This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy
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.
Liz Stevens says
This recipe has been a BIG hit for whomever I made it for!!!
Karly says
Love to hear that! Thanks, Liz!
MR says
These look amazing and I have everything I need to make them today. Would be great if you also listed this recipe in grams for people to use that live outside the US.
Karly says
Unfortunately, we don’t measure in grams and measuring everything twice would be so time consuming, especially since 98% of my audience is US based. There are many online converters, but they’re not always accurate, so I don’t include the automatic conversion for that reason.
Liz Smith says
Super yummy, definitely recommend. I got about 10 muffins out of this. They took anywhere from 22-30 minutes to have a toothpick come out clean. Took the ones that did come clean out, the ones that weren’t done back in the oven for 2 minute intervals. I just repeated this until they were all done. I used slightly more than a stick of butter for the coating, and close to double the cinnamon sugar.
Karly says
Sounds delicious! Thanks, Liz!
Deborah says
Wow! This was so simple and it’s absolute perfection. I made a dozen standard size muffins, dipped and sugared with a combination of white and turbinado sugars with cinnamon on the top only. They’re so moist and flavorful. Highly recommended! .
Karen says
I JUST! Made these 15 minutes ago, they are delicious! I googled “what to do with leftover applesauce”, and your recipe popped up! Again delicious!
Karly says
So glad you gave them a try! 🙂
Robin says
These were easy and so tasty
Karly says
Thanks, Robin!
Jana says
I made this a few months ago with applesauce and loved it!
I just started making this again and then realized someone ate up all my apple sauce… So I used jam instead! I think they turned out alright, I had to bake them for about 25 min.
Melissa says
Made this recipe second time. My kids requested them to be made again. Without the sugar coating is good enough for me, but the butter with sugar and cinnamon taste amazing. Thank you for this recipe!
Karly says
So glad your family enjoys the recipe, Melissa!
Elizabeth says
What if I only have regular size muffin tins?
Karly says
You’ll need to adjust the bake time accordingly. 🙂
Lily says
Do they end up tasting like applesauce or is the applesauce just for texture? I want to make them but I’m not sure if I should add something to enchanted the apple flavor or if it has an apple flavor at all?
Karly says
They do have some apple flavor.
Lou Carlson says
This is a good recipe, easy to make and bake. My batch made three dozen. forget the step dipping in butter and cinnamon sugar because real tasty as they are.
Shannon says
Great recipe! Family loved them. I actually cut the cooking time a bit and they came out perfect!
Amy says
These were excellent! I had a ton of left over applesauce from making apple juice and this worked perfectly.
Barbie says
Hi, I’ve made this once and they were a huge hit. I used regular applesauce and was wondering what is cinnamon applesauce? Is it just applesauce with cinnamon added? Is it sold as such? Many thanks for posting the recipe….my grandkids are crazy about these donuts disguised as muffins.
Karly says
Hi Barbie! Yep, it’s just applesauce with cinnamon added. Just about every brand I’ve seen makes a cinnamon version, but if you’re not the US that may not be the case. You could always just add a teaspoon or so of cinnamon to your mixture. 🙂
Emily says
Hi! I am in the process of doing this recipe and had a question. Are you using salted butter or unsalted? I normally only keep unsalted around my house, and noticed this recipe did not call for any salt to be added to the mixture. Would you recommend it’s left out completely or do you have a suggestion as far as the amount that should be added ?
Thanks so much! These look amazing!
Karly says
Hi Emily! I use salted butter, unless otherwise specified. If you’re using unsalted, I’d add a 1/2 teaspoon here.
Edward @Male Guide Reviews says
i will try it at home.i love applesauce donut muffins.it is very healthy and tasty so yummy.thanks for this post