Apple Muffin Recipe

Looking for a delicious and healthy breakfast option? Our apple muffin recipe is so dang good! Packed with fresh apples and warm spices, these apple crumble muffins are a perfect snack or breakfast. These muffins are tender and full of hearty apples, and topped with a crumbly streusel that will leave you coming back for more! Let us show you just how easy they are to make!

Why This Recipe Works

Is there anything better than a warm apple cinnamon muffin, fresh from the oven, slathered in butter? These muffins pair perfectly with our farmers casserole or a hot cup or coconut hot cocoa. You're going to love these easy apple muffins because:

• The flavor - the combination of the tart apple and at the sweet crumble topping is a match made in heaven. Add in some warm spices and your taste buds are going to thank you!
• The Texture - the contrast of the soft muffins, the crumbly topping, and the moist apples is amazing. You'll make these babies time and time again.
• The Aroma - if you want your house to smell like you've died and gone to heaven, make these muffins. The baking apples, cinnamon, and sugar fill your home with the most inviting and delicious scent.
• The Nutritional Value - adding apples to your baked goods adds fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. Apples add both flavor and a healthful element to baked goods, making these healthy apple muffins more of a balanced treat.

About The Ingredients

All of they ingredients for this recipe can by purchased at your local grocery store - here are a few items to note.

• Granny smith apples - are perfect for baking, The tart flavor is a nice contrast to the sweet muffin. You can use your favorite variety of apple if you want, but I think Granny Smith apples really shine in this apple cinnamon muffin.
• Cardamom and Cinnamon - these are the warm spices we are using in the recipe. Cardamom is warm, sweet, and slightly citrusy. It is the perfect compliment to apples. If you are worried about using this spice, you can swap it for and equal about of cinnamon. Cinnamon apple is a classic combo, but we are adding a little depth to it with the cardamom.
• Pantry Items - many of these ingredients you will probably have on hand! We will be using all purpose flour, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, baking powder, salt, vanilla, and oats.

For a complete list of ingredients and amounts, see the recipe card below.

How To Make Apple Streusel Muffins

Making these muffins is fast and easy. All you need are a few mixing bowls, a spatula or dough whisk, and a muffin tin. 

Prep

Before we make the batter for these cinnamon apple muffins, there are a few items I like to prep. Start by preheating your oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare your muffin tin by lining it with cupcake liners or spraying with non-stick spray.

1. Prepare the streusel topping by combining brown sugar, oats, flour, walnuts, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and butter in a medium mixing bowl. Use a pastry blender or your fingers to pinch all of the ingredients together.
2. Work until a course crumble is formed. Set aside.
3. Wash and dice your apples. I like to use the Fullstar Chopper for an easy and perfect dice. You can also dice with a knife if you prefer.
4. Your apples should be diced small - into ½ inch pieces. Set aside.

What is a Streusel? It is a crumb topping or filling made from butter, flour, sugar, and often cinnamon.

Making the Muffins

Now that we have the prep out of the way, let's make the muffins. The batter comes together really really fast.

5. In a medium mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, oil, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
6. Whisk until smooth. Set aside.
7. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, cardamom, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and salt. Stir together until well combined.
8. Pour your wet ingredients into the bowl wit your dry ingredients. Add in diced apples.

9. Barely fold the wet ingredients into the dry until it's just mixed. You better still see streaks of flour all up in it! If you don't have any peeking through, you've overmixed it and you'll have a tough, rubbery muffin instead of a tender one. Just like women.
10. Scoop batter into your prepared muffin pan. You want to muffin cups to be ¾ full.
11. Add your streusel mixture to the top of each filled muffin cup. Be generous.
12. Put into your 500 degree oven, and then immediately turn down to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Pro Tip: Don't over mix your batter! Fold in until just incorporated. Let your batter rest 10-15 minutes before transferring to your muffin pan.

Variations

• Sub Berries - Don't have apple or want a little extra fruity punch? Try adding berries such as raspberries, blueberries or blackberries. I love this twist on blueberry muffins.
• Make it citrus - Lemon or orange zest can be added to the batter for a little citrus punch to these crumble muffins.
• Switch the spices - you can sub cinnamon for the cardamom for a more fall version of these muffins. This will make them straight apple cinnamon rather than the combo of warm spices.
• Add Nuts - adding additional ingredients like walnuts or pecans, or even or raisins can enhance the texture and flavor of apple muffins. You can mix them into the batter before baking.

Pro Kitchen Tips

• Don't Overmix!!!: Whatever you do, do not overmix your muffin batter! Barely fold the wet ingredients into the dry until it's just mixed. You better still see streaks of flour all up in it! 
• Preheat oven and prepare the muffin tin: Preheat your oven to 500 degrees. Starting with a higher temp allows the muffins to rise quickly. You also want to allow your oven to sit at that temp for 20 minutes before you bake. We will reduce the heat after we put the muffins in. Also, prepare the muffin tin by greasing it, or spraying them with nonstick cooking spray, or lining it with muffin liners to prevent the muffins from sticking.
• Let your batter rest: after you can combined all ingredients, let the batter rest for 15 minutes before you spoon it into the muffin tin. This allows the ingredients gain volume, resulting in a fluffier muffin.
• Fill every other muffin cup: allow room in between crumb muffins. This will help them bake more evening and also prevent them from sticking together.

FAQs

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