Apple Spice “Donut” Muffins
Coated with sugar, cinnamon and other sweet spices, these muffins are reminiscent of donuts, minus the deep-fat frying. Cake flour gives them a soft texture, and a blend of classic apple cider spices brings out the fall flavors. When finishing the muffins, you can dip the entire muffin in butter and roll in the sugar-spice mixture, or coat only the tops.
Ingredients:
For the muffins:
- 2 cups (8 3/4 oz./270 g) cake flour
- 3/4 cup (4 3/4 oz./150 g) sugar
- 2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. kosher salt
- 3/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp. ground cloves
- 8 Tbs. (1 stick) (4 oz./125 g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 3/4 cup (6 fl. oz./180 ml) buttermilk
- 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste
- 1 whole egg plus 1 egg yolk
- 2 miniature apples or 1 regular apple (such as Honeycrisp), cored and thinly sliced on a mandoline into crescent-moon shapes, cut to fit in the pan as needed
For the coating:
- 8 Tbs. (1 stick) (4 oz./125 g) unsalted butter
- 2/3 cup (4 1/2 oz./135 g) sugar
- 1 Tbs. plus 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
Directions:
Preheat an oven to 350°F (180°C). Spray 12 standard muffin cups with baking spray.
To prepare the muffins, in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, buttermilk, vanilla, whole egg and egg yolk. Using a rubber spatula, fold the flour mixture into the butter mixture and stir until just combined.
Using a small ice cream scoop or a large spoon, divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups. Garnish each muffin with a few apple slices.
Bake until the muffins have risen and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes, then turn the muffins out onto the rack.
Meanwhile, prepare the coating: In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter. In another small bowl, whisk together the sugar, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.
Dip each muffin into the melted butter or brush lightly with the butter, then roll lightly in the sugar mixture. Serve immediately. Makes 12 muffins.
Williams Sonoma Test Kitchen