Apple Streusel Muffins

Name: Apple Streusel Muffins
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 4 large eggs; 1 cup vegetable oil; 3 cups flour; 2 cups granulated sugar; 2 teaspoon baking powder; 2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1 1/2 cups applesauce; 2 cups apples (peeled, cored and diced into 1/2 inch pieces- I like Ruby Frost or Granny Smith); 1/4 cup brown sugar; 1/4 cup flour; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 Tablespoons salted butter (cold and chopped into small pieces)

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These apple streusel muffins are one of my favorite fall recipes, ready in just 30 minutes and topped with a crunchy, cinnamon streusel.

An apple streusel muffin on a cooling rack.

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Why You'll Love These Applesauce Spice Muffins
Ingredient Information and Substitutions
How To Make Apple And Spice Muffins
Frequently Asked Questions
Tips For Making Apple Sauce Muffins
What To Serve With Apple Spice Muffins
Other Tasty Apple Recipes To Try
Apple Streusel Muffins

Why You'll Love These Applesauce Spice Muffins

Who else loves apple season as much as I do? There's something about the smell of cinnamon and warm spices baking in the oven that instantly feels like fall, and these muffins are no joke. They're perfectly moist, deliciously spiced, and pull you so deep into seasonal happiness you'll want nothing but crisp autumn air and cozy boots forever.

I cut nice, solid chunks of Granny Smith apple to fold into the batter, since they add a fantastic tartness that breaks up the batter's sweetness. This recipe makes a couple dozen muffins, so it's excellent if you're feeding a crowd, or you can freeze half the batch for later. Here's why you'll want to keep these apple and cinnamon muffins on repeat all season long:

Perfectly moist
Warmly spiced
Great for a crowd
Freezer-friendly
Crunchy streusel topping

An overhead image of a bunch of apple muffins on a cooling rack.

Ingredient Information and Substitutions

Apples- My favorite variety for this recipe is Granny Smith, but other good substitutes are RubyFrost or Cortland.
Eggs- Bind the batter together.
Applesauce- Adds moisture and enhances the apple flavor. Mashed ripe banana works as a substitute, though it will shift the flavor slightly.
Vegetable oil- Adds moisture to the muffins. Any neutral oil works as a substitute.
Flour- All-purpose flour creates the right texture.
Sugar- Sweetens the muffins. Light brown sugar works as a substitute for a slightly deeper flavor.
Baking powder and baking soda- You'll need both to get the proper rise and browning.
Spices- Cinnamon, ground ginger, and nutmeg add warmth and depth. A pinch of salt balances and enhances all the flavors.
Streusel topping- A mix of flour, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon that adds a crunchy, sweet finish to the top of each muffin.

An overhead image of labeled recipe ingredients.

How To Make Apple And Spice Muffins

Step 1- Preheat and prep.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line your muffin pans with muffin cups, or grease with cooking spray.

Step 2- Beat the eggs and oil.

Beat together the eggs and oil until well combined.

Eggs and oil in the mixing bowl and then well combined.

Step 3- Add the dry ingredients and spices.

Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg to the mixer bowl. Mix on low until just combined.

Dry ingredients added to the mixing bowl and then combined with the wet ingredients.

Step 4- Fold in the apples.

Add the applesauce and diced apples, and mix quickly until fully combined. Scoop the batter into the muffin pan, filling the cups almost to the top (85-90% full).

Apples and applesauce added to the batter and then the batter in the prepared muffin pan.

Step 5- Make the streusel, top and bake.

In a small bowl, combine dry ingredients. Cut into the cold butter until the streusel ingredients until crumbly, then sprinkle it evenly over each muffin cup.

Bake for about 20 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.

Streusel topping in a bowl and then sprinkled onto the batter in the muffin tin.

Step 7- Cool and enjoy.

Let the muffins cool for a minute or two in the pan, then cool completely on a wire rack before enjoying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can these apple cinnamon muffins be made ahead?

Yes, you can bake these a day in advance. They stay moist when stored covered at room temperature.

Do I need to peel the apples?

Yes, peeling gives the muffins a smoother texture, since the peel can turn tough once baked.

Can I make these into mini muffins?

Yes, this apple muffins recipe works well as mini muffins too. Just reduce the bake time to about 10-12 minutes and check for doneness with a cake tester.

A close up image of a muffin cut in half revealing the moist crumb.

Tips For Making Apple Sauce Muffins

Grease your muffin pan well. These can sometimes stick. A silicone pan is definitely best but metal just needs a good spray in each cup.
Dice the apples into solid, even chunks so they hold their shape in the batter instead of disappearing.
Mix the batter just until combined once the apples go in, so the muffins stay tender instead of dense.
Let the muffins cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. They're less likely to fall apart this way.
Toss the diced apples in a bit of flour before folding them into the batter, so they distribute evenly instead of sinking.
Don't skip the resting time. It really helps you get a nice dome on the muffins.
Fill the muffin cups nearly to the top for that bakery-style dome once baked.
Ingredients to prep ahead- Measure out the dry ingredients and spices. Make the streusel topping and keep in the fridge until ready.
Leftovers and storage- Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze for longer storage.

A close up overhead shot of the streusel on top of muffins.

What To Serve With Apple Spice Muffins

These muffins are great on their own, but they also pair nicely with a few extras for breakfast or an afternoon treat. Here are some of my favorite pairings with these apple crumble muffins:

Other Tasty Apple Recipes To Try

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