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These fluffy Apple Muffins are filled with apple chunks with warm cinnamon flavor. The brown sugar crumble topping adds a bit of crunch to the moist muffins – these are the perfect fall muffin recipe!

apple muffins in a brown cupcake tin with a crumble topping.


Moist Cinnamon Apple Muffins

I fell in love with this muffin recipe because of the crumb topping. If the crumb recipe isn’t the best part of any recipe, then I don’t know what is. I turned my favorite all-purpose muffin recipe into an apple muffin because we are apple lovers – especially in the fall.

My secret to moist muffins is using sour cream instead of milk – the acid and moisture in the sour cream keeps these muffins moist for days.

ingredients in apple muffins.

Ingredients Needed

  • Apples: Peeled, cored, and diced very small. Use your favorite kind of apple!
  • Butter: You’ll need melted butter for the crumble topping. I love using unsalted butter! 
  • Vegetable oil: I find oil best for making a tender muffin – plus it makes them easy to mix.
  • White vinegar: Interacts with the baking soda and sour cream to help the muffins rise nice and fluffy with the perfect muffin tops.

How to make Apple Muffins

process shot of apple muffins.

1. Make the apples: place the diced apples in a medium sized microwave bowl. Add water to the bowl and microwave until the apples start to get a bit translucent/opaque. Drain them well, then sprinkle with cinnamon and granulated sugar.

process shot of apple muffins.

2. Make the topping by stirring together melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and all-purpose flour with a fork in a medium sized bowl.

process shot of apple muffins.

3. Mix eggs with sugar and oil then stir in vanilla, vinegar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Mix in sour cream then stir in flour using a wooden spoon. Stir in drained and slightly cooled apples.

process shot of apple muffins.

4. Line muffin pans with cupcake liners and fill with batter. Sprinkle the crumble evenly over the top of the muffins. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of a muffin.

apple muffins in a brown cupcake tin with a crumble topping.

Expert Tips

  • Fill muffin cups 2/3 full of batter (about 1/4 cup per muffin cups) for the best results. I love using a cookie scoop for this!
  • If your batter is slightly lumpy after adding the sour cream that’s okay.

Storage

Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to one month.

FAQs

What apples are best for baking muffins?

Granny Smith and Gala are my favorites, but you can use whatever you would like! 

apple muffins in a brown cupcake tin with a crumble topping.

Crumb Apple Muffins Recipe

4 from 18 votes
Easy Crumb Apple Muffins – a fluffy cinnamon apple muffin filled with apple chunks and topped with a brown sugar crumble. The perfect breakfast recipe!

Recipe Video

Prep Time 27 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Yield 18 muffins
Serving Size 1 muffin

Ingredients
 

Apples:

  • 2 ½ cups about 3 small/medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced very small
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon

Topping:

  • ½ cups (62g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (100g) packed brown sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons (42g) unsalted butter melted

Muffins:

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (118ml) vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (245g) sour cream
  • 2 cups (248g) all-purpose flour
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Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line muffin pans with paper baking cups.
  • Make the apples: place the diced apples in a medium sized microwave bowl. Add about 1/2” of water in the bowl and microwave for about 2 minutes, or just until the apples start to get a bit translucent/opaque but aren’t cooked all the way through. Drain them well, then sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Set aside.
  • Make the topping by stirring together all topping ingredients with a fork in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.
  • Using a hand mixer or wooden spoon, mix eggs with sugar and oil, beat until creamy. Mix vanilla, vinegar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Mix in sour cream then stir in flour using a wooden spoon. (Batter may be slightly lumpy.) Stir in apples.
  • Fill muffin cups 2/3 full of batter (about 1/4 cup per muffin cups) Sprinkle the crumble evenly over the top of the muffins.
  • Bake for 15-19 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of a muffin. Cool 5 minutes in pan then remove to a rack to cool completely.
  • Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to one month.

Recipe Notes

  • Fill muffin cups 2/3 full of batter (about 1/4 cup per muffin cups) for the best results. I love using a cookie scoop for this!
  • If your batter is slightly lumpy after adding the sour cream that’s okay.
  • Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to one month.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 254kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 1189mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 20g
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American

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Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

4 from 18 votes (15 ratings without comment)

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