I’ve seen many different versions of sugar donut muffins on many blogs over the last few months and I’ve been wanting to make them for awhile. I’ve resisted because It’s rare that I serve donuts for breakfast. But when my sons had a sleepover, I thought it called for a special breakfast and these delightfully sweet muffins were a perfect fit.
I’m sure these muffins are much healthier for you than a deep fried donut. I used whole wheat pastry flour and add grated apple to boast the nutrition a bit. I made a double batch and they baked up light and fluffy, but had that wonderful cinnamon sugar coating that reminds you of the simple pleasure of eating a fresh, hot sugar coated donut.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour (I used whole wheat pastry flour)
- 2 tsp baking power
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 3/4 cup milk (low fat is fine)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 small apples, grated
- Topping:
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a muffin tin with cooking spray or vegetable oil.
- In a large bowl, beat together sugar and egg until light in color. Add in vegetable oil, milk and vanilla extract.
- In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add to egg mixture and stir to combine. Stir in grated apples.
- Divide batter evenly into 12 muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
- While muffins are baking, melt butter in a small bowl in the microwave. In another small bowl, combine remaining sugar and cinnamon.
- When muffins are done, cool for a few minutes in the muffin pan, remove from pan and dip muffin top in melted butter, then immediately dip in cinnamon sugar mixture. Cool on a wire rack.
Notes
adapted from Cinnamon, Spice & Everything Nice and Baking Bites
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I love to bake, especially cookies, cakes, and pies. I’ll post my adventures in the kitchen, my favorite new recipes, as well as our family favorites.
These look so good! Healthier than donuts, but still tasting yummy!
I can imagine the reaction these muffins would have got at the sleepover for your kids…sure you have no leftovers:))
I love donut muffins. Adding apple and whole wheat flour was a nice twist on this recipe.
Mimi
Oh I too have been following these little delights from one blog to another and want to make them desperately. With the son gone and the husband saying NOPE to extra food around (I should be too..grin) I am economizing on what I make. Something like this will have to be taken to the office I am afraid, or to a neighbour down the street. The addition of whole wheat flour makes it so much better Barbara and I am thinking I could substitute the sugar with something else, maybe Splenda? Sigh…..I shall still try them though and I love the apples you added.
These are going on the menu for this weekend. Thanks so much for posting! Love that they have whole wheat flour in them, we can almost pretend they are good for us . . .
Never made anything like this – sounds delicious!
These sound so good. I'm going to try them this weekend. I don't even care if they are good for us.
oh they look marvelous Barbara! I bet they tasted fab!
I've got all the ingredients for this minus the apples…hmm??? I want to try these!
Me gusta que hayas rallado la manzana y que hayas usado harina de trigo. ¡Tus panecitos se ven absolutamente perfectos! YUM!
You know I'm a muffin freak. I can't wait to try this recipe. And I agree that they have to be healthier than real donuts.
I love how you adapted the recipe to be healthier and I really love the addition of the shredded apple!
These look positively addictive! What a beautiful recipe.
Perfect for Easter morning!
They sound a lot healthier than donuts, especially because they aren't fried! Happy Easter, Barbara!
These look and sound wonderful, I have never seen muffins that were like donuts before.
looks like the perfect way to start the day, delish!
MMMM, my favourite part about the doughnut eating process is the first bite. That bite that's filled with sugar on the lips and soft, spongey goodness.
These are definitely the perfect sleepover breakfast! I bet they were a huge hit, they look incredible!
How very delicious with Apples in them Barbara! Such a great idea and the perfect compliment to the cinnamon! Thanks so much for the shout-out!
I'd love to try these sometime. I know my oldest would devour these!
These sound flippin unbelievable! Oh YUM!!!
Wow! They look and sound so yummy ( and easy- my kind of recipe!).
I'm so glad you tried these because I've been wondering if they are good. i've book marked it now!
yum! I have been seeing these around too on blogs and have been wanting to try them because i hate the smell of hot oil in the house. these look terrific.
These look and sound delicious. I can't wait to try them!
Thanks for sharing them!
Wow, donut and muffin all in one
Sounds and looks yummie specially this one with apple and cinnamon!
I've made these regular-style when I was fairly new to blogging and absolutely loved them. Adding apple to them is an amazing idea!
My family makes these in mini-muffin pans and calls them Conference Muffins.
Delicious and so much better for you than a deep fried donut! I bet they were a big hit with the boys.
Mmmmmm delicious! I love apples and cinnamon…perfect combination!
These look absolutely delicious. I will be making these for my kids hubby…and me too!
Ooh mum these look fantastic! They look just like donuts!
I made Jam donut cupcakes once but there weren't quite as donut shaped. Great job and how was your holiday? 
xxx
Barbara,
So nice to meet you and the family. I've enjoyed visiting your blog and hope to continue to follow it. Those cinnamon muffins look yummy…Now I'll have to ask Kelly to make some! LOL.
Kerry
Those look heavenly, Barbara! I've never made them, or anything like them.
Do they freeze well?
i let my mother know this..:) thanks
I wish I could pick one off the screen to enjoy for breakfast! The grated apple sounds great in them.
Wow these look and sound amazing!
I've been seeing recipes for baked donuts all over the blogosphere and I am definitely convinced to try them. I love how you used whole wheat for these.
Donut Muffins are so good! I've never had apple flavored. Yummy!
Yum!! I love the idea of apples in the muffins and also whole wheat flour. Better taste AND less guilt.
I had posted about cinnamon sugar donut muffins last year. I realy like how you made it better for you with the whole wheat flour and the apples. I would love one for breakfast.
These sound so awesome! Love the additions/substitutions you made
Made these this morning for my little guy to take in his lunch box. Fantastic!
These are amazingly delicious muffins. The grated apple and the cinnamon add just the right amount of yummy goodness. Enjoy.