Apple Cinnamon Muffins

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Cinnamon apple muffins are the perfect treat for a cozy morning or afternoon snack. Packed with the warm flavors of cinnamon and chunks of sweet apples, they’re a breeze to make and will fill your home with a delightful aroma.

close photo of cinnamon apple muffin

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Every fall during apple season there is a huge surge of people making my apple recipes like Apple Hand Pies, Apple Bread, Apple Crumble Pie, Pumpkin Apple Butter, and Apple Crisp.

Over the years I’ve been asked time and again to adapt my apple bread into muffins, and here they are at last! I guarantee you that you will love these delicious, crumbly cinnamon apple muffins. They are a great way to enjoy fresh apples after a trip apple picking in the autumn.

WHY I LOVE THIS RECIPE

  • each fluffy muffin has perfect amount of apple pieces and the warm cinnamon sugar swirl takes them over the top.
  • these easy apple muffins use only a few simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.
  • like my apple bread that has over 200 reviews, this is a 5-star recipe
  • like my favorite pumpkin muffins, they are grab-and-go for the perfect fall breakfast on the run.
  • you only need one apple for the entire batch!

INGREDIENTS

  • light brown sugar
  • ground cinnamon
  • white sugar
  • butter
  • eggs
  • vanilla extract
  • all-purpose flour
  • baking powder
  • milk
  • large apple

Step by step

  1. Mix the cinnamon sugar and chop your apples. Set aside.
  2. Cream together sugar and butter in a stand mixer (affiliate link) or with a hand mixer in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Add eggs and vanilla. 
  4. Mix flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined. Add milk and mix.
  5. Line a muffin tin with muffin liners and fill each liner halfway with muffin batter.
  6. Top with apples and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar mixture.
  7. Pour in remaining batter and top with remaining apples and cinnamon sugar.
  8. Pat the apple crumb topping into the top of the bread with the back of a spoon and bake for 30 minutes.
  9. Let cool ten minutes before removing from the pan.

FAQs

What are the best apples for baking?

Choose firm kinds of apple varieties such as Granny Smith apples, Pink Lady, Gala, or Fuji. Softer types of apples won’t stand up to the baking.

Can I make these with applesauce?

Applesauce can be a substitute in most recipes that have vegetable oil, however, I do not recommend them in this recipe. The butter adds a lot to the flavor and shouldn’t be substituted.

Can I swirl in the cinnamon sugar and apples?

Yes! Many people like to use a butterknife to swirl the batter and apple cinnamon mixture together before baking. They taste amazing with or without the swirling step so experiment with what you prefer!

Do I have to use muffin liners?

Yes, do not skip the muffin liners. These are soft and crumbly in texture and won’t hold together well without the muffin cups or paper liners. These reusable liners are great.

Can I freeze these muffins?

Yes, these muffins freeze well. Simply allow the muffins to cool completely then wrap them individually with plastic wrap and store them in a freezer bag. When you are ready to eat the muffins, allow to thaw at room temperature before serving.

How do I store these apple muffins?

Keep leftover muffins in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3-4 days (if they last that long! If you need to keep them longer I recommend freezing them.

apple cinnamon muffin cut in half

I hope you love these yummy apple cinnamon muffins as much as we do, next you might want to try our bakery-style blueberry muffins with streusel topping

If you try them, please comment and rate them below, I love hearing from you!

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close photo of cinnamon apple muffin

Apple Cinnamon Muffins


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5 from 2 reviews

Description

Apple Cinnamon Muffins are filled with delicious apple bits and perfect cinnamon spice swirl. These easy muffins are perfect for breakfast but indulgent enough to be dessert as well!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2/3 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 large apple, peeled and finely chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Line a muffin pan with muffin liners.
  3. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl and set aside.
  4. In a stand mixer (affiliate link) or large bowl, combine white sugar and butter and mix until smooth.
  5. Add eggs and vanilla and continue to beat on medium speed until combined.
  6. Add flour and baking powder, then milk.
  7. Fill each muffin liner halfway with batter.
  8. Cover with half of the apples.
  9. Pat apples into batter with the back of a spoon.
  10. Sprinkle with half of sugar and cinnamon mixture.
  11. Pour the remaining batter over apple layer; top with remaining apples and add more brown sugar/cinnamon mixture.
  12. Pat topping into the batter with the back of a large spoon. Swirl with a butter knife if desired.
  13. Bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  14. Cool in pan 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: breakfast
  • Method: baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 232
  • Sugar: 22.6 g
  • Sodium: 21.6 mg
  • Fat: 8.7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 36.1 g
  • Protein: 3.2 g
  • Cholesterol: 51.5 mg

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2 Comments

  1. Just whipped these up. I was lazy and took a couple shortcuts. I used self rising flour and used a whisk instead of getting the mixer out. They taste great, not too sweet. Will make again.