Loaded with chunks of apples and rolled in buttery cinnamon sugar, these easy cinnamon apple muffins are sure to become a family favorite this fall!
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Favorite Fall Snack
Kids and adults alike are sure to love these tasty cinnamon apple muffins. Not only are they delicious, but they bake up quickly and are prepped in just 15 minutes. A perfect snack or breakfast!
These apple muffins are perfectly moist and fluffy with sweet chunks of freshly chopped apples mixed throughout. They’re finished off with a buttery cinnamon sugar topping that adds a rich and sweet flavor that takes them up a notch. The flavors and textures are so delicious!
I love to make a big batch and freeze half for an easy on-the-go option. They reheat nicely and are a treat my whole family loves to reach for. These are definitely one of my new favorite fall snacks, along with these easy pumpkin muffins with a cake mix and pumpkin banana bread.
Enjoy as an easy breakfast along with a cup of hot chocolate, a snack for the road or as an indulgent apple dessert to curb your sweet tooth. These apple cinnamon muffins are so versatile!
Recipe Ingredients
This apple muffin recipe comes together with a few baking staples and some popular fall ingredients and spices. Check out everything you’ll need below.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Apples: I love to use Granny Smith apples when making these muffins. They’re sweet, crisp and will hold their shape when baking. Peel and dice them first before using, so there isn’t any tough skin included.
- Baking staples: All-purpose flour, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla, baking powder and salt.
- Spices: Add warm fall flavor by using a combination of apple pie spice and ground cinnamon.
- Oil: This makes the muffins super moist and tender. Vegetable oil is my preference, but canola oil or coconut oil would also work.
- Apple sauce: For even more apple flavor and a moist texture.
- Buttermilk: Made with a simple mixture of milk and vinegar, buttermilk helps to make these muffins super light and soft.
- Topping: Melted butter, cinnamon and sugar are added on top to give these apple muffins the ultimate finishing touch!
Variations
These apple muffins would taste delicious with chopped pecans or walnuts added in. You can also add more fall spices for a bolder flavor, such as nutmeg, all-spice or cardamom.
Instead of a simple cinnamon sugar topping, feel free to use a chewier streusel topping or make an easy crumb topping. You could also leave off the topping all together and drizzle with a sweet maple glaze instead.
How to Make Apple Muffins
Only 15 minutes of prep time needed to whip up this recipe for apple muffins. The rest is just baking and cooling time! Follow the simple steps below to get started.
- Wet ingredients. Whisk together the vegetable oil, apple sauce and sugar in a large bowl. Add the eggs, vanilla and buttermilk and whisk or beat until well combined.
- Dry ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, apple pie spice and cinnamon. Pour the flour mixture into the bowl with the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not over mix.
- Toss. Add the diced apples into a separate bowl and toss with a little bit of flour and cinnamon. This gives them more flavor, as well as prevents them from sinking to the bottom of the muffin pan.
- Fold. Gently fold the diced apples into the batter until combined.
- Fill and bake. Divide the batter evenly between a lined 12-cup muffin tin and bake at 375°F for about 30 minutes. The muffins will be ready when the edges are lightly golden and a toothpick comes out clean. Then remove to a cooling rack.
- Roll in cinnamon sugar. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Brush the tops of the muffins with melted butter, then roll into the cinnamon sugar mixture until well coated.
Mini Cinnamon Apple Muffins
You can also make these into mini apple muffins for a smaller bite. Simply bake in a mini muffin pan at 375°F for about 16 to 18 minutes. This recipe will make about 48 mini muffins.
I don’t know about you, but there is just something about mini muffins that I just can’t resist. They are just so fun. I have to be careful, or I can pop half a dozen in my mouth without even thinking about it!
Expert Tips
- Grating apples. For one of my trial batches, I grated the apples. We prefer the diced apples, because the flavor is more pronounced. But if you have kids who don’t like fruit in their muffins, go ahead and grate them. The apple muffins will be a little more dense, but still delicious!
- Buttermilk. If you don’t have any on hand, make your own buttermilk with a simple mixture of milk and distilled vinegar or lemon juice.
- Topping. The first time I made these, I just sprinkled the tops with cinnamon sugar. They were good, but rolling them in the buttery cinnamon sugar mixture after they bake made them extra scrumptious.
Recipe FAQs
The best apples to bake with are varieties that are crisp with a sweet flavor. You want them to able to hold their shape when baking. No one likes mushy apples!
I prefer to use Granny Smith apples in this apple muffins recipe, although Honeycrisp are another great option.
In this case, there are a few key ingredients included in this recipe that make these easy apple muffins so moist and delicious. The apple sauce, vegetable oil and buttermilk all contribute to the perfectly moist texture, so I wouldn’t recommend making substitutions that could alter the consistency.
These muffins do taste best served the first day (especially warm!), but will stay fresh at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Yes, you may freeze them for up to 3 months. Let thaw at room temperature for about 1 hour prior to enjoying, or thaw in the microwave until warm.
Want more muffin recipes? Snack on these delicious pumpkin crumb muffins, banana bread muffins or morning glory muffins.
More Delicious Fall Recipes
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Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Ingredients
Muffins
- 2 Granny Smith apples , peeled and finely diced (about 2 cups)
- 2 cups + 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour , divided
- 2 teaspoons apple pie spice , see notes
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon , divided
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup apple sauce
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt or table salt
Topping
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2-3 Tablespoons melted unsalted butter
Instructions
Muffins
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Generously grease or line with muffin cups a 12-cup muffin tin.
- In a medium bowl, toss apples, 2 teaspoons flour, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, apple sauce, and sugar until combined. Beat in eggs, vanilla, and buttermilk until well combined.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 2 cups flour, baking powder, salt, apple pie spice and remaining cinnamon. Stir flour mixture into wet ingredients. Fold in the apples.
- Divide batter evenly between the tin cups. Bake 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the edges are golden. Remove pan from oven and place on a cooling rack.
Topping
- In a small bowl, stir together the sugar and cinnamon. Brush the tops of the muffins with butter, then roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
The little pieces of apple are the best part of this recipe – so good! Can’t wait to make these again.
That’s my favorite part too! So glad you enjoyed them :)
So moist and flavorful! My kids loved them. Thank you!
These are fantastic as a quick breakfast-on-the-go! Love keeping them on hand in the freezer!
So convenient! Glad you enjoyed them, Glenda :)
Loved these muffins, anything with apple and cinnamon in and I can’t resist!
I feel the same way! So glad you loved them, Mandy :)
My kids are constantly searching the pantry for an after school snack. These turned out perfect. Next time I will have to double the batch.
So happy to hear your little ones loved them, MacKenzie! :)