You need these easy apple cinnamon muffins in your life! Ella and I absolutely love muffins so we wanted to create a new recipe featuring some of our favorite fall flavors. That’s why we decided to make these healthy apple cinnamon muffins! We are so glad we did because they are incredibly moist and delicious.

Each bite offers the perfect balance of tender apple chunks and warm cinnamon, making these apple and cinnamon muffins an irresistible treat. Whether you enjoy them as a breakfast option or a snack, these muffins are sure to become a staple in your fall baking repertoire. They are bursting with flavor and just the right amount of sweetness. These muffins are a true fall favorite you won’t want to miss!

Why You Will Love These Apple Cinnamon Muffins

These muffins are easy to make with simple ingredients!
They are lightened up and healthy! There is no oil or butter in these muffins!
You taste delicious apple flavor throughout. There’s a burst of diced apples in each bite!
These muffins are moist, soft, tender, and light.
The ground cinnamon perfectly complements the apples.
It’s the ultimate combination of cozy fall flavors!
You can enjoy these apple cinnamon muffins for breakfast, as a snack, or dessert!
These muffins are great for meal prep!

What Are Apple Cinnamon Muffins?

Apple cinnamon muffins are soft, moist muffins made with diced fresh apples and warm cinnamon. We’ve combined the sweetness of apples with the cozy spice of cinnamon in these muffins! They’re easy to make and perfect for breakfast or a snack, especially during the fall! Also, these muffins are a healthier option made without butter or oil!

Ingredients Needed

Flour: We used all-purpose flour for this recipe.
Sweetener: Sweeten these muffins with sugar or a 1:1 sugar-free sweetener such as monk fruit. Keep in mind that sugar-free sweeteners tend to absorb more liquid, so you may need to add 1-2 more tablespoons of milk to the batter if it appears too thick.
Baking Powder and Baking Soda: Add baking powder and baking soda so the muffins rise.
Salt: Mix the salt with the dry ingredients.
Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon adds incredible flavor to these muffins!
Nutmeg: Add a pinch of ground nutmeg for another layer of flavor.
Eggs: You will need two large eggs for this recipe.
Applesauce: Use unsweetened applesauce for this recipe. The applesauce enhances the apple flavor and makes these muffins moist.
Milk: Add your milk of choice to the batter.
Vanilla: A splash of vanilla extract for flavor.
Apples: Use one cup of peeled diced apples. You will need about two medium apples or one large apple.

The Best Apples For Apple Cinnamon Muffins

We used Honey crisp apples in our muffins and they were perfect! Some other options are Gala, Fuji, or Pink Lady apples. You can even use a combination of different types of apples for this recipe! Or, opt for a tart apple flavor and use Granny Smith apples. Just make sure to peel and dice the apples into small chunks to ensure they bake evenly throughout the muffins.

How To Make Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Step 1: Wash, dry, and peel the apples. Then, evenly dice the apples into small pieces.

Step 2: Add the flour, sweetener, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg to a large bowl.

Dry ingredients for apple cinnamon muffins in bowl

Next, thoroughly mix these dry ingredients.

Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, unsweetened applesauce, milk, and vanilla extract.

Step 4: Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients a little at a time, until fully combined.

Step 5: Add the diced apples to the batter.

Then, lightly fold them in.

Step 6: Spray a non-stick silicone muffin pan with oil or add parchment paper liners to a muffin tin. Then, pour the batter into the muffin pan.

Step 7: Bake the muffins in the oven. Once done, let the muffins slightly cool and enjoy!

Muffin Batter Consistency

Keep in mind that sugar substitutes can absorb more liquid, which in turn makes the muffin batter thicker. Add 1-2 more tablespoons of milk or applesauce if your batter is too thick.

Expert Tips

Dice The Apples: Dice the peeled apples into small chunks. It helps ensure the diced apples are evenly distributed throughout the muffins.
Fold In The Diced Apples: Lightly fold the diced apples into the batter once the wet and dry ingredients are combined.
Avoid Over-Mixing: Thoroughly combine the wet and dry ingredients, being careful not to over-mix the batter. Over-mixing can cause dense muffins.
Use Unsweetened Applesauce: Ensure that you use unsweetened applesauce in this recipe.
How Many Apples To Use: You will need one cup of diced apples. This comes from about 2 medium-sized apples or one large apple.
How To Know When Muffins Are Done: You can check if the muffins are done by inserting a toothpick into the center of a muffin. If the toothpick comes out clean, the muffins are done.
Use A Measuring Cup: It’s helpful to use a 1/4 cup measuring cup or ice cream scoop to pour the batter into the muffin pan.
Use Fresh Leavening Agents: Check that your baking powder and baking soda aren’t expired to ensure the muffins rise.

Storage Instructions

Store leftover apple cinnamon muffins in an airtight container on the counter at room temperature for 1-2 days or in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. For longer storage, freeze these muffins for 1-2 months.

Variations

Flour To Use: We used all-purpose flour. You could use a 50/50 blend of all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour if you prefer. Or, you can substitute the all-purpose flour for oat flour. However, if you use whole wheat flour or oat flour, you may need to add more milk or applesauce to the batter as it absorbs more liquid.
Gluten-Free Option: To make these muffins gluten-free, use an all-purpose 1:1 gluten-free flour.
Dairy-Free Option: These apple cinnamon muffins are naturally dairy-free if you use dairy-free milk such as almond milk, oat milk, or cashew milk.
Sweetener To Use: You can use regular sugar, brown sugar, or a sugar-free sweetener such as monk fruit or Swerve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Apple Cinnamon Muffins Healthy?

These apple cinnamon muffins are a healthier option made without butter or oil. Instead, they are made with applesauce, which adds apple flavor and keeps them moist and soft! These muffins are perfect for a light, wholesome snack or breakfast!

How Long Will Cinnamon Apple Muffins Last In The Fridge?

These homemade cinnamon apple muffins will last 3-4 days in the fridge when stored in an airtight container.

Can You Freeze Apple Cinnamon Muffins?

Yes! You can freeze these apple cinnamon muffins! They are perfect for meal prep and will last up to 2 months in the freezer! Let them cool and store them in a freezer-safe bag or container.

Do I Have To Peel The Apples?

We recommend peeling the apples for this recipe. It helps create a smooth, uniform texture in the muffins. Peeled diced apple chunks blend more seamlessly into the batter. Also, peeled apples soften more evenly while the muffins bake.

More Muffin Recipes To Try Next!

If you try this recipe please be sure to leave us a comment and star rating ★★★★★ letting us know how it turns out for you.