• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Live-In Kitchen logo

  • Recipes
  • About
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Work Together
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Bread Recipes » Muffin Recipes

    Apple Spice Muffins

    Lindsay Moe

    185 shares
    apple spice muffins
    apple cinnamon muffin batter
    easy apple muffin
    pinterest image for apple spice muffins

    These Apple Spice Muffins are a sweet and spicy way to start your day! Spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, blended with unsweetened apple sauce, they’re a great fall breakfast to enjoy with your favorite morning drink.

    a pile of apple spice muffins, one cut in half and buttered
    Jump to Recipe

    If I had to survive on only one breakfast treat for the rest of my life (oh, what a world) it might be these apple spice muffins.

    Cinnamon rolls are too much work, and biscotti might as well be stale bread. Muffins give you that fresh baked bread smell, without all the kneading and rising. They can be customized a million different ways, making them a truly easy breakfast treat.

    apple pecan muffins

    You are going to enjoy these apple spice muffins. A simple and straightforward recipe that is perfect for those who might not like soft chunks of fruit, or decadent chocolate in their morning meal. Made with applesauce rather than whole apples, the apple flavor couldn’t be any easier to achieve.

    brown butter for apple cinnamon muffins

    It’s worth the time to brown the butter, as it pairs up with the whole wheat flour and the pecans for a nice, nutty flavor. Sweet earthy flavors of cinnamon and allspice harmonize with the applesauce, while brown sugar keeps things soft and apple-pie like.

    Apple spice muffins have a top that is crispy and sweet, almost like a cookie. Big pecans studded throughout, and coarse sugar on top give these muffins a nice crunch factor.

    easy apple muffins on white parchment

    How to make easy apple muffins

    • Brown butter over medium heat
    • Whisk together dry ingredients in a medium sized mixing bowl
    • Whisk wet ingredients in a separate bowl, adding butter a little at a time.
    • Mix wet and dry ingredients until just blended, then fold in nuts. Top with coarse sugar and extra pecans if desired.
    • Bake in a muffin pan coated with non-stick spray or paper liners, then allow to cool completely.
    • dry ingredients for apple spice muffin recipe
    • dry ingredients for apple spice muffins after mixing
    • wet ingredients for apple spice muffin recipe
    • apple spice muffin batter in process
    • apple spice muffin batter in process
    • apple spice muffin batter in process
    • apple spice muffin batter in process
    • apple spice muffin batter in process
    • apple spice muffin batter before mixing in pecans
    • apple spice muffin batter after mixing

    How to customize your apple spice muffins

    • Swap the pecans for walnuts
    • Drizzle with the vanilla icing from my banana bundt cake
    • Whisk together a bit of coconut milk and powdered sugar until thick and creamy, then drizzle over cooled muffins
    • Use vegan browned butter and flax eggs to keep make it vegan apple spice muffins.
    • Use a gluten-free flour blend to make them gluten-free
    apple spice muffins before baking

    Other apple recipes to try

    • Apple Spice Overnight Oats
    • Honey and Apple Goat Cheese Appetizer
    • Applesauce Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
    apple spice muffins on white parchment with a bowl of applesauce

    If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!

    sign up for our newsletter graphic

    This post was updated in December 2019 with new photos and more helpful information about the recipe.

    spiced apple muffins

    Apple Spice Muffins

    Delicious apple spice muffins made with applesauce and spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.
    3.34 from 9 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 311kcal
    Author: Lindsay Moe

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup butter
    • 3 tablespoons butter
    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup whole wheat flour
    • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon ground allspice
    • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
    • Pinch of salt
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
    • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
    • 1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
    • Raw or coarse sugar, (optional)

    Instructions

    • Place an oven rack in the middle position and preheat the oven to 400ºF. Grease a 12 cup muffin pan or line with paper liners.
    • In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Keep an eye on it, stirring frequently, allowing it to cook down until the butter foams, crackles, and begins to brown. Remove from the heat and pour into a small bowl to cool.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt. In another large bowl, whisk together eggs and brown sugar until well combined. Add the slightly cooled butter, a little at a time, until creamy. Stir in applesauce. Fold the wet ingredients into the flour mixture until just moistened, then gently fold in the nuts. Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups and top with raw or coarse sugar and more pecan pieces if desired.
    • Bake in the preheated oven until puffed and golden, about 20 minutes. Cool in the pan on a rack for 5 minutes, then remove to cool completely. These are best eaten the day they are made.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 311kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 155mg | Potassium: 181mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 375IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 1.4mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @theliveinkitchen or tag #theliveinkitchen!

    More Muffin Recipes

    • Lemon poppy seed muffins on a speckled plate on a red napkin next to a spoon of poppy seeds and a bowl of glaze.
      Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
    • A close up of one double chocolate banana muffin on a cake stand.
      Double Chocolate Banana Muffins
    • Three Mini Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins on a round white plate.
      Mini Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
    • Vegan pumpkin muffins on a cooling rack.
      Vegan Pumpkin Muffins

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Caroline @ chocolate & carrots says

      February 20, 2013 at 4:59 am

      I’m with you, I’d love to have cinnamon rolls or waffles for breakfast every morning, but they’re way to much work. These muffins look like just the perfect quick breakfast! 😀

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    lindsay moe in a kitchen with glasses on shelves behind her

    Hi, I'm Lindsay! I've been creating easily customizable vegetarian recipes since 2011. I love the outdoors, brownies, and brand new books. I live and work in La Crosse, Wisconsin and founded Wild Flour Media to expand on my love for food photography and videography to my community and beyond.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • single serving vegan cookie dough on a spoon
      Vegan Cookie Dough for One
    • featured image of two shot glasses with buttery nipple shot
      Buttery Nipple Shot
    • zesty cream cheese stuffed mini peppers close up
      Zesty Cream Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers
    • single serving lemonade in a glass with lemons
      Single Serving Lemonade

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Lindsay
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Statement

    Extras

    • Newsletter
    • Resources
    • On the Side

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with Me
    • Wild Flour Media

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 The Live-In Kitchen

    Please read my Privacy Policy.
    185 shares