👩‍🍳A Favorite Fall Drink In Muffin Form

Maybe it’s because I was born in November, but I’ve always loved Fall. The crisp air, the crunchy leaves, the way everything feels just a little quieter. I live for those cool mornings on the porch with a blanket and a warm drink, just watching the world go by. But what I really love most are the fall recipes. The ones that make your kitchen smell like cinnamon and apples. This apple muffin is one of those. Simple, cozy, and full of the flavors I crave this time of year.

A few falls ago, a friend hosted a backyard hangout. It was one of those crisp evenings where you can see your breath and everything smells like woodsmoke. I brought a thermos of warm apple cider with spiced rum and butter and pretty much sipped it all night. Sweet, smooth, and just boozy enough to warm you up from the inside.

That night stuck with me. The cold air, the good company, and that need to hang onto something warm. These muffins are basically that feeling baked.

They’re soft and tender, with small chunks of apple that stay juicy after simmering in butter and rum. The texture is light and fluffy, not too sweet, and perfectly balanced. Olive oil and maple syrup keep them moist without weighing them down. You get all the cozy flavors you expect in a fall muffin: cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. But the apple cider and spiced rum give them a mellow depth that makes them stand out.

Raw sugar on top gives them a light crunch that plays perfectly with the soft texture inside. They are not overly sweet so they work just as well with a morning coffee as they do warmed up with butter after dinner.

These spiced apple cider muffins are simple and packed with apple flavor. Just the kind of treat you want around when the weather turns cool and baking with apples feels like the right move.

🛒 Recipe Ingredient List

🥣 Visual Process for Making Apple Cider Muffins

This recipe yields 12 moist, flavorful muffins, perfect for cozy fall mornings.

In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter and add spiced rum along with the chopped apples. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are softened and infused with the warm flavors of buttered rum. Set aside to cool, letting the apples sit in the liquid for maximum flavor, then discard any excess.

In a large bowl, combine olive oil, spiced rum, maple syrup, eggs, apple cider, the drained apples, and vanilla extract. Stir well to create a smooth, spiced batter base that will help these muffins stay moist and flavorful.

In a separate bowl, whisk together baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, brown sugar, flour, and oats. These classic spices, combined with whole-grain oats, add both flavor and a little extra texture to every bite.

Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined for soft, fluffy muffins. Be careful not to overmix!

Spoon the batter into each muffin cup, filling about 2/3 of the way. Any leftover batter can be evenly divided. Sprinkle with raw sugar. Bake for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, giving each muffin a golden, bakery-style finish.

Let the muffins cool before transferring them to an airtight container. To enjoy warm, pop a muffin in the microwave for 20 seconds and serve with a smear of butter.

Spiced Buttered Rum Apple Cider Muffins

Spiced buttered rum apple cider muffins are a delicious treat! Made with tender apples, warm spices, and a hint of rum.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 22 minutes mins

Total Time 42 minutes mins

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Servings 12 servings

Calories 118 kcal

Equipment

• Muffin Tin

Ingredients

  

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• 4 tbsp butter
• ½ cup spiced rum (like Captain Morgan, divided)
• 2 cups apples (peeled and chopped small)
• ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup pure maple syrup
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup apple cider
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• pinch of cloves
• ¼ cup Light Brown Sugar
• 1¾ cup all-purpose flour (or use half whole wheat and half AP Flour)
• raw sugar (to sprinkle on top before baking)

Instructions

 

• Heat a skillet over medium heat. Melt 4 tbsp butter, then add ¼ cup spiced rum and 2 cups apples. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are softened. Remove from heat and allow to cool mostly. You will discard any remaining liquid but let the apples sit in the liquid to soak up more of the flavors while they cool.
  
• Preheat oven to 350℉. Prepare a standard-size muffin pan by using liners or greasing the cups with butter. This batter makes 12 standard-size muffins.
  
• To a large bowl, combine ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil, ¼ cup spiced rum, ¼ cup pure maple syrup, 2 large eggs, ½ cup apple cider, the drained apples and 1 tsp vanilla extract, until well combined.
  
• To another medium bowl whisk 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp baking powder, ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp nutmeg, pinch of cloves, ¼ cup Light Brown Sugar and 1¾ cup all-purpose flour.
  
• Add dry ingredients to wet and mix until just combined.
  
• Fill the muffin tins until they are 2/3 full. If you have extra batter left over, simply divide it among the tins. Sprinkle the tops of each muffin with raw sugar.
  
• Bake at 350℉ for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  
• Allow the muffins to cool before storing in an airtight container. To warm, place in microwave for 20 seconds. Serve with butter.

Notes

Make sure your eggs, butter, and other ingredients are at room temperature. This helps them blend better and results in a smoother batter, which means a softer muffin texture.

Let the cooked apples sit in the rum mixture as they cool. This infuses them with even more flavor, which will enhance the buttery, spiced notes throughout the muffins.

Substitutions

For a recipe like Spiced Buttered Rum Apple Cider Muffins, you’ll want a spiced rum that brings warmth and depth without overpowering the apples or fall spices. Here are some great options:

• Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum: A classic choice, it’s known for its balanced notes of vanilla, caramel, and cinnamon, making it perfect for baking.
• Bacardi Spiced Rum: Bacardi’s take on spiced rum has a lighter, smooth flavor profile with hints of maple and honey, which adds subtle sweetness and warmth.

Storage

For that fresh-out-of-the-oven feel, pop a muffin in the microwave for about 20 seconds before serving, especially if you stored them. A little melted butter on top doesn’t hurt either!

Nutrition

Calories: 118kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 1gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 134mgPotassium: 31mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 0IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 1mg

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Spiced Buttered Rum Apple Cider Muffins Serving Suggestions

These apple cider muffins are perfect fresh out of the oven with a pat of butter or a drizzle of warm honey for a cozy, comforting treat. For a brunch-worthy spread, serve them alongside creamy Greek yogurt, a seasonal fruit salad, and a hot cup of cinnamon-spiced coffee or chai tea. Want to elevate things even more? Try topping the muffins with a spoonful of homemade apple butter or a maple glaze for extra fall flavor. They also pair beautifully with a sharp cheddar cheese on a charcuterie board.