a hit with the family.
These applesauce donut muffins have that apple cider donut vibe that we all love with the crispy exterior that’s just absolutely loaded with cinnamon sugar. The crackly crust is really what takes these from muffin to donut!
Perfect for a fall treat! I serve these for breakfast with a pumpkin cream cold brew or for a fun afterschool snack!!
Our apple cider donut bread and pumpkin donut bread both took a little inspo from this recipe with that crackly sugar crust and I gotta tell you, it’s a favorite.
What are donut muffins?
These little mini muffins are prepared with applesauce and bake up light and fluffy!
Then they’re dipped in melted butter (for that freshly fried vibe) and rolled through cinnamon and sugar to make that delectable crunchy exterior you find on all the best donuts.
So, are these donuts or are they muffins? I think they’re a delightful mix of both.
♥ What We Love About This Recipe:
- Fall Flavor – We love the cinnamon sugar and apple flavors that are so perfect for the fall season! We roll these mini muffins in butter and then generously coat them in cinnamon sugar. They’re irresistable!
- Simple – These mini donut muffins are a lot easier to make than a regular full sized donut or muffin and you’re getting all the same flavors! These are great for a quick breakfast or a fall festive treat for the holidays.
Ingredient Notes:
Dry Ingredients – To prepare the applesauce donut muffin batter you’ll start with some flour, sugar, baking soda, softened butter, and ground cinnamon.
Wet Ingredients – You’ll also need an egg, some vanilla extract, and of course the applesauce. We’re using a cinnamon applesauce for extra cinnamon flavor! You can use any variety of applesauce you like.
Mini Muffin Tin!
We love whipping up bite-sized muffins and other desserts in this mini muffin tin! One tin holds 24 mini muffins.
How to Make Applesauce Donut Muffins:
Use an electric mixer to cream the butter and sugar before adding the wet and dry ingredients.
Once the batter is smooth and creamy, use a cookie scoop to fill a mini muffin tin with batter.
Bake the muffins for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing the muffins from the tin.
Dunk each muffin first in melted butter (quickly, so it doesn’t soak up too much butter) and then into the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat.
My Favorite Cookie Scoop!
We use cookie scoops for everything from baking cookies to scooping meatballs to easily filling muffin tins.
Storage Instructions:
You can keep these applesauce donut muffins stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a few days. Store them with a paper towel lining the bottom and the top to help prevent them from getting soggy.
Recipe FAQs:
We’re using cinnamon applesauce to add a bit of flavor to the muffins, but beyond that the applesauce helps ensure your muffins will bake up moist.
We prefer to spritz the mini muffin tin with non-stick spray rather than use muffin liners for this recipe.
Yes, you could turn these into larger full sized donut muffins by using a regular muffin tin but you will need to adjust the bake time. They’ll take a little bit longer to cook through the larger muffins.
More Mini Muffin Recipes!
Applesauce Donut Muffins
Ingredients
For the muffins:
- 1/2 cup butter room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup cinnamon applesauce
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
For the topping:
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
To make the muffins:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a mini muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.
- Using an electric mixer in a medium mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla, and applesauce until well combined.
- Gradually stir in the flour, baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.
- Fill the muffin wells 2/3 full. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.
- Let cool for 10 minutes before carefully removing the muffins from the tin.
Topping:
- Melt the butter in the microwave in a small bowl.
- Stir together the sugar and cinnamon in a second small bowl.
- Dunk each muffin quickly into the butter, just enough to coat the exterior without it having time to really soak in, and then roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat.
Jessy @ The Life Jolie says
Oh my gosh- these look like the perfect fall breakfast! I especially love the cinnamon and sugar coating. They add the best texture! I’ll be making these for sure- my two year old will be thrilled!
Sara says
The first time I made these, they came out a little too sweet for my liking so I’d like to cut the sugar by half. Any idea if this will change the consistency? And if so, can I substitute something else to even it out?
Karly says
I would probably use unsweetened applesauce rather than reduce the sugar. You could also leave off the sugary coating on the outside to reduce the sweetness.
Martha says
Love your muffins and camara!! I alredy make them, great taste! question can I freeze them? Thanks!
Martha says
Love your muffins!! I alredy maked them!! soogood! Love your new camara !I have a D 40 need to look for that one!Question can I freeze the muffins? Thanks!!
Karly says
I’ve never tried it, but I’m sure they’d freeze just like any other muffins. 🙂
Danielle Clarke says
I have been wanting to make donut muffins for a while now (not entirely sure how or why I keep forgetting to try them!) These look like the perfect recipe! Thanks!!!
Cheryl says
These were AMAZING!!!!!!!!! The recipe made more than 24 muffins. But I’m certainly not complaining!!! Very addicting!
Ronda says
Made them last night as have wanted to since you posted them! Wonderful hubby loved them! But I filled my Wilton 24 min muffin tin then almost filled it again! I ended up with over 40 little Apple donut muffins. Wonder how that happened?
Karly says
Hmm, you’re the second person to say that! I’m not sure why that’s happening, unless I’m just filling mine much more full than you. Sorry about that, but hey! Extra muffins! 🙂
Anne says
I just made these and I must say, I’m not impressed. There’s no apple taste and to call them doughnuts is a stretch in my book (unless you’re referring to the fact that they’re covered in cinnamon sugar). They’re basically just a cinnamon sugar mini muffin. Meh.
Karly says
Sorry you weren’t a fan!
Kat Hughes says
These muffins are – were – delicious!
I baked them in a Pampered Chef mini muffin pan (24) and ended up with another 20 mini muffins – not a bad thing!! But why so much extra batter?
Karly says
That’s really strange! I use a 24 mini muffin pan too. I’m not sure why you would have had so much, unless you just didn’t fill your wells as full as I did.
Aliza P| says
How long do these keep?|
I wouldn’t have time for the weekend so I made them now, but was hoping they keep for a few days or are able to be frozen and defrosted well…
Thoughts?
Karly says
I would freeze them before dunking them in butter and sugar. Thaw at room temp and dunk and coat the day you’ll be serving them.
Aliza P says
Darn!
If I’ve already dunked them, will they keep til Friday night, out or in the fridge?
Curious says
Self rising or plain flour?
Fanny says
Seriously, I need at least a dozen of these goodies RIGHT NOW!!!!!!
Phi @ The Sweetphi Blog says
What an absolutely delicious sounding recipe…and omg, the camera, sooo beautiful, I swoon!
Melanie @ Carmel Moments says
In love with these donut muffins! Your photos are always incredible Karly!
What a nice compensation, lens and a camera…sweet!
Joanne says
Just, you know NIKON. NBD.
I’m actually a Canon girl, but I hope we can still be friends.
Also, how am I going to get out of bed tomorrow without these muffins?! It’s going to be rough.
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. says
Donuts and muffins in one! Sign me up for a dozen please!