Name: Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 3/4 cup granulated sugar; 1/2 tsp salt; 2 tsp baking powder; 1/3 cup oil (vegetable or canola); 1 egg (lightly beaten); 1/3 cup milk; 3 tbsp Granny Smith apple (grated); 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Looking for a simple recipe with all the fall feels? Gather the kids, some fresh apples, and rich cinnamon because these apple cinnamon muffins are easy and delicious as a breakfast on a crisp fall morning or a perfect after-school snack.

Just as easy as my Blueberry Muffin Recipe, you’re going to love this Apple Cinnamon Muffin recipe!

BEST APPLE CINNAMON MUFFINS

I have to admit I love all the seasons, and it’s probably difficult for me to chose a favorite. But after a busy, hot summer, I really look forward to the crisp weather and beautiful colors of fall. We are lucky to be able to experience all the seasons here in central Illinois.

The kids love coming with me to the Apple Barn to pick fresh apples from their orchard. When we get home, we are so excited to head to the kitchen and bake (and eat!) our favorite treats! Our house smells divine, especially when we have all the scents of warm apples, cinnamon, and rich vanilla swirled all together! These apple cinnamon breakfast muffins are a staple in our home year-round, but they are extra special when we can pick the apples ourselves.

INGREDIENTS

To make these easy apple cinnamon muffins, you’ll need

all purpose flour – bleached, all-purpose flour works best.

white sugar

salt – a small amount of salt helps to highlight the other flavors in the muffins

baking powder – baking powder increases the volume and lightens the texture in baked goods.

vegetable or canola oil – these oils are preferred because they are very neutral in flavor and won’t affect the final product

egg – the egg should be lightly whisked because it adds air which helps to make the muffins fluffy

milk – dairy whole milk is best for this recipe

grated apple – granny smith apples are my favorite apples in this recipe because they hold their texture when baked. Grating the apple instead of chopping makes a moister muffin with more apple in every bite!

ground cinnamon – for extra cinnamon flavor, add a half-teaspoon of cinnamon instead of a quarter.

HOW TO MAKE EASY APPLE CINNAMON MUFFINS

Step 1. Prepare

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place liners in muffin tin.

Step 2. Combine the ingredients

Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Pour the 1/3 cup oil into a 1-cup glass measuring cup. Beat the egg lightly and add it to the oil. Fill the measuring cup to the 1-cup mark with the milk (this will be approximately 1/3 cup). Beat the wet ingredients together until well combined.

Step 3. Create the batter

Create the batter by combining the wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until well combined, but don’t over mix. Overmixing the batter can make your muffins unpleasantly chewy in texture.

Step 4. Add the apples

Stir in apples and cinnamon. Divide batter evenly into the muffin cups. They should be about 2/3 full so they have room to rise. Adding too much batter will cause the cups to overflow.

Step 5. Bake

Bake at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Step 6. Enjoy

These apple cinnamon muffins are delicious served warm or at room temperature. If you have leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container about four days.

FAQ

Which apples are best for apple cinnamon muffins?

Granny Smith apples are a great go-to for muffins, as they bring a tart taste to balance out the sweetness found in most morning muffins.

Is butter or oil better for muffins?

I recommend baking muffins with oil. Muffins baked with butter will be a bit drier than those baked with oil since butter has a lower fat content. This also means that the butter muffins will stale faster than the oil ones.

What’s the best way to store leftover muffins?

Leftover muffins can be stored in an airtight container for about 4 days. The trick is storing them just right! Make sure they are cooled completely before storing. Line an airtight container with paper towels and place the muffins on top in a single layer. You can also add some extra paper towels above the muffins to absorb additional moisture if you feel your moist muffins might get soggy quickly.