Doughnut Muffins
These are exactly what they sound like – muffins that taste like doughnuts! At first glance they seem kind of plain. There are no add-ins (although I’m sure you could come up with some great additions!), no outstanding flavor combinations – they are just simple little vanilla muffins with a hint of nutmeg. And yet, even in all their plainness, these muffins are very, very good. Sometimes it’s the simple things that taste the best.
They have a cake-like texture, and the cinnamon sugar topping is just like icing on the cake. You really can’t go wrong when something is dipped first in melted butter and then in cinnamon sugar. The topping takes the taste from good, but plain, to “wow this tastes just like a doughnut!” (which might have been the exact words Mike used when he ate his first muffin). These would be delicious as mini-muffins, or you could even get fancy and top them with a powdered sugar glaze. With so many options, there’s really no reason not to make these muffins. They’re sweet, and kind of old fashioned, and they make a great breakfast addition.
Doughnut Muffins
Yield: Yield: 12 muffins
Ingredients:
Batter:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 to 1 1/4 teaspoons ground nutmeg, to taste
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 2/3 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1 cup milk
Topping:
3 tablespoons melted butter
3 tablespoons cinnamon sugar (I used 1/2 cup sugar mixed with 1 Tbsp cinnamon)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Lightly grease a standard muffin tin. If using paper muffin cups, spray the cups with cooking spray to ensure that they peel off the muffins easily.
In a medium-sized bowl, cream together the butter, oil, and sugars until smooth. Add the eggs and beat to combine. Stir in the baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, salt, and vanilla.
Starting and ending with the flour, alternately stir the flour and milk into the butter mixture. Make sure everything is thoroughly combined. Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared pan, filling the cups nearly full.
Bake the muffins for 15 to 17 minutes, or until they're a pale golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the middle of one of the center muffins comes out clean. Remove them from the oven and, using a fork, tip the muffins sideways in the pan to keep the bottoms from steaming. (See picture) Let them cool for a couple of minutes, or until you can handle them.
While they're cooling, melt the butter for the topping. Dip the top of each muffin in the melted butter and roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Serve warm, or cool on a rack and wrap airtight. Store for a day or so at room temperature.
adapted, slightly, from King Arthur Flour
Welcome! I'm Megan and it's my hope that here you'll find food that has been made with love and recipes that are shared with joy. Thanks for stopping by! 
Cute! They're look like mini donuts.
Never had a doughtnut muffin before! Looks cute and I'm sure they are perfect with a cup of coffee!
These look amazing!
All I'm missing is a muffin tin 🙁
I have wanted to make these muffins for weeks but I am so afraid I will eat every single one of them!
oh those look great!
Megan, I made these a few months ago (same recipe) and we LOVED them!! I think they all got eaten in one day, lol. They're great!
I've seen a few bloggers making these lately. They look amazing!! I think I need to follow suite and make a batch myself, too 🙂 cinnamon sugar donuts are the best!! And these have to be considered a healthier alternative, after all they're not deep fried (never mind the dunk in butter…we're not talking about that LOL)
I can't wait to try this recipe!
mmmmmm…those look incredibly tasty! But I am a sucker for anything that tastes like doughnuts!!
These look amazing!!! I'd love to talk photography again with you, and hear more about blogging! We definitely need to do more girls' night out events. 🙂 – Andrea
ive made a recipe twice now of this…yup delicious! even using half butter/half applesauce in them they are still so good!
ive made a recipe twice now of this…yup delicious! even using half butter/half applesauce in them they are still so good!
I've been dying to make these!
Hmmm – these look so amazing. I could easily eat 2, 3, 4 or 5 in one sitting!
yes, i love these! i have the same recipe (from the pioneer woman) and they are the BEST breakfast treat. not to mention afternoon/evening treat as well!
I've heard so much about these muffins and yours look so good.
Andrea – Thanks for the comment – I totally agree, another girls night – I'll bake, you photograph and teach me everything you know 😉
Brenda, Heather, delishliving – Thanks for commenting – it's nice to hear that other people like these too!
Andrea – Thanks for the comment – I totally agree, another girls night – I'll bake, you photograph and teach me everything you know 😉
Brenda, Heather, delishliving – Thanks for commenting – it's nice to hear that other people like these too!
Hi Megan! Thanks for stopping at my blog. I was surprised to see you are from GR. I live in Allendale!
Your recipes look great! I'm going to have to try these muffins out.
Thanks for visiting me. And yes, the pumpkin pudding is so easy and delicious. A big hit at my house.
AND these look divine. My ds12 who loves to bake will be happy to make these tomorrow for breakfast. Thank you!
Jill
http://blessedwith5sons.blogspot.com/
Thanks for visiting me. And yes, the pumpkin pudding is so easy and delicious. A big hit at my house.
AND these look divine. My ds12 who loves to bake will be happy to make these tomorrow for breakfast. Thank you!
Jill
http://blessedwith5sons.blogspot.com/
Okay. With as many donut muffin recipes I've been seeing lately, I am definitely going to have to try them! Thanks for sharing!
I have the pleasure to try some donut muffins (not sure if they were the same recipe or not), and they were SOOO good! I haven't tried making them myself yet, though, because I know I'll eat entirely too many! Yours look just as good!
I keep seeing these on everyone's blogs. It's like they're calling out to me and asking me to make them! Yours are really cute! I love how small and dainty they are. Does that mean I can eat more at one sitting? 🙂
Hello my two favorite things– donuts and muffins!
And goodbye low carb diet!!! YUM!
Mari – How fun that you are so close by! I never knew there were so many bloggers from West Michigan 🙂
A glimpse of me – I hope you and your son like these as much as we did! Thanks for stopping by to comment 🙂
Julie – yes, it means you can eat twice as many 😉
Mari – How fun that you are so close by! I never knew there were so many bloggers from West Michigan 🙂
A glimpse of me – I hope you and your son like these as much as we did! Thanks for stopping by to comment 🙂
Julie – yes, it means you can eat twice as many 😉
These look soo good!!! And so cute 🙂
Sometimes simpler flavors are the best. And these look pretty dang good to me!! 😀
i've made these before and they are good! but i always feel confused when im eating them trying to think if it tastes more like a doughnut or a muffin.. and i love your pictures
-Tawny @ The Year of The Cookie
YESSSSSS! I can't wait to make these!!
Doughnuts are such a mess to make. What a great take on them.
Plan B
yum! I've seen these posted in so many places, you KNOW it must be a good recipe! Need to try sometime!!!
Megan, I wanted to let you know that I decided to try making these muffins. I loved the look of them and had all the ingredients, so it seemed like the perfect activity for a cool Sunday evening. Alas, I cannot fully enjoy them (as you know), but I'm planning on sharing them with a friend who recently had surgery. That's right: I'm taking a hint from today's post to use this opportunity to love others. 🙂 Thanks for the prompting and the great recipe!
I love your photos, and the donut muffins themselves are adorable. Such perfectly risen little domes… Now you're tempting me to trying veganizing the recipe!
Those look amazing! I made a similar version for an ice cream cupcake contest I entered – doughnut muffins, or cupcakes, are the best!
http://www.20somethingcupcakes.com/2010/05/sugar-donut-coffee-ice-cream-cupcakes/
Yummy! These muffins look great!! My favorite muffin recipe is for Bay State Muffins! I'm definitely adding yours to my "To Try" list! Thanks for sharing!
I love baking these muffins! They are perfect for someone who loves muffins and cake doughnuts at the same time!
I love baking these muffins! They are perfect for someone who loves muffins and cake doughnuts at the same time!
Laura – I hope your friend liked them! Thanks for the nice comment 🙂
Laura – I hope your friend liked them! Thanks for the nice comment 🙂
I made these yesterday–they're great –thanks for the recipe! I really enjoy your blog Megan!
Laurie – Thanks for stopping back to let me know – I'm so glad you liked them! And thank you also for your kind words 🙂
Laurie – Thanks for stopping back to let me know – I'm so glad you liked them! And thank you also for your kind words 🙂
Oh. My. Gosh. These sound so incredibly yummy!