Soft and tasty Easy Apple Cinnamon Muffins, topped with a simple glaze, are the perfect way to start your day or as a delicious apple and cinnamon snack.
With step-by-step photo instructions, these apple and cinnamon muffins are simple and fast to make in about 35 minutes. Hand mixing onlyโno need for a stand mixer.
๐Ingredients
ApplesโGala or Honeycrisp suggested
Apple juiceโor cider
Eggs
Butter
Milk
Pantry ingredientsโflour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, powdered sugar
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Everybody will love these delicious apple & cinnamon muffins packed with pieces of apple and enhanced apple flavor from adding apple juiceโvery moist and tender with a delicious vanilla glaze.
Instructions for mini-muffins and jumbo muffins are included. These muffins are low fat and low in calories, so they are a relatively "healthy" treat to fit many diets. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or after-school snacks.
๐จโ๐ณHow to Make Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Preheat oven to 350ยฐ. Prep a 12 muffin tin with paper liners.
Peel 2 medium apples and chop them into ยผ inch pieces (about the size of a peanut). Spread over paper towels and firmly pat with more paper towels to dry some.
Mix dry ingredients: 2 cups of flour, โ cup sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and ยผ teaspoon nutmeg. Mix well, add the apple, and mix to coat the apple.
Combine wet ingredients. ยพ cup apple juice or cider, 2 eggs, and 2 tablespoons melted butterโwhisk to combine.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix by hand to combineโdo not over-mix.
Fill the paper liners to about ยพ full.
Bake until the top is golden brown and a toothpick comes out cleanโabout 23-25 minutes.
Mix a glaze of โ cup powdered sugar, a few drops of vanilla, and about 2 teaspoons of milk.
After the muffins cool on aย rack for 10 minutes, coat them with the glaze.
For more details, keep reading. See theย Recipe Cardย below for complete instructions and to print.
โฐCooking Time
Cooking time will vary by the oven and even the pan used. Generally, the muffins will take 23 to 25 minutes, but always bake to the endpoint.
The good old toothpick test is always good to determine when the muffins are done. Also, done is about 200ยฐ on an instant-read thermometer can be helpful if in doubt.
Other muffin and apple recipes
Check out some other easy, tasty muffin recipes, like Strawberry Cinnamon Muffins, Cinnamon Nut Muffins, Banana Nut Muffins, and Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins.
And if you have extra apples, try Apple Crisp, Apple Berry Crumble, or Apple Crumb Pie.
๐งJumbo and Mini Muffin Options
This recipe is for 12 standard-size muffins, but you can make different sizes. Make them like you want: mini, regular, or jumboโcook to the endpoint and not by time alone.
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Fill the paper liners to about ยพ full. Generally, bake mini muffins for 10 to 15 minutes and large muffins for 25 to 30 minutes.
Storing leftover muffins
Muffins are good at room temperature for about 24 hours but need to be protected from drying out. They are good refrigerated for 3-4 days and frozen for 3-4 months.
โFAQs
There are a lot of good cooking apples, but the total cooking time of the muffins is relatively low. So cut the apples small and use a softer apple like Gala or Honeycrisp.
When the apples or other fruit bakes, they can release fluid that can cause the baked goods to develop holes around the fruit. By cutting the pieces small, pressing them some with paper towels, and coating them with flour, the issues will decrease or disappear.
Like biscuits and quick bread, muffins can be easily over-mixed. That leads to gluten development, and any micro air pockets disappear. Chewy is good in bread but not muffins.
Also, overcooking muffins can make muffins less tender.
This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.
Have you tried this recipe, or have a question? Join the community discussion in the comments.
๐The Recipe Card with Step-by-Step Instructions
Easy Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 apples - peeled and cut into ยผ inch pieces
Dry
- 2 cups flour
- โ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ยผ teaspoon nutmeg
Wet
- ยพ cup apple cider - or juice
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons butter - melted
Glaze
- โ cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons milk - adjust as needed
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ยฐ. Prep a 12 muffin tin with paper liners.
- Peel 2 medium apples and chop them into ยผ inch pieces (about the size of a peanut). Spread over paper towels and firmly pat with more paper towels to dry some.
- Mix dry ingredients together: 2 cups of flour, โ cup sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and ยผ teaspoon nutmeg. Mix well, add the apple, and mix to coat the apple.
- Combine wet ingredients. ยพ cup apple juice or cider, 2 eggs, and 2 tablespoons melted butterโwhisk to combine.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix by hand to combineโdo not over mix
- Fill the paper liners to about ยพ full.
- Bake until the top is golden brown and a toothpick comes out cleanโabout 23-25 minutes.
- Mix a glaze of โ cup powdered sugar, a few drops of vanilla, and about 2 teaspoons of milk.
- After the muffins cool on aย rack for about 10 minutes, coat them with the glaze.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- A very easy recipe to cut in half.
- Most apples, other than delicious, are good for this recipe. Gala and Honeycrisp are recommended
- Be sure to cut the apples small and dry well, or you will have small steam pocket holes in your muffins, and the apple pieces may not cook completely.
- Cooking time will vary by the oven and even the pan used. Generally, the muffins will take 23 to 25 minutes, but always bake to the endpoint.
- When are they done? The good old toothpick test is generally always good. Also, done is about 200ยฐ so an instant-read thermometer can be helpful.
- This recipe is for 12 standard-size muffins, but you can make different sizes. Make them like you want: mini, regular, or jumbo just cook to the endpoint and not by time alone. Generally, bake mini muffins for 10 to 15 minutes and large muffins for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Good refrigerated for 3-4 days and frozen for 3-4 months.
Your Own Private Notes
To adjust the recipe size:
You can adjust the number of servings above; however, only the amount in the ingredient list is adjusted, not the instructions.
Nutrition Estimate (may vary)
Editor's Note: Originally Published November 1, 2016. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
This recipe is a muffin adaptation of Cook's Country Apple Fritter Recipe.
Gail says
Can I make this with white whole wheat flour ?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Gail,
The whole wheat will need a bit more fluid and will be more dense. I would add a touch more baking powder also. Those things are generalities... Report back if you do it.
Dan
Linda says
I'm embarrassed to need to ask this, but... do you need to heat the glaze when mixing or just mix the powdered sugar with the milk and drizzle without the heat?
Thanks so much - love your recipes!
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Linda,
Just cold. It comes together easily. If I make frosting, I like to beat room temperature butter to start then beat in the other ingredients.
Dan
Jan says
I would like to make them jumbo muffins. How long would I have to bake them?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Jan,
Welcome to the blog.
I have never done jumbo with these. I will give a few generalities. It is usually only a few minutes different not anything like double. The good old toothpick test is generally always good. Also, done is about 200 degrees so an instant-read thermometer can be helpful.
My only jumbo muffin recipe is https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/cinnamon-nut-muffins/ but no raw apple to cook.
Let me know how it comes out.
Dan