These apple cinnamon muffins are the original comfort food! They feature a perfect blend of apples and cinnamon, promising cozy fall flavors in every bite.
They’re fluffy, moist, and packed with chunks of apples.
Crowned with a cinnamon crumb topping, they’re simply irresistible.
Your kitchen’s about to smell amazing! Let’s get baking.
Why You’ll Love These Apple Cinnamon Muffins
These apple cinnamon muffins will quickly become a favorite in your home. Here’s why you’ll be reaching for this recipe again and again:
- Amazing Flavor – Every muffin bursts with the sweet taste of apples and a hint of cinnamon. It’s like autumn in every bite, no matter the season.
- Fluffy and Moist – The texture of these muffins is unbeatable. They’re incredibly soft and moist, making each bite better than the last. You’ll love how they melt in your mouth.
- Simple Ingredients – You don’t need anything fancy to whip up a batch of these muffins. This simplicity means you can easily make them any time the craving hits.
Ingredients
Here’s a list of what you need. You’ll find the full recipe with measurements at the bottom of the page.
For the Muffins:
- Apples – The star of the show! They provide sweet, juicy bursts of flavor in every bite.
- All-purpose flour – This is your muffin’s backbone, giving structure to the fluffy, tender crumb.
- Baking powder & Baking soda – These leavening agents ensure your muffins rise to the occasion, light and airy.
- Cinnamon – This spice is the heart of the recipe. It adds that warm, comforting flavor that pairs perfectly with apples.
- Salt – Just a pinch to balance the sweetness and enhance all the other flavors.
- Sugar – It sweetens the muffins and helps make them moist.
- Unsalted butter – This brings richness and moisture, making every bite melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
- Eggs – They bind everything together, ensuring your muffins don’t fall apart.
- Whole milk – It adds moisture and tenderness to your muffins, making them irresistibly soft.
- Vanilla extract – It adds a subtle depth that complements the apple and cinnamon beautifully.
For the Cinnamon Sugar Crumb Topping:
- Sugar – It sweetens the topping, creating a crispy, caramelized crust.
- All-purpose flour – It helps form the topping’s crumbly texture.
- Cinnamon – It adds a spicy warmth to the topping, echoing the muffin’s main flavor.
- Softened butter – It binds the crumb topping together, creating those deliciously crunchy nuggets.
What Apples Are Best for Muffins?
The right apples make all the difference.
You want apples that hold their shape and add a punch of flavor.
If you like some tartness to your muffins, go for Granny Smith. If you like them sweet all the way, opt for Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Pink Lady.
Or, use a combination for a perfect balance of flavors.
How to Make Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Bake delicious apple cinnamon muffins with these easy steps:
1. Prep. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line your muffin pan with liners or grease it.
2. Whisk the dry ingredients. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
3. Mix the wet ingredients separately. Blend the sugar and melted butter in another bowl. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the milk and vanilla extract.
4. Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring just until combined. Gently fold in the diced apples.
5. Prepare the crumb topping. In a separate bowl, mix the sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Cut in the butter until it resembles coarse crumbs.
6. Fill the muffin cups and add the topping. Divide the batter among the muffin cups and sprinkle with the cinnamon crumb topping.
7. Bake. Bake them for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Cool before serving. Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Then, transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Enjoy your freshly baked muffins!
Tips for Success
Let’s make sure those muffins turn out amazing! Bake perfect apple cinnamon muffins every time with these handy tips.
- Aim for measuring magic. Use a scale if you have one. Or, use the spoon and level method.
- The thicker, the better. A thick batter ensures your muffins rise nicely. Start with a high oven temperature to lift the muffin tops, then lower the heat to finish baking.
- Don’t overmix! Mix just until the ingredients are combined to keep the muffins light and fluffy. A few lumps are okay. They won’t affect the delicious outcome.
- Work some scoop magic. For uniformly sized muffins, an ice cream scoop or spring-loaded scoop is your best friend. This ensures even baking and perfect shapes.
- Keep a watchful eye. Over-baked muffins lose their moistness. Keep an eye on them and test for doneness towards the end of baking time.
- Give them a rest. Give your muffins about 5 minutes to settle in the tin post-baking. This makes them easier to remove and helps set their structure.
- Peel at your own discretion. It’s up to you. Unpeeled adds texture while peeled or shredded works for a smoother feel.
- Leave them alone. If you can wait, these muffins taste even better after a few hours.
How to Store
Keep your muffins fresh and tasty with these simple tips.
To Store: Let the muffins cool completely, then cover them on the counter. They’ll stay perfect for up to 3 days.
To Freeze: Want to keep them longer? Cool them down and wrap them tightly with plastic wrap. They’ll keep well in the freezer for 3 months.
To Reheat: You can thaw the muffins on the counter or warm them up straight from the freezer. Reheat them in the microwave or in the oven until warmed through.
More Muffin Recipes
Rhubarb Muffins with Crumb Topping
Apple Cinnamon Muffins
12
servings15
minutes25
minutes45
minutesThese apple cinnamon muffins are such a treat! They feature the flavors of fall, and the cinnamon crumb topping is just to die for!
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups peeled apples, diced
- For the Cinnamon Sugar Crumb Topping:
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°Fahrenheit (190°Celsius). Line a muffin pan with paper liners or grease with butter.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- In another bowl, mix the sugar and melted butter. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the milk and vanilla extract.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Gently fold in the diced apples.
- In a separate bowl, mix the sugar, flour, and cinnamon for the topping. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups. Sprinkle each with the cinnamon sugar crumb topping.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
Notes
- To peel or not to peel apples: It’s up to you. Unpeeled adds texture; peeled or shredded works for a smoother feel.
- Muffins improve with a little time. If you can wait, these muffins taste even better after a few hours.
