Apple Cinnamon Streusel Muffins Recipe

Muffins have been around for quite some time, but they really started to gain popularity in the 1970s when more and more women were working outside the home, therefore unavailable to cook a full, hot breakfast for their families, to order (via Repeller). Nevertheless, muffins can contain a ton of sugar and refined ingredients (via Healthline). Of course, that doesn't mean you can't make yourself a batch of healthy, delicious muffins and have a go-to recipe on hand for a grab-and-go breakfast. Since Kristen Carli, a private practice registered dietitian at Camelback Nutrition & Wellness knows a bit about juggling work, life, and good nutrition, she has put together this recipe for delicious, melt-in-your-mouth apple cinnamon streusel muffins, and we think you're going to love them — a lot.

"I love apples in [the] fall," Carli says. And this recipe includes around two whole apples, not to mention cinnamon-infused apple sauce, which acts as a "binder" so that eggs are not needed. Since no butter or dairy is used either, these muffins are vegan, Carli explains. At the same time, the cinnamon apple sauce serves as another layer of apple and cinnamon flavor. Bottom line? You're going to love these apple cinnamon streusel muffins and feel good about eating them and feeding them to your family. 

Carli's recipe for apple cinnamon streusel muffins involves chopped apples, muffin batter, and streusel topping. In terms of apples, you'll need 1 ½ cups of apples diced into small pieces (about two medium apples, according to Carli). For the muffin batter, you'll need 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, ½ teaspoon of baking soda, and ½ teaspoon of salt as well as 1 cup of brown sugar and ½ cup of cinnamon apple sauce. For the streusel topping, you'll need 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour, ⅓ cup of brown sugar, and ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon spice.

First, preheat your oven to 350 F, and spray a muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray. Then, Carli recommends prepping the streusel topping first for this recipe, because then it will be ready and waiting by the time you finish prepping the muffin batter. 

To make the streusel topping, stir together 1 tablespoon of the all-purpose flour and 1 cup of brown sugar dedicated to making the streusel topping in this recipe, along with the cinnamon. You can use a whisk or a spoon for this to make sure that the flour and cinnamon are evenly distributed throughout the brown sugar.

Take out a medium-sized mixing bowl, and use it to combine the remaining 2 cups of flour, the baking powder, baking soda, and the salt. (These will comprise the dry ingredients for your apple cinnamon streusel muffin batter.)

Then, in another medium-sized bowl, stir together the melted butter, the remaining 1 cup of brown sugar, and the cinnamon apple sauce. (These will comprise the wet ingredients for your muffin batter.) Alternately, you can mix together the wet ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer, using the mixer set to low.

If you haven't yet cut up your apples, you should do so now using a sharp chef's knife. Start with an apple corer to remove the core, but leave the peel on. Slice the rest of your apples into quarters, then each quarter into quarters, and so on, until your apples are diced to about ½x½-inch.

When you're done dicing your apples, it will be time to add the diced apples to the wet ingredients. Simply transfer them from the cutting board to a bowl, and stir to combine them throughout the wet ingredients. Then, add in the dry ingredients, and stir to combine everything thoroughly.

You're just about ready to bake your apple cinnamon streusel muffins. Simply spoon the batter evenly into your prepared muffin tin(s). Then, sprinkle an equal amount of the streusel topping over the muffin batter in the tin(s). Pop the muffins into your preheated oven, and set a timer for 20 minutes. Get ready for your kitchen to fill up with the loveliest aroma that will instantly put you in a fall mood.

Once the 20 minutes are up, remove the muffin tin(s). Allow the muffins to cool for 10 minutes before turning the muffins out onto a serving platter. Serve and enjoy, while at the same time knowing that these delicious muffins are also impressively healthy. As Carli points out, "These are the perfect fall morning breakfast!"