Cinnamon Apple Muffins are so scrumptious and full of warm cinnamon and crisp apple bits and finished with a cinnamon sugar topping. Favorite bakery style muffins recipe with amazing flavor and aroma, perfect to enjoy anytime.
And believe me, when autumn rolls around, these babies are in high demand.
In reality, they are perfect as a year-round breakfast treat, but for some reason, I immediately associate them with cool autumn mornings with all that cinnamon and apple deliciousness they have in their favor.
And luckily, these babies definitely have lots going on in their favor!
These cinnamon apple muffins use just one apple to make a dozen muffins, but if you prefer more apple bits in your muffins, by all means, I’d increase it to two. Dice them small so that the pieces of apple aren’t overwhelming when you take a bite of muffin. You want every single bite to be well-balanced in flavor and texture.
What Apples to Use for Cinnamon Apple Muffins?
You can use whichever baking apple you prefer. I like to use Braeburn, Rome, Jon Gold, Gala, Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, and SweeTango apples in these muffins. I also like that when I bite into the apple pieces, I still know that it is apple and not make me think it is applesauce or apple butter included. Don’t you?
Along with apples, flour, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla, you’ll just need some butter, milk, baking powder, salt, and eggs. The classic ingredients for a cinnamon apple muffin, I think. Nothing weird here.
Once the muffins are in the oven baking, I like to brown a little bit of butter and mix together a bowl of cinnamon sugar. Then, once the muffins have cooled slightly, I dip the tops of the muffins into the slightly warm brown butter and then into the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Talk about perfection!
Amazingly enough though, folks don’t just eat the tops of the muffins and then forget about the sweet little base. They gobble the whole thing up it’s so well balanced in flavors.
But, just in case you were wondering, you can skip that indulgent little coating on the top, but I seriously recommend you don’t.
These muffins are so easy to make ahead so you can have this delicious muffin when ever you want.
Freeze instructions: You can make these muffins ahead and store them in an airtight container for a couple of days or freeze them to keep them longer up to 3 months. Just cool the muffins completely, wrap them in 2 layers of freezer wrap so they are airtight and place them in the freezer. You can also freeze them after you add the topping.
To Reheat: You can either let them thaw at room temperature or heat them frozen, unwrapped in the microwave, or wrapped in foil in the oven. If you want, you can wait and add the topping after you reheat them.
Other Favorite Muffin Recipes
More Muffin Recipes
Here’s my Cinnamon Apple Muffins. Make them soon.
Cinnamon Apple Muffins Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, + 2 teaspoons for coating apples
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, + 1/2 teaspoon for coating apples
- 2 cups diced apples
- ½ cup unsalted butter, , room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup milk
For the Topping:
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375º F. Spray muffin tins with bakers spray or coat well with shortening or butter and flour, making sure to discard any excess flour from the tins after coating.
- Sift together 2 cups flour, baking powder, salt, and 2 teaspoons cinnamon in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- Mix 2 teaspoons flour with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Toss diced apples with the flour/cinnamon mixture to coat apples in a separate bowl. Set aside.
- Cream together butter and sugar until lightened in color, about 3 minutes. Add an egg, one at a time, taking care to fully incorporate before adding the other. Mix in vanilla.
- Gently fold in flour mixture, alternating with milk. Stir until just combined. Fold in diced apples and scoop mixture into prepared muffin tins, filling about 2/3 to 3/4 full. Bake until a toothpick or skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
- Prepare topping for muffins while the muffins are baking by melting the butter and allowing to cool slightly. Pour butter into a separate bowl sized easy for dipping tops of muffins. Mix together granulated sugar and cinnamon in a separate bowl and set aside.
- Once muffins have baked, remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly in the muffin tin. Then, remove each muffin and brush the butter on with a pastry brush (or dip into the melted butter) and then into the cinnamon sugar mixture. Place onto a plate to finish cooling.
Notes
The original recipe called for a 1 to 1 mixture of sugar and cinnamon. If you prefer a less cinnamon flavor in your topping, reduce the mixture to 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.Â
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
I just made it and the batter was really thick. Is that normal. Also for the next time can i use muffin papers? Thanks ☺
Hey, I made this without reading how much apple to put in, so I just put in one medium apple. Whoops! Still turned out great, though the butter clumped instead of beating together. Thanks! -Joann
Hi, I was wondering if I could use cupcake liners instead of greasing the tins? Thanks!
Hi Joann,
I always spray the tin, but you can use cupcake liners if you wish. It may be best to allow them to cool completely after baking so the paper liners remove as cleanly as possible.
Enjoy them! Thanks so much! xo
Hi I’ve just run out of plain flour but I have plenty of Self Raising flour, do you think I could use this instead? Really want to make these, they look delicious!
Hi Tamiel,
You will have too much leavening with self rising flour for these muffins. I would not recommend it. I do hope you give them a try sometime. Thanks!
Changes to recipe:
Bake for 20 minutes only – any longer burnt them from past experience.
Topping – melted a 1/4 cup instead of 1/2 cup to brush on muffins and then sprinkled with 1 tsp sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon instead of 1/4 cup. Previously found too much butter and topping for my liking.
Now I made a typo… meant to say ” obviously they don’t”
Comments made from first post and also made by other people that cinnamon could be a typo??? Obviously they don’t understand “flavour”
Moving forward muffins were perfect and I wouldn’t change a thing!!!
Hi Harlem!
I’m so glad you enjoyed these muffins! My family and I love them and really like the the flavor of that cinnamon!
Thanks so much!
Hi Robyn,
I’ve made these twice now and they’ve been a hit . Thank you for a fantastic recipe. I increased the cinnamon a bit though in the topping ?. Keep up the good work.
I’m so happy you like them, Amal! I love the cinnamon topping and glad you do as well! Thank you so much for your kind comment!
Wish I had read the comments about halving the cinnamon before prepping. I found it to be way too much cinnamon (a waste) and over powering. But otherwise a wonderful recipe.
Hi Melissa,
I’m sorry it was too much for your taste, but I am glad you like the recipe. My family likes them this way, but you can definitely reduce it to your taste!
Thanks so much! xo
Made this for a bake sale at my son’s school. They were amazing!! I love cinnamon and apples together, the muffins were perfect instead of always baking an apple pie or crumble. Will make them again soon!
I’m so happy you enjoyed them, Annika! Thank you so very much! xo