Kids can bake: these low carb apple cider donut muffins

If you are looking for a simple, fall treat to make with your kiddos, give these Apple Cider Donut Muffins a go!  They are super easy to throw together (you don’t even need a mixer) and taste so much like Apple Cider Donuts, you’ll think you’re eating the real thing…sans all the added sugar.

This post may contain affiliate links*

Kids can…

This muffin recipe is another great one to do with the kiddos.  While I don’t have any pics of my daughter making these, trust me…she practically made them herself!

She loved squeezing the secret ingredient into the batter (more on that below), measuring, mixing and getting those muffin tins lined with liners. She always ditches me when it’s time to clean but…you know.  That’s the price you pay when you’re baking with a 5 year old!

No apple cider needed

While these are called Apple Cider Donut Muffins, there is absolutely no cider in this recipe.  Apple cider is filled with sugar (around 24 grams per cup without added sugar) and most traditional apple cider donut recipes call for at least two cups. Because the hubs and I wanted to enjoy these too, I had to get creative in developing that rich apple flavor without all the extra sugar and carbs.

Applesauce is the secret

The (not so) secret ingredient in these apple cider donut muffins is the applesauce. I almost always have squeezy pouches on hand and this recipe calls for just two pouches of applesauce (totaling 26 grams of sugar spread out over 12 muffins).

Just make sure it is completely unsweetened (these ones are great). I used unsweetened apple cinnamon pouches because that’s what I have, but regular ol’ apple sauce will do since you’re adding cinnamon anyway!

Are apples keto-friendly?

Fruit is not completely out if you’re on a keto diet (berries are okay in moderation because they are super low carb!).  But apples fall into a questionable category because they are super high in carbs. Like anything, whatever you eat is your choice, but if you are eating keto and want to enjoy one of these muffins, you can take into account that 1 cup of applesauce is spread over 12 muffins.

So, each muffin is only 5.6 net carbs.  Now, if you’re strict at 20 net carbs per day, these would take up a quarter of your carbs for the day.  But, if you’re not strict to 20 net (many of us stay in ketosis at under 50 net carbs per day), these are the perfect Fall treat.

Toppings optional

These muffins are delish without any “extras”.  But, if you want to feel like you’re eating an apple cider donut, you’ve gotta add a little cinnamon sugar topping.  I whipped up a mixture of cinnamon and sugar substitute and melted a little butter.  Using a basting brush (because brushing butter on food is fun…amiright?) I topped the muffin with a little butter and dipped it into the cinnamon “sugar”.  OMG.  I wish I was eating one of these right now!!

BAKING STAPLES

Apple cider donut muffin recipe below

The recipe for these delicious, no-sugar-added muffins is below. They take a bit longer if you are baking them with your kiddos, but if you do them yourself while the kiddos are at school?  Fifteen minutes prep time…tops.

Print Recipe

Low Carb Apple Cider Donut Muffins

These Apple Cider Donut Muffins are fool-proof and easy to make. Great as an after school snack, perfect for keto dieters, grain-free, sugar-free and absolutely delish.

Servings

muffins

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cup Almond Flour
• 1/2 cup Coconut Flour
• 1/2 cup granulated erythritol
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp Cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp himalayan pink salt
• 4 large Eggs
• 1 cup applesauce unsweetened (2) applesauce pouches are perfect!
• 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp pure almond extract
• 2 tbsp heavy whipping cream

For the Topping

• 1 tbsp granulated erythritol
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
• 1 tbsp butter

Servings muffins Ingredients 1 1/4 cup Almond Flour 1/2 cup Coconut Flour 1/2 cup granulated erythritol 1 tbsp baking powder 1 tbsp Cinnamon 1/4 tsp himalayan pink salt 4 large Eggs 1 cup applesauce unsweetened (2) applesauce pouches are perfect! 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract 1/4 tsp pure almond extract 2 tbsp heavy whipping cream For the Topping 1 tbsp granulated erythritol 1/2 tsp Cinnamon 1 tbsp butter

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin tins with parchment liners. You can also spray them with oil of choice - but grain-free baked goods tend to stick so be sure to cover entire muffin tins.
2. In a large bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients. Whisk well until well combined.
3. Lightly beat the eggs, heavy whipping cream, vanilla and almond in a separate bowl, then fold in the applesauce.
4. Pour wet mixture into dry and gently fold together until combined. You don't want to overmix, but you do want to make sure everything is blended so you do not see any dry left over
5. Evenly distribute the batter between the muffin tins. If you are using a cookie scoop, each muffin tin takes approximately 2 scoops.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from muffin tin and cool on a cooling rack.

Make the Topping

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar substitute and cinnamon.
2. Melt the butter in the microwave in 15-second increments until completely fluid.
3. Using a pastry brush, brush muffin with butter and immediately dip into sugar mixture to evenly coat. Complete this process for all muffins and ENJOY!

Recipe Notes

SERVING SIZE: 1 muffin  (makes 12 muffins)

MACROS: 136.9 calories | 9.9 g fat | 5.3 g protein | 5.6 net carbs

Nutritional Info Disclaimer:  I am not a medical or nutritional professional.  I provide nutritional information for my recipes as a courtesy based upon the ingredients I'm using.  I encourage you to find a nutritional calculator you like best and calculate individual nutrition info based upon the ingredients you are using.  All carb counts are based upon total carbs unless otherwise noted.

MORE SUGAR-FREE DESSERTS HERE!