With the perfect amount of cinnamon, little pockets of apples, and a sweet crumb topping, these Apple Cinnamon Muffins are the perfect way to start your day.
Looking for a way to use up those apples? Also try this German Apple Pancake or Apple Crisp.
I love muffins. I have over 30 different varieties here on Taste and Tell.
But there are a handful of them that we tend to go back to over and over again.
These Apple Cinnamon Muffins are one of those recipes. They first appeared here in 2010, and many years later, they are still going strong.
I love them because I almost always have all of the ingredients on hand. They are easy to whip up a batch, taking only about 30 minutes. And my whole family will gobble them up, which is always a plus!
And don’t think that apple muffins are just for the fall. We gladly make these all year round!
Ingredients
- Flour: I use all-purpose flour. I have not tested this recipe with any other flours.
- Cinnamon: You need lots of cinnamon so that the cinnamon flavor will shine! The majority will go in the muffins, but you will also add some to the crumb topping, as well.
- Baking Powder and Baking Soda: You need both baking powder and baking soda for this recipe to give them the perfect texture and lift.
- Salt: The salt will help to balance the flavors.
- Sugar: The muffins have granulated sugar, but then you will also need light brown sugar for the topping.
- Oil: I originally used to make these muffins with vegetable oil, but I’ve been trying to switch over to avocado oil. Both will work here, and if there is another neutral oil you like, it can also be substituted.
- Eggs: I like to whisk the eggs slightly before adding to the batter, just so that you don’t end up over-mixing.
- Applesauce: I usually have unsweetened applesauce on hand, but I have had people use sweetened applesauce, as well.
- Vanilla: A good vanilla extract will give you the best flavor.
- Apples: You will need a total of 1 1/2 cups of chopped apples. I like to chop them fairly small.
How to Make Apple Cinnamon Muffins
STEP 1: Combine all of the dry ingredients. This is the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. I like to use a whisk to make sure everything is evenly combined.
STEP 2: In another bowl, whisk together the sugar and the oil. Then add the eggs, applesauce, and vanilla extract.
STEP 3: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and mix just until it is almost combined. I like to leave a few dry patches here still, because you still need to add in the apples.
STEP 4: Add the apples to the batter. Mix just until combined.
STEP 5: Divide the batter between 12 muffin cups that have been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
STEP 6: Make the crumb topping by combining the brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Add the butter, and use a fork or a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the mixture, forming a crumb. Sprinkle this evenly over the muffin batter, then bake the muffins until a tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Tips and Tricks
- Don’t overmix your batter. Mix just until everything is combined.
- You can use an ice cream scoop or a spring loaded scoop to fill the muffin tins. This helps you to get even amounts of batter in each tin.
- Don’t overbake your muffins. Dry muffins are not good muffins. Bake them just until a tester inserted in the middle comes out clean, or once you can touch the top of the muffin and the muffin springs back.
- Let the muffins sit in the tin for about 10 minutes before removing to serve.
- You can either bake muffins in a greased muffin tin or with paper liners.
When using apples in baking, you want to use an apple that will remain crisp. I like using granny smith, but honeycrisp or braeburn are also good choices. You just don’t want an apple that will turn to mush when it is baked.
People have used many different substitutions for the applesauce with great results, including Greek yogurt, crushed pineapple, sour cream, and even orange juice! There are some great substitution ideas in the comments.
This is a personal preference. I usually keep them on because I don’t mind the texture and it’s faster than peeling the apples. But if you don’t like the texture, you can peel the apples. Or many people have shredded the apple, as well!
More Muffins Recipes You Need
Banana Crunch Muffins
Red Velvet Cream Cheese Muffins
Banana Muffins
Brown Sugar Muffins
Cinnamon Roll Muffins
Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
Cinnamon Muffins
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Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Ingredients
Muffins:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup neutral oil (I use avocado oil, but vegetable oil can also be used.)
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups chopped apples
Crumb Topping:
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon butter cut into small pieces
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Grease a 12 cup muffin pan.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt.2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- In another bowl, stir together the sugar and the oil. Stir in the eggs, applesauce and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until combined.1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup neutral oil, 2 eggs, 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Gently stir in the apples.1 1/2 cups chopped apples
- Spoon the mixture into the prepared muffin pan, dividing the batter equally between the cups.
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in the butter with a fork or a pastry blender until it resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the crumb over the batter in the muffin pan.1/3 cup light brown sugar, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 tablespoon butter
- Bake the muffins until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Let the muffins sit in the pan before removing to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Store any leftover muffins in an airtight container.
Amirah says
This recipe is amazing I was on a time limit so I made it into a loaf popped it into the oven for 45 minutes and enjoyed it warm.
Wayne hess says
Loved the recipe
Vibha G says
The muffins were a hit at my house.
Williamson says
The muffins are fabulous.! The 10 minute preparation given is a bad joke. Assembling 14 ingredients, pans, 3 bowls, all forms of measurement you own, peeling, coring, chopping apples, crumb topping…
Lupita says
OMG!!! I’ve baked a bunch during this quarantine and these are my favourite thing I’ve baked thus far! I followed the recipe exactly and used Granny Smith apples. I did have to bake it a little bit longer but I think that’s my ovens fault. But wow! These are so yummy! If you love anything apple these are a must try!
Tanya says
My kids love this recipe. I have made it a couple of times now and there are never any left over.
I added some coconut and rolled oats to the crumble top for texture.
I don’t have apple sauce so I substitute for vanilla bean Greek yogurt or cream or sour cream. Still get a great result.
Camille says
I love muffins! My friends love muffins and since I bake big batches to share with them, I thought I’d try these. I made them with the crumb topping. They are delicious! My dear older friends are hoping for more!! Thank you so much! Camille
Alissa Henry says
Followed the recipe exactly and they came out PERFECT! Soooooo good!
Anji Heath says
TI made these yesterday and they were very good! I should have chopped the apples up a little bit more and my husband and I wondered if, in addition to a smaller chop, if I should have sauteed the apples in butter before incorporating them into the dough. We also thought they were a little dry but that could be another misstep with how I chopped the apples. Overall, really great recipe!
Tami says
My family loves this recipe! Shared this goodness with friends!
Haley says
We loved this recipe! Printing it off so we can make it again and again!
Jenn says
Currently have these in the oven and they smell so good! Instead of just cutting up the apples, I caramelized them last night and added them to the dough. Can’t wait to try them. Thanks for the recipe
GEORGE FINCH says
Very good and easy recipe. A quick Sunday breakfast that made everyone smile. I didn’t have applesauce so replaced with approximately the same amount of orange juice instead. Perfect 👌
Susan says
I didn’t have applesauce, but I had pineapple and used that instead. Grated the apple instead of chopping. Great recipe!!
Sally says
These are super good. I did add oat flour for half of the flour and added some raisins. They are REALLY good.
JD says
These were excellent. Only thing I did differently was to use 2/3 cup sugar and 1/3 cup brown sugar in the batter. Yum!