These easy cinnamon applesauce muffins are made from scratch in just 45 minutes. Super moist and lightly dusted with cinnamon sugar, this delicious recipe is perfect for breakfast or snacking.
This post was originally published in March 2018 and has been updated for content.
This simple applesauce muffins recipe has been a staple in our house for quite a while now. They are adapted from an applesauce muffins recipe that I found a few year back and my kids absolutely devour them. They are made from scratch, using basic pantry ingredients and have the best flavor.
These cinnamon applesauce muffins are not overly sweet and would be great recipe served alongside chicken salad for brunch, with scrambled eggs for breakfast or simply for after school snacks.
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🍏 Ingredient notes
- Applesauce - Cinnamon flavored applesauce adds a little bit of extra spice to the muffins. Regular applesauce can also be used, however I would recommend using unsweetened applesauce so the muffins aren't overly sweet. Homemade applesauce would also be great in this recipe!
- Cinnamon Sugar Topping - The cinnamon sugar topping adds a nice sweet crunch on top of these simple muffins. Mix together 2 Tablespoons of granulated sugar with ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon and then sprinkle it on the muffins before baking. For less sweetness, the topping can be omitted.
📋 Substitutions and variations
- Dairy Free - Replace the butter with a dairy free butter substitute to make these applesauce cinnamon muffins dairy free.
- Gluten Free - Replace the all purpose flour with a cup for cup gluten free flour substitute.
- Nuts - Fold in ½ cup of chopped walnuts or pecans to the mixed batter before dividing it into the muffin tin.
- Mini Muffins - These muffins can be used in a mini muffin pan instead. Baking time should be adjusted to closer to 8-12 minutes.
🥣 Step by step instructions
First, whisk or sift together the flour, white sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a large bowl. Then, whisk together the applesauce with the melted butter and one large egg in a separate bowl.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and fold until the ingredients are just combined. Evenly scoop the batter out into a muffin tin that has been greased with baking spray or lined with muffin cups.
Sprinkle the top of the muffin batter with the cinnamon sugar mixture and bake at 375˚ for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle. Cool muffins for 5 minutes in the pan and then let them finish cooling on a wire rack.
If you ever don't recognize a tool or skill that I mention, be sure to look it up in the Glossary of Cooking Terms and Definitions for more information.
⭐ Expert tips
- Use a sifter or whisk to mix together the dry ingredients to prevent lumps.
- Just fold the ingredients together using a silicone spatula so the batter doesn't get over mixed and make dense muffins. This tool also helps to easily scrap up any batter remnants from the bowl!
- Use a cookie scoop to evenly divide the muffin batter into the baking tin.
- The muffins are done baking when they are just slightly golden brown around the edges and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle.
🥡 Storage suggestions
This applesauce muffin recipe, once cooled, will keep at room temperature in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
🍏 More apple recipes
If you loved this recipe for cinnamon applesauce muffins, check out these other apple recipes that I know you will love too!
- Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail
- Homemade Caramel Apple Sundaes
- Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel Frosting
- Sliced Caramel Apple Bar
📖 Recipe
Cinnamon Applesauce Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup cinnamon applesauce
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted and cooled
- 1 large egg
- cinnamon sugar topping 2 Tablespoons of sugar + ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375˚ and spray a muffin tin with baking spray or add muffin liners.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk or sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the applesauce with the melted butter and egg until well combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold together using a silicone spatula or wooden spoon until the ingredients are just combined.
- Evenly divide the batter into the prepared muffin tins and sprinkle the tops with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Bake the muffins in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle and the edges are slightly browned.
- Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes and then remove them to finish cooling on a wire rack.
Notes
- Just fold the ingredients together using a silicone spatula so the batter doesn't get over mixed and make dense muffins. This tools also helps to easily scrap up any batter remnants from the bowl!
- Use a cookie scoop to evenly divide the muffin batter into the baking tin.
Substitutions and Variations
- Applesauce - Use regular store bought or homemade unsweetened applesauce instead of cinnamon flavored applesauce.
- Dairy Free - Replace the butter with a dairy free butter substitute.
- Gluten Free - Replace the all purpose flour with cup for cup gluten free flour.
- Nuts - Fold in ½ cup of chopped walnuts or pecans to the mixed batter.
- Mini Muffins - Use batter in a mini muffin pan and only bake for 8-12 minutes.
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