Cinnamon Apple Muffins
These Cinnamon Apple Muffins are loaded with apples and cinnamon…and topped with a delicious crunchy cinnamon streusel! They’re perfect for chilly Autumn mornings!
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Autumn. My favorite time of the year. Fortunately, Autumn is amazing here in upstate New York. (For now, let’s conveniently “forget” that winter follows close on Autumn’s heels.) Sweaters, beautiful leaves, that first nip of chill in the air. Oh, and apples. Upstate New York is home to a lot of apple orchards. When I say a lot, I mean a lot! I’d estimate we have at least 8-10 orchards within 15 minutes of our house. That means we eat a lot of apples in the Fall. And apples lend themselves well to baking, too!
Before we get into today’s delicious Cinnamon Apple Muffins recipe, can we take a moment to talk about names of apples? Sure, there’s Red Delicious and Granny Smith. And there’s Gala, Fuji and Honeycrisp. Most folks have heard of those. But what about the Cosmic Crisp? Or the Snapdragon? Or (my favorite – at least in name) the Esopus Spitzenburg. Yes, Esopus Spitzenburg. I kid you not. This variety was popular in the 1800’s, and it’s rumored to have been Thomas Jefferson’s favorite kind of apple.
Cinnamon Apple Muffins
Cinnamon Apple MuffinsFor this Cinnamon Apple Muffins, I used the classic Granny Smith variety. The tartness of the Granny Smith makes it a great choice when baking desserts – and let’s be honest, a proper muffin is really just a dessert that woke up early. It only took about 2 large apples to give these muffins a noticeable apple flavor. And cinnamon. Don’t forget the cinnamon in there, too! Heck, I could’ve called these Apple Pie Muffins, but I thought Cinnamon Apple Muffins sounded better.
Aside from the diced apples, the real shining star in this muffin is the thick layer of streusel that gets sprinkled on top before baking. I’ve always had a thing for streusel on top of muffins, and I spent a long time perfecting what I consider to be the best darn streusel ever! Some streusels were too dry and crumbly. Other versions sank into the muffins while baking. But this one? Holy cow, I could eat it with a spoon. (If you’ve been a long-time reader of this blog, then this streusel topping will probably look familiar. I use it all the time when baking muffins!)
I also topped these muffins with a glaze. The glaze is tasty, but honestly it’s not necessary. I’ll probably leave it off next time I bake a batch. The streusel, though? Not optional in my book!
So as the days start getting shorter and the nights start getting colder, I say pick up some apples and get to baking! These Cinnamon Apple Muffins were a huge hit in our house, and I highly suspect they will be making more appearances before apple season wraps up this year. Happy baking!
Did you make a batch of these Cinnamon Apple Muffins at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog). Enjoy!
Cinnamon Apple Muffins
Ingredients
For the Streusel
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
For the Muffins
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- ½ tsp salt
- 3 large eggs
- ⅓ cup buttermilk
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1½ cups diced green apples ~ ½” pieces
For the Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 3 Tbsp milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
For the Streusel
- Using a medium bowl, add sugars and cinnamon; stir until well combined.
- Add the melted butter; stir until well combined.
- Add the flour; stir until well combined. Set streusel aside.
For the Muffins
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Lightly spray a muffin tin with baking spray, or line muffin tin with paper liners.
- Using a medium mixing bowl, add flour, baking powder and cinnamon; stir until well combined. Set mixture aside.
- Using an electric mixer, cream together sugar, butter and salt until light and fluffy (~3-4 minutes on medium speed).
- Using a medium mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, vanilla and oil. Pour liquid mixture into bowl of mixer in 2 additions, mixing well after each addition.
- Add flour mixture and mix on low until well combined.
- Fold in chopped apples.
- Divide batter evenly into prepared muffin tin. (See note.)
- Crumble the streusel mixture evenly on top of the muffins.
- Bake for 36-38 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.
For the Glaze
- Using a small bowl, whisk all glaze ingredients (powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract) together; drizzle over warm muffins.
Notes
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these look delicious david. i do love a good crisp apple, but they seem harder and harder to come by these days. i think they are stored way too long. but never mind that – let’s enjoy a good apple muffin!
I do agree with you about apples, Sherry! I don’t know if you can find honeycrisp variety apples down there, but I highly recommend them – they are actually crisp. And these muffins? Just make a batch. Trust me!
I’m so excited for autumn too! And I can almost smell these Cinnamon Apple Muffins, David!
Have a wonderful long weekend, friend!
These might be my #1 all-time favorite muffin, Marissa…and that says a lot as I love (!!) muffins. We did indeed have a good long weekend up here, and I hope you did, too!
Cinnamon and apple is just one of the best flavour combinations! I can only imagine how lovely these muffins would smell when they’re baking, and how great they would taste. I wish I had a couple with my morning coffee!
I know it’s springtime down in your neck of the woods, but we’re hitting the early days of Autumn here. That means apple season, and I’m telling ya that these apple cinnamon muffins are a huge hit. They would be great with morning coffee – in fact, I might have to make another batch soon! Thanks, Alex!
You’re right about chilly Autumn mornings David. I went out running early yesterday morning and the cold nearly made me go back inside! Actually if I’d had some of these cinnamon apple muffins in the kitchen I know I definitely wouldn’t have even gone outside to run in the first place. These look delicious!!
Haha! Sounds like you need to work up a rig where you have a hat with a muffin dangling off a string in front of you – then you could just run along chasing the muffin the whole time. 🙂
Autumn there means spring here, yay! And if autumn is your favourite time, mine is spring but theres no one stopping me making those cinnamon apple muffins regardless what season it is specially here where apples are abundant all year round.
Yes, I recognize that this is the wrong season for apple and baking recipes…but we’re hitting the early days of Autumn here, and that means apple season! (Although you are right about apples being a year-round thing now.) These muffins are awesome, Raymund – in fact, this might be one of my favorite muffin recipes of all time!
I do love the changing of the seasons and fall is always one of my favorites. I also love muffins and these look like a winner! You just can’t go wrong with apples and cinnamon!
I’m with ya, Kathy. Apple and cinnamon go perfectly together, and these muffins are a great way to welcome in Autumn baking season. I’ve gotta say that these muffins might be one of my all-time favorites! Hope you had a great long weekend, my friend!
I am so excited about autumn, too! But I like that nice, warm, and sunny kind of fall in September till end of October. November? Humm not so much – even though it could be very nice too, the combination of dark nights, gloomy days, and those mixed precipitation situations isn’t my favourite. And of course, I am excited about all the seasonal produce, too. These muffins look and sound delicious. They appear to be quite sweet, so I agree with you that the glaze isn’t necessarily!
I’m with ya on the gloomy days and mixed precipitation – no thanks! But the early Autumn days with the sun shining through colorful leaves? That’s how I like it! And if I happen to have a batch of these Apple Cinnamon Muffins next to me? Even better. Thanks so much, my friend!
I love fall too!! Your cinnamon applel muffins are perfect for fall.
We’re heading out apple picking this morning, and I can’t wait! I’m thinking another batch of these muffins might be in the cards for this weekend. 🙂
Sweaters, colorful leaves and a chill in the air…oh how I miss fall in New Hampshire. But of course, winter does follow and I don’t miss the snow and ice. You are right about Thomas Jefferson, he did grow Esopus Spitzenburg apples at Monticello along with Newtown Pippin, and Roxbury Russet. We had over a 100 varieties of apples in our orchard in New Hampshire, most of them heritage apples and had all those varieties. Wish I had your lovely muffin recipe a few years back and I would have used Spitzenburg apples to make your muffins. Of course they will be delicious with another variety.
Haha! I was actually thinking about you and my other Florida-based blog friends when I posted this one. The recipe might seem like it’s jumping the gun down there, but we’re hitting Autumn in full stride up here – in fact, I just took Robbie apple picking yesterday! Also, you nailed it about the winter. The winters will be what eventually chase me out of this state back to the South.
Wait – 100 varieties of apples in your orchard!? I knew you had an orchard up there in New Hampshire, but I didn’t realize it was so large! That’s awesome. I’ve always wanted to have an orchard, but the trees take so long to mature. Either way, I do highly recommend this muffin recipe – it seriously is one of my favorite muffin flavors for these early Autumn mornings! Thanks, Karen!
Totally my favourite time of year too! Honestly, if it were September/October weather year round I would be quite happy with that! These muffins look delicious, David, and I bet they smell even better as they bake. Love one right about now, fresh outta the oven, smeared with butter….and now I’m hungry 😉
You said it, Dawn – and I couldn’t agree more! I would take September/October year round in a heartbeat. I’m loving these crisp, cool mornings…and I’m loving baking with apples again! These muffins are perfect with a cup of coffee. Perhaps you should make a batch this weekend?? 🙂
These muffins are absolutely scrumptious, My kids would love them. Perfect way to celebrate fall.
Thank you so much, Aarthi! These muffins are seriously tasty, and they are indeed the perfect way to welcome in fall. Happy baking!!
Oh my! These are heavenly! And – a Streusel topping and glaze!!! Heaven help me! I could do some serious damage to a batch of these all by myself! I’m gonna have to make a batch of these this weekend- gonna try and make them without eggs and hope they taste as good as these you made look! Fantastic recipe my friend!
Oh I absolutely did some damage to these muffins, Shashi! And then I had to take a care package down to the neighbors as I couldn’t trust myself with a whole plate of these on the counter. Haha!
I’m not as skilled in baking without eggs as you are, but I’m sure there are some good substitutes out there. I do highly recommend these muffins, though! Is it almost time for an apple picking trip in the North Georgia mountains??
Great recipe! Loved every bite.
Thank you so much, Terri! I’m really glad you enjoyed the recipe, and I truly do appreciate you stopping back by to leave a comment. 🙂 Happy baking, my friend!
Wow David, these muffins are absolutely perfect! I completely agree, streusel toppings are a favorite of mine as well. As are baked goods with apples. Definitely one of the best parts of autumn! I’ll definitely be making these delicious muffins this autumn, yum!! And that is so so cool that you have so many apple orchards so close by. Sounds like a picturesque (and delicious!) dream come true!
As much as I am not looking forward to winter, I have to say that I am all about this fall weather right now! I love the cooler days, and of course baking with (and just eating) apples is one of the best parts of the season. I have to say that these muffins might be one of my all time favorites, too. So much Autumn flavor packed in these! 🙂