Description
Soft and tender homemade Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins packed with juicy diced apples and warm cinnamon spice, topped with a buttery crumb topping for the perfect balance of moistness and crunch. These cozy muffins are ideal for breakfast or as a comforting snack, made with simple pantry staples and fresh apples to evoke the perfect fall vibes any time of year.
Ingredients
For the Muffins:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1.5 cups apples, peeled, cored, and diced (about 2 medium apples)
For the Crumb Topping:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a muffin tin with paper liners or grease it with butter to prepare for baking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon to evenly distribute the leavening agents and spice.
- Combine wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix the granulated sugar, brown sugar, melted butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and milk until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing and ensure tender muffins.
- Fold in apples: Gently fold in the peeled, cored, and diced apples to incorporate juicy fruit pieces throughout the batter.
- Prepare crumb topping: In a small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon. Add the softened butter and mix with a fork or fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Fill muffin cups: Divide the batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters full to allow space for rising.
- Add crumb topping: Sprinkle the prepared crumb topping generously over each filled muffin cup for extra crunch and sweetness.
- Bake the muffins: Place the muffin tin in the oven and bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean.
- Cool the muffins: Let the muffins cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, helping the crumb topping set and maintain texture.
Notes
- Do not overmix the batter to keep muffins soft and fluffy; a few lumps are perfectly fine.
- Use fresh, crisp apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best texture and flavor balance.
- Allow melted butter to cool slightly before mixing with eggs and sugars to prevent cooking the eggs.
- For extra cinnamon flavor, toss diced apples in a little cinnamon before folding into the batter.
- Don’t skip the crumb topping—it’s what adds the perfect buttery crunch to the muffins.
- For a crispier crumb topping, place muffins under the broiler for 1-2 minutes at the end, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Line muffin tins with paper liners or grease well to ensure easy muffin removal.
- Cool muffins at least 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and topping to stay intact.
- Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts & Sweet Treats
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
