Comforting and cozy, these apple cinnamon muffins are the perfect way to add some homemade goodness to your breakfast or to a packed school lunch! The smell of apples and cinnamon wafting through your kitchen as you bake these is absolutely delightful—and the delight continues as you take your first bite. Let’s get baking.
What do I need to make apple cinnamon muffins?
For these warmly spiced muffins, you’ll need:
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- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Unsalted butter
- Granulated sugar
- Brown sugar
- Eggs
- Whole milk. Most milks will work, though.
- Vanilla extract
- Apples
- Ground cinnamon
What are the best baking apples for muffins?
If you like your muffins on the less-sweet side, then opt for a tart apple to balance out the sweetness of the granulated sugar and brown sugar. Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Empire apples are great tart options.
If you’re okay with a sweeter muffin, then Honeycrisp or Gala apples will also work. Whatever apple you pick, you’ll want to choose one with a firm, crisp texture and a flavor you enjoy!
How do I make apple cinnamon muffins?
Preheat your oven to 400°F, grab two bowls, and let’s get started!
- Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Use a separate bowl to whisk the butter with the sugars. Add the rest of the wet ingredients.
- Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Only do this until the ingredients are combined—overmixing will give you dry muffins, so err on the side of less mixing.
- Fold in chopped apples and ground cinnamon.
- Pour into a lined muffin tin and bake. After five minutes, drop the temperature to 350°F and bake until set.
Protip: Adjust the temperature!
The high temperature at the beginning gives the muffins volume and height, while the lower temperature for the rest of the bake cooks them all the way through.
How do I give my muffins a round top like at the bakery?
To get bakery-worthy muffins complete with domed tops, you need to do two things:
- Make sure the butter is completely melted before you add it to the batter.
- Start baking the muffins at 400°F, and then drop the temperature to 350°F after a few minutes. This burst of high heat gives the muffins their springy, rounded tops.
Why are my apple cinnamon muffins dense and not fluffy?
This usually means that the batter was overmixed. Next time, mix the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients separately. When you combine them, stir until just combined. It’s okay if there are still a few lumps—it will even out in the oven!
How do I store leftover muffins?
Store muffins at room temperature. The muffins will stay fresh for three days in an airtight container with a paper towel or clean tea towel.
For longer-term storage, you can freeze the muffins in a single layer on a baking sheet until frozen solid. Transfer to a freezer bag or container and freeze for up to three months.
Apple Cinnamon Muffins Recipe
Bake these apple cinnamon muffins today! They are fluffy, packed with fresh fruit, and perfect for any time of day.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups finely chopped apples
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, then set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter and sugars.
- Whisk the milk, eggs, and vanilla extract into the butter mixture until well combined.
- Fold in the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Fold in the apples and cinnamon.
- Line a 12-count muffin tin with paper liners or grease heavily. Fill each muffin cup 3/4 full.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 5 minutes, then turn the temperature down to 350°F. Bake for 16-17 more minutes until the centers are completely set, verified with a toothpick inserted in the center.
- Allow the muffins to cool, then serve!
Notes
- Make sure your butter is fully melted before adding it to the batter. This step, plus the high temperature at the start, gives the muffins that perfect domed top!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 18 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 185Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 199mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 1gSugar: 15gProtein: 3g
At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.
