8 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled, divided
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ cup granulated white sugar
Instructions
Bring spiced apple cider to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Boil, stirring occasionally, until reduced to ½ cup, about 10 minutes. Transfer to small heatproof bowl; let cool.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tray with solid vegetable shortening or with cooking spray. Do not use paper muffin cups.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and 1 teaspoon apple pie spice in a medium bowl. Place brown sugar, oil, and 4 Tablespoons of the melted butter in a large bowl; whisk until well combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, whisking well after each addition; whisk in vanilla. Add half of flour mixture to oil mixture; whisk in apple cider concentrate; add remaining flour mixture, whisking until just combined. Batter will be on the thin side.
Spoon batter into wells of prepared muffin tray, filling each about ¾ full. Bake until a wooden pick inserted into center of muffins comes out clean, about 18-22 minutes; let cool in pan for 5 minutes. Remove muffins from tray and remove to wire rack.
Place granulated sugar and remaining 1 teaspoon apple pie spice in a shallow bowl; whisk to combine. Working with 1 warm muffin at a time and using a pastry brush, brush all sides of the muffins with the remaining 4 Tablespoons of melted butter (reheat slightly if it became hard), the roll the entire muffin in the spiced sugar to coat all over. Serve warm.
Recipe by The Culinary Cellar at https://theculinarycellar.com/apple-cider-doughnut-muffins/