Apple Pie Muffins (with Streusel Topping)

Pie for breakfast?! These Apple Pie Muffins have everything you love about a classic apple pie - tender spiced apples surrounded in a buttery hug and topped with a crisp streusel topping - all baked into a soft buttermilk muffin that's easy enough for any morning.

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I created these Apple Pie Muffins because I have always loved the flavors of apple pie, but not the goopy filling that comes with it. Is that just me? My favorite parts are the soft, spiced apples and the buttery crust. So I took those best bits and baked them into something easier.

By folding a thick apple pie filling into my buttermilk muffin batter and topping them with a crunchy streusel, you get all the flavor and texture of a classic pie without the mess.

Why you'll love this recipe

• All the flavor of pie - Soft cinnamon apples, buttery crumb, and crisp streusel give every bite that apple pie taste.
• No soggy mess - Folding thickened apple filling into the batter keeps the texture thick and rich.
• Simple to make - No mixer, no making pie dough, no waiting for a pie to cool, just whisk, fold, and bake.
• Flexible ingredients - Use whatever yogurt, sour cream, or milk you have on hand.
• Perfect for cool weather baking - Warm, cozy apple spice muffins that fill your kitchen with amazing aroma.

If you love the comfort of apple pie, or even an apple galette, but not the waiting or cleanup, this recipe is right up your alley. You should also try other apple recipes, like my baked apple croissants, maple apple turnovers, and even turn my brown sugar cinnamon pop tarts into handheld apple pies using my maple apples recipe.

Ingredients & Substitutions

You don't need anything fancy to make these spiced apple muffins, just a few pantry staples and a couple of fresh apples. The photo below shows what you will need, but if you are short on an ingredient, don't stress. This is a "make it work" kitchen:

• Buttermilk - If you are out of buttermilk, use plain yogurt, Greek yogurt thinned with a splash of milk, or sour cream with a bit of milk to loosen it up. I have not tried plant based milks, but I would love to hear from you if you do.
• Apples - Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp are great choices for sweet, crisp apple flavor that holds its shape.
• Oil and butter - A mix of melted butter and neutral oil gives the muffins rich buttery flavor, but the lasting moisture of oil. If you prefer, you can use all butter or all oil.
• Granulated (white) sugar - I purposely left the buttermilk muffin a neutral flavor so that it mimics the flavor of a pie crust, but if you want a richer and deeper flavor to your muffin, you can substitute half the white sugar with brown sugar.
• Cornstarch - I add a cornstarch slurry to my apple filling so that as it cools it makes a nice thick ribbon of apple pie flavor that swirls into the muffin batter. If you don't add it you risk making your muffins too moist and and not in a good way 😉 You can use arrowroot starch or tapioca starch in its place if that's what you have.
• Cinnamon and nutmeg - These give the filling its cozy apple pie flavor, but you can use store-bought apple pie spice in its place, or even tone down the cinnamon if you prefer a milder spice.
• Streusel topping - Optional, but that buttery crunch takes these muffins from good to irresistible.

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Variations

If you love to experiment, here are a few easy twists on the base recipe.

• Nutty topping - Add ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans to the streusel for a little crunch.
• Caramel drizzle - Finish cooled muffins with a light drizzle of caramel sauce or maple glaze powdered sugar, milk, and maple syrup.
• Maple spice version - Add 1 tablespoon of maple syrup to the apple filling and include a pinch of ground cloves, or just make a half batch of my sauteed apples recipe.
• Mini muffins - Bake the same batter in mini muffin tins for 10 to 12 minutes for bite sized treats.

Quick Recipe Video

Step-by-Step Instructions

These muffins are as easy as it gets. Follow along with the photos and you will have perfect bakery style apple muffins in about 45 minutes.

Step 1: Peel and core two apples and cut into ¼ inch dice.

Step 2: In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter and add diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Cook for about 4 to 5 minutes until apples begin to soften.

Step 3: Stir in vanilla, then mix the cornstarch with water and pour it in. Cook another minute until the mixture is thick and glossy. Spread it onto a parchment lined sheet pan and place it in the freezer while you make the rest of the recipe.

Step 4: In a small bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in the cold butter with a fork or your fingers until crumbly. Transfer the bowl to the freezer alongside the apple filling to firm up.

Step 5: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well blended.

Step 6: In a larger bowl, whisk together melted butter, oil, buttermilk, eggs, sugar, and vanilla until smooth and combined.

Step 7: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir gently until just combined. 

Step 8: If you have time, let the batter rest for 15 minutes while you preheat the oven to 425°F and line your muffin pan with paper liners that have been lightly spritzed with nonstick spray.

Step 9: Add about two thirds of the chilled apple filling to the batter and fold gently, just enough to create ribbons of spiced apple throughout. Do not overmix. You want swirls, not streaks.

Step 10: Divide the batter evenly among the 12 prepared muffin wells.

Step 11: Spoon about a teaspoon of the reserved apple filling over each muffin.

Step 12: Sprinkle about a tablespoon of the chilled streusel topping on top.

Bake: Bake at 425°F for 5 minutes, then, without opening the oven door, lower the temperature to 350°F and bake another 15 to 18 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.

Finish: Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack. Dust with powdered sugar if you like and enjoy warm. They smell incredible, so do your best to wait at least 10 minutes. As if.

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