Apple Cider Muffins

We've been on an apple cider kick lately. I'm not sure what is better than a mug of warm, cinnamon-spiced apple cider, aside from a mug of warm, cinnamon-spiced apple cider with pie crust biscotti.

These muffins from How Sweet It Is are good, but nowhere near as good as what I described above ... how could they be when I said I didn't know what was better?

Apple Cider Muffins

Muffins
2 honeycrisp apples, diced
3 Tbsp. apple cider
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cardamom
1 pinch of nutmeg
1 large egg
1/3 cup loosely packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
4 Tbsp. brown butter, melted and cooled
1/3 cup apple cider
Brown butter apple cider glaze
4 Tbsp. brown butter, melted and cooled
1 1/2 Tbsp. apple cider
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2-3/4 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Heat a small skillet over medium-low heat, and add diced apples with 3 Tbsp. apple cider and a pinch of cinnamon and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until apples are soft and caramely, about 8-10 minutes. In a bowl, whisk together flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices. Set aside. Line a muffin tin with liners.

In a large bowl, whisk egg and brown sugar together until smooth and no lumps remain. Add in vanilla extract, butter, apple sauce and apple cider, whisking again until smooth. Gradually add in dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Fold in diced apples. Do not overmix. Fill each muffin liner 2/3 of the way full with batter.

Bake for 15-17 minutes or until tops are no longer wet and become slightly golden. Top with glaze if desired. To make glaze, combine brown butter, vanilla extract and powdered sugar. Whisk until the mixture comes together, and then add in 1 Tbsp. of apple cider, continuing to mix. If it still doesn’t appear glaze-like, add in cider 1/2 Tbsp. at a time and mix again. Spoon glaze on warm muffins or dip each top in the glaze, and then serve. Makes 12 muffins.