Apple Muffins
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy.
These wholesome apple muffins are packed with spice and everything nice—just what you need for a cozy start to the day.
Adapted from King Arthur Flour, these delicious apple muffins are made partially with whole wheat flour, which gives them a wholesome, nutty flavor and toasty-brown color. They’re also chockfull of tart apples and enriched with yogurt, so no one could ever accuse them of being cupcakes pretending to be muffins. The recipe calls for a full tablespoon of cinnamon along with a hint of nutmeg and cloves, so your house will smell amazing while the muffins bake. But the best part of this apple muffin recipe might just be the muffin top; the brown sugar gives the lids an irresistible crunch. If you’d prefer something that you can slice and share, my apple bread has similar flavors and is equally crave-worthy.
Table of Contents
“I made these gorgeous muffins, they are easy to make, so very light and tasty. Perfect for the autumnal or winter season.”
What You’ll Need To Make Apple Muffins
- Butter: Provides richness and flavor to the muffins.
- Granulated Sugar and Brown Sugar: Sweeten the muffins while adding moisture and subtle caramel-like flavor.
- Egg: Binds the ingredients together and provides structure to the muffins.
- Plain Low-Fat Yogurt or Greek Yogurt: Adds moisture and richness to the muffins and interacts with the baking soda to help them rise.
- Whole Wheat Flour and All-purpose Flour: The foundation of the muffins. The use of whole wheat flour provides a wholesome, nutty flavor and lovely color.
- Baking Powder and Baking Soda: Leavening agents that help the muffins rise and give them a fluffy texture.
- Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Cloves: Infuse the muffins with warm, aromatic spices that complement the apples.
- Apples: Provide moisture, sweetness, and texture to the muffins. Make sure to use baking apples that are firm enough to hold their shape when baked. See the FAQ’s for what brands of apples are considered best for baking.
- Brown Sugar: Adds a crunchy, sweet topping to the muffins enhancing the flavor and texture.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
To begin, combine the butter, sugar, and brown sugar.
Beat until light and fluffy.
Add the egg.
Then beat again.
Add the yogurt.
Beat again.
Add all the dry ingredients right to the bowl.
Mix until just combined. Note that the batter will be very thick.
Add the diced apples.
Then fold them in.
Use an ice cream scoop to transfer the batter to a muffin tin.
Sprinkle the tops generously with brown sugar.
Bake for about 25 minutes.
Let the muffins cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a rack to cool completely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Baking apples, such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Gala, Jonagold, Jonathan, and Golden Delicious varieties, are firm and tart, making them ideal for baking because they hold their shape and retain their texture during the baking process. Their tartness balances the sweetness of baked goods, and their firmness prevents them from turning mushy, ensuring a pleasing texture in baked treats. They’re also ideal in apple pie and apple crisp.
Using all whole wheat flour may make the muffins dry. If you have white whole wheat flour, that would work nicely. If not, I’d suggest using 1½ cups of whole wheat and ½ cup all-purpose flour.
Because the apples help to keep them moist, the muffins will keep nicely for several days. Store them at room temperature in an airtight container lined with a sheet of paper towels. Arrange the muffins in a single layer and cover them with another sheet of paper towels to absorb any excess moisture.
Absolutely! The muffins can be frozen in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag for up to 3 months. Thaw for 3 to 4 hours on the countertop before serving. To reheat, wrap individual muffins in aluminum foil and place in a preheated 350° oven until warm.
You May Also Like
Spiced Apple Muffins
Ingredients
- ½ cup (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (packed) dark brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt or Greek yogurt
- 1 cup whole wheat flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled off
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled off
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 cups peeled cored, and finely chopped baking apples (you'll need 2 large apples)
For Topping
- 6 tablespoons (packed) dark brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 12-cup muffin pan with butter or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
- Add the egg and mix well, stopping to scrape the bowl if necessary.
- Beat in the yogurt. The batter will look grainy.
- Add the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Beat on low speed until just combined. The batter will be very thick.
- Add the chopped apples and mix until just combined. Do not over-mix.
- Use an ice-cream scooper or large spoon to divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups. The cups should be full. Sprinkle the 6 tablespoons of brown sugar evenly over top.
- Bake the muffins for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
- Remove the muffins from the oven, cool them for 5 minutes in the pan, then turn them out onto a rack to finish cooling completely.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions:The muffins can be frozen in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag for up to 3 months. Thaw for 3 to 4 hours on the countertop before serving. To reheat, wrap individual muffins in aluminum foil and place in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven until warm.
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Comments
Add a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
These muffins are perfection. I don’t typically bake with whole wheat flour and I was a little worried they would be dry or tough but the texture was amazing. The spices were spot on as well.
Another fantastic recipe Jenn! Made these muffins with sour cream since that’s what I had on hand and they were perfect. They actually reminded me of the Hostess Crumb Cakes I loved as a kid, but sooooo much better!
Can you use tinned apples when in a pinch?
I think it would be best to stick with fresh apples for this — sorry!
Once again Jen – You are the queen of cooking. I had my doubts on this as I only had greek yogurt so I added a TBsp of milk to make it a bit more liquid. I didn’t add as much brown sugar on the tops – which still covered the muffin top. I didn’t think they would rise – but they did and they are absolutely perfection. The crumb is perfect, the taste divine – just lovely. You just keep on doing what you’re doing and we all look good:) Thank you again
Bernadette
These were amazing!! I forgot to add the topping so I’ll try to remember that next time, but other than that I didn’t change a thing and the muffins turned out perfect. They came together fast too! Will make many times again.
JENN, what can I use instead of Yogurt in these great muffins?
Hi Christine, Sour cream will work as a substitute for the yogurt. Enjoy!
Hi Jenn,
I would like to make a vegan version of these muffins. What can I substitute for the yogurt that would be vegan friendly?
Hi Patty, Although I haven’t tried it, I would think a vegan yogurt would work here. Please LMK how they turn out if you try it!
Can I use applesauce instead of yogurt?
I wouldn’t recommend it, May as the yogurt helps the muffins to rise. Sorry!
What variety of apples do you like for this recipe? Thanks!
Hi Katie, I like Honeycrisp, Fuji or Granny Smith. Hope you enjoy!
Hi! can I use sour cream instead of yoghurt??
Thanks
Sure – hope you enjoy!
I made these delicious apple spiced muffins today. They came out excellent. My kids and husband loved them.
Very easy to make and super delicious!!
Thank you!!
Can I use whole milk plain yogurt instead ?😊
Sure!
I used Greek yogurt like you suggested but my muffins did not cook. They all fell in the center and it’s like applesauce and I did use honey crisp apples
Very disappointed. Usually your recipes are great Jen.
It’s says to not use Greek yogurt, but regular low-fat plain
Hi Jenn
Love all of your recipes! I was wondering can i use full fat yogurt i have a huge thing leftover from making your tikka(which is amazing btw)
Thanks so much
Melissa
Sure (and glad you enjoyed the chicken)! 🙂
Used only all-purpose flour (2 c total) because that’s what I had. Also, subbed 3/4 c Half & Half for the yogurt because my fridge is basically empty. Added 1/2 c walnuts to the batter and these turned out delicious!!! Will definitely be making again using the yogurt after I finally make it to the store…
I thought the level of sweetness of these was perfect! Love your recipes ❤️