Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Updated September 01, 2024
Quick Summary
Apple cinnamon muffins with a sweet and buttery cinnamon crumb topping. These muffins are easy to make and are great for breakfast or snack time.
Muffins are one of my favorite things to bake, blueberry, banana, pumpkin, strawberry, zucchini, and the list goes on! I love that they double as a breakfast and snack and they’re so good for days when you’re on the go.
I love making Apple Cinnamon Muffins during the fall months when apples are in season but they are also a good year-round muffin.
I love these muffins because they offer a delightful mix of flavors and textures.
- Sweet and Spicy: The dominant flavors are sweet and spicy. The apple pieces add a natural sweetness and a bit of tartness, while the ground cinnamon gives a warm, comforting spice that pairs beautifully with the apples.
- Moist and Tender: The muffins are typically moist and tender thanks to the combination of butter and buttermilk in the batter. The apples also contribute to this moistness.
- Comforting Aroma: They have a wonderful, inviting aroma of baked apples and cinnamon, which makes them perfect for cozy mornings or a comforting treat.
- Soft Crumb: The crumb is soft and fluffy, with bits of apple throughout. The cinnamon crumb topping adds a slight crunch and extra sweetness on the surface.
Enjoy the muffins warm or at room temperature! They’re perfect for breakfast or as a snack with a cup of coffee or tea.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make these apple cinnamon muffins! I love the spices that add so much flavor into this recipe.
- Flour – measure the flour most accurately by scooping it into the measuring cup and running a knife over the top before dumping it into the measuring bowl
- Sugar– granulated and brown sugar
- Baking soda and baking powder
- Spices– ground cinnamon and allspice
- Salt
- Unsalted butter– melted and slightly cooled
- Buttermilk, at room temperature – if you don’t have buttermilk, measure out the amount of milk you’ll need and add a splash of vinegar. Let it sit for a few minutes and it’s good to go! You can also use plain Greek yogurt or sour cream.
- Eggs – you’ll want these at room temperature for this recipe! Either pull them out ahead of time and let the eggs sit on the counter or run them under hot water for a minute or two to bring them to room temperature.
- Vanilla extract– use pure vanilla extract!
- Apples – peel, core, and dice your apples!
What Apples are Best in Muffins?
I love using Granny Smith or Honey crisp apples. They’re super juicy, and I love the way their tart flavor contrasts with the sweet muffin batter. Fuji, Braeburn, Jonagold, Pink Lady, and Gala are all good options for baking as well.
Crumb Topping
I love a muffin with a crumb topping! It makes them feel like such a treat. I make this crumb topping first, and then refrigerate it while I make the muffins. Combine the following ingredients in a bowl:
- Flour
- Brown sugar
- Granulated sugar
- Cinnamon
- Melted butter
How to Make Apple Cinnamon Muffins
This muffin recipe is easy and your house will smell amazing while they are baking!
- Line a 12 cup muffin tin with muffin liners AND spray the cups with nonstick cooking spray. Spraying the cups will ensure the muffins come out nice and clean.
- When you whisk the brown sugar into the dry ingredients make sure there are no brown sugar clumps. If you need to dissolve any large clumps with your fingers, you can.
- Melt the butter and let it cool slightly. Use room temperature eggs and buttermilk.
- Pour the wet ingredients over the dry and use a spatula to gently fold them together. Don’t stir it for too long; just until the flour disappears!
- Gently fold in the apples.
- Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups, then top each muffin evenly with crumb topping.
- Bake the muffins until they’re golden brown and the tops are set. This should take 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. You can also check for doneness by touching the muffin top lightly and it will spring back when ready.
- Let the pan cool on a cooling rack for 5 minutes before pulling them out of the pan.
Batter Consistency
Don’t over mix the batter or your muffins won’t be light and fluffy. Mix until the flour is just barely incorporated into the wet ingredients, and fold the apples in with as few stirs as possible. It will be a thick batter and that is ok!
Mini Muffins
You can absolutely use this recipe to make mini muffins! Follow the same instructions, fill your mini muffin tins, and just reduce the baking times. It will take 10 to 15 minutes, but check them early to be safe.
How to Store
- The muffins are best the day they are made, but you can store them in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days.
- You can also freeze the cooled muffins for up to 2 months in a freezer bag or freezer container.
More Muffin Recipes
- Blueberry Muffins
- Zucchini Muffins
- Pumpkin Muffins
- Double Chocolate Muffins
- Banana Muffins
- Strawberry Muffins
Check out more MUFFIN RECIPES!
More Apple Recipes
- Apple Cobbler
- Apple Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cinnamon Apple Crumble
- Apple Cinnamon Rolls
- Baked Peanut Butter Apple Oatmeal
- Apple Galette
- Apple Zucchini Bread
Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Ingredients
For the crumb topping:
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
For the muffins:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- ¾ cup buttermilk, at room temperature
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup peeled and diced apples (I use Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with paper muffin cups or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- To make the crumb topping, combine the flour, sugars, cinnamon, and melted butter in a small bowl. Mix with a fork until combined and mixture is crumbly. Place the bowl in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- To make the muffins: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugars, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and allspice. If there are small brown sugar clumps, break them up with your fingers.
- In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk until eggs are well combined with the other liquid ingredients.
- Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients and gently stir together with a spatula. Don’t over mix the batter, stir just until flour disappears. Gently fold in the apples.
- Divide the muffin batter evenly among the muffin cups. Top each muffin evenly with crumb topping. Gently press the crumbs into the batter.
- Bake the muffins for 18 to 20 minutes or until the muffin tops are golden and the tops are set. You can insert a toothpick into the center of a muffin and if it comes out clean, they are done.
- Transfer the pan to a cooling rack and let the muffins cool for 5 minutes in the pan. Remove from the pan and enjoy!
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?
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I used to make these muffins all the time and it was always my go-to recipe. But I could SWEAR the recipe used to have whole wheat flour in it. Am I imagining things? Have you changed the original recipe?
Made these delicious muffins for breakfast! I used apples picked off our apple tree. They tasted so good! Thank you Maria for the recipe. I will definitely make them again.
Perfect Fall muffin! Great way to use those Honeycrisp apples from Utah. Super moist and great flavor.
Yes! Glad you liked the muffins!
I made these last year and they were SOOO yummy!!!! I gave them to a few members also loved them. I am making them again real soon!!
So glad you love the muffins. I need to make them again too!
What other spice will work instead of allspice? Thank you.
You can add a little nutmeg and ground cloves.
I made these this morning with my 5 year old grandson and they are delicious! Tender, moist and full of flavor, and yes, the crumb topping is the best! The only deviation I made from the recipe was to use nutmeg in place of the allspice, as I am not a huge allspice fan. This recipe is definitely a keeper!!
Great swap. I am so glad you loved the muffins. What a fun morning.
I was curious as to using Almond Flour and have you made these with that ? Is the ratio the same (?). These sound delicious, I would probably swap using Nutmeg, rather than Allspice. I’m sure it’s fine either way.
I haven’t tried almond flour. It will affect the texture so I don’t recommend using it here. You can swap nutmeg though.
I have made these using half almond flour and half AP many times – I actually prefer them that way!! Just made them and didn’t have almond flour, was disappointed but I’m sure they’ll still be good!!
These sounds so good. However I’m not a fan of the fruit chunks. Could i make these with apple sauce instead? How would you recommend doing that? Add more flour?
I haven’t tried the recipe with applesauce.
So good and not too sweet.
Glad you loved the muffins.
These were superb! I knew they would be! All Maria’s muffin recipes have been fantastic.
Thanks Susan!
5+ ⭐️ Maria – Absolutely the best muffins!
Used nutmeg instead of allspice (didn’t have any). As soon as this recipe popped up on FB, I started making them. At this rate, I’m going to be baking on a treadmill .
Ha! So glad you loved the muffins!
Love these, but will triple the apple! The spices are just right and the crumble is si good! I made mine in a 9×11 ad it was my third batch if Two Peas muffins and couldn’t scoop another! So good and cannot wait to male again!
So glad you loved them!
Love so many of your recipes don’t even know where to begin. I can’t wait to make the raspberry muffins & the apple muffins
Thanks so much.
I love a good muffin:) Thank you!
These apple cinnamon muffins are fabulous!! I made them yesterday and both my husband and I love them. Not too oily like some muffins. The topping is perfect! I used honey crisp apples. I will make these again.
Glad you loved them!
Do you think this could work with grated apples instead?? This is my favorite recipe of yours but I hate chopping the apples!!
Sure, I am sure that would be fine.
I used to make these a lot – I swear you had white pepper in the recipe before…???? Regardless, they’re so good!! I always grate and squeeze water out of the apples since my kids prefer no chunks. Otherwise follow recipe, delicious.
I have never used white pepper in this recipek sorry! Glad you still enjoyed them:)
I leave this recipe a 5. It works. Thank you!
I made some changes. I used 1 cup whole wheat and 1 cup all-purpose, so I added 2 table spoons of apple juice to the wet ingredients.
I am glad you loved the muffins.
Hi there. First time visitor to your site and I just made these muffins! Absolutely incredible!! I wish we could post photos bc my muffins look bakery worthy! Thank you! I am off to check out your other recipes!
Delicious and fluffy!
Great recipe. Turned out delicious!
Yay!