Spiced Applesauce Muffins

Craving easy applesauce muffins? These spiced beauties are perfect for autumn baking! Moist, tender, and packed with flavour, they're a guaranteed hit. Get the recipe!

June 9, 2025
By Sally Thompson.

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Alright, then! let's talk applesauce muffins . ever get that craving for something comforting, something that smells like autumn, even when it’s chucking it down with rain outside? honestly, these are my go-to.

The Only Applesauce Muffin Recipe You'll Need

The thing is, the humble muffin gets a bad rap sometimes. but these easy applesauce muffins ? forget dry, forget bland.

We're talking moist, spiced perfection! this applesauce muffin recipe is inspired by good, old-fashioned american baking.

This applesauce muffins recipe isn't just tasty, it's deceptively simple. think grandma’s kitchen, but with less fuss. we're talking easy peasy lemon squeezy.

It’s dead easy and takes less than 40 minutes. and makes a lovely batch of 12.

Spiced Applesauce Muffins Recipe Card

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Preparation time:15 Mins

Cooking time:22 Mins

Servings:12 muffins

Ingredients:

• 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting if making a crumble topping
• 1 teaspoon (5g) baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon (2.5g) baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon (2.5g) salt
• 1 teaspoon (3g) ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon (1.5g) ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon (0.75g) ground cloves
• 1 cup (240ml) unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup (100g) packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup (60ml) vegetable oil (or melted unsalted butter)
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup (30g) all-purpose flour (for crumble)
• 2 tablespoons (25g) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes (for crumble)
• 2 tablespoons (25g) packed light brown sugar (for crumble)
• 1/4 cup (30g) chopped walnuts or pecans (optional, for crumble)

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease well.
• In a small bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, and nuts (if using). Cut in cold butter with a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together applesauce, brown sugar, oil (or melted butter), egg, and vanilla extract.
• Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently fold until just combined. Be careful not to overmix – a few lumps are okay.
• Fill each muffin cup about 2/3 full.
• Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the muffin batter.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
• Let the muffins cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Why You'll Love These Little Beauties

One of the best things? using applesauce instead of oil makes these surprisingly healthy! plus, they are healthy muffin recipes , packed with flavour but not guilt.

They’re a great way to sneak some fruit into your day, especially if you're trying to get the kids eating better.

Talk about healthy fat free snacks ! these are perfect for a fat free breakfast .

These homemade muffins are also great for a lazy sunday brunch or a quick grab-and-go snack during the week. they are bakery style muffins but without the bakery price tag.

Imagine serving these warm from the oven with a cup of tea. lush! and for my vegan pals, it is possible to adjust the recipe to make vegan homemade snacks !

They are Quick Healthy Baking choice, and you'll be getting some Healthy Breakfast Breads And Muffins down ya!

Let's get cracking with the ingredients, shall we?

Alright, let's whip up some seriously tasty applesauce muffins ! This section's all about what you'll need. Don't worry; it's all pretty straightforward. I'll share some sneaky substitutes too.

Ingredients & Equipment

Main Ingredients

Okay, gather 'round. Here’s what you’ll need for the best applesauce muffin recipe . These are bakery style muffins waiting to happen.

• Flour: 2 cups (250g) all-purpose. Any will do.
• Baking Soda: 1 tsp (5g) . Vital for that rise!
• Baking Powder: ½ tsp (2.5g) . Extra oomph.
• Salt: ½ tsp (2.5g) . Brings out the flavors.
• Cinnamon: 1 tsp (3g) . Warmth!
• Nutmeg: ½ tsp (1.5g) . Adds coziness.
• Cloves: ¼ tsp (0.75g) . A little goes a long way.
• Applesauce: 1 cup (240ml) unsweetened. This is the star . Look for a good, smooth one. The better the apple sauce recipes , the better the muffin!
• Brown Sugar: ½ cup (100g) packed light brown. Adds moisture and a lovely caramel note.
• Oil: ¼ cup (60ml) vegetable oil. Or melted butter. Seriously, butter is divine. You could try using applesauce instead of oil .
• Egg: 1 large . Free-range if you can!
• Vanilla: 1 tsp (5ml) extract. Adds depth.

If you want a crumble, add flour, butter, brown sugar, and walnuts.

Seasoning Notes

Let's chat about the spice magic.

Cinnamon and nutmeg are a classic combo. Try healthy muffin recipes with warm spices.

A little clove adds a beautiful warmth. Don't overdo it. Seriously.

Vanilla extract is your best friend. It rounds out the flavors. Easy Applesauce Muffins love vanilla!

Swap nutmeg for mace if you're feeling fancy!

Equipment Needed

Right, onto the gear! Keep it simple muffin recipe .

• Muffin Tin: A 12-cup one is perfect.
• Muffin Liners: Makes life easier!
• Mixing Bowls: One large, one small.
• Whisk: For dry ingredients.
• Spatula: For folding.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Gotta be precise.
• Ice Cream Scoop: For even filling. This is optional.

No fancy equipment needed for the best homemade muffins . Sometimes, I'm lazy and just mix everything in one bowl.

These Applesauce Muffins are fantastic because they're adaptable! Have fun with it and enjoy the process. This is your chance to bake something yummy. Plus, they make a fat free breakfast !

Right then, let's get down to baking some proper applesauce muffins , shall we? forget shop-bought rubbish; we're talking homemade muffins that'll make your kitchen smell like a blooming autumn dream.

Honestly, these are so simple, even my nan could whip them up – and she once set fire to a kettle!

Applesauce Muffins: Baking Made Easy

These easy applesauce muffins are a game-changer, especially if you are aiming for healthy muffin recipes . they're a fantastic way to sneak in some goodness, and you can totally tell yourself you're being virtuous while scoffing down a couple with a cuppa.

Prep Like a Pro: Getting Ready to Bake Your Applesauce Muffin Recipe

• Essential mise en place: Get all your bits and bobs measured out first, seriously. It'll save you from having a meltdown halfway through when you realise you're short on flour. Gather 2 cups of flour, 1 tsp of baking soda, and the rest of the dry stuff. Then 1 cup of applesauce , 1/2 cup of brown sugar and all the wet ingredients ready.
• Time-saving organization tips: Line your muffin tin with paper liners! Trust me, it's a lifesaver when it comes to getting those Homemade Muffins out in one piece. Plus, less washing up is always a win.
• Safety reminders: Oven gloves, people! We don't want any burnt fingers. And please, for the love of Mary Berry, don't lick the bowl until after it's been in the oven!

Step-by-Step: Baking Your Bakery Style Muffins

1. Preheat your oven to 375° F ( 190° C) . Get that muffin tin sorted, lined or greased.
2. If you're feeling fancy, make the crumble: Rub together 1/4 cup flour, 2 tbsp cold butter, 2 tbsp brown sugar. Chuck in some chopped walnuts for extra crunch, and shove it in the fridge.
3. Whisk together your dry ingredients in a big bowl. Flour, baking soda, cinnamon, all the spices - the works.
4. In another bowl, mix the applesauce , brown sugar, oil (or melted butter), egg, and vanilla extract.
5. Tip the wet into the dry and gently fold. Don't overmix, a few lumps are grand! That's the key to Simple Muffin Recipe baking.
6. Spoon the batter into the muffin cases, about 2/3 full. I like to use an ice cream scoop for this for evenness.
7. If you’re using it, sprinkle that lovely crumble topping over the top.
8. Bake for 20- 25 minutes . Poke 'em with a toothpick; if it comes out clean, they're done.

Pro Tips and Avoiding Baking Blunders

• Expert technique: When mixing, fold gently until just combined. Overmixing is the enemy of light and fluffy muffins.
• Common mistake: Forgetting to check the oven temperature! Make sure your oven is properly preheated.
• If you're using applesauce instead of oil , you're onto a Healthy Muffin winner. But be careful not to over bake, as the applesauce makes them extra moist.

These Applesauce Muffins are perfect for a Fat Free Breakfast or a Quick Healthy Baking session. Give them a go. Trust me, you won't regret it. They're the bees knees!

Alright, let's dive into some extra bits and bobs about these applesauce muffins . We're talking serving, storage, and all the fun little tweaks you can make.

Recipe Notes For Your Perfect Muffins

Here's the lowdown. I'm spilling all the secrets for making these easy applesauce muffins the absolute best.

Fab Serving Suggestions

Let's talk presentation, yeah? These bakery style muffins look fab warm from the oven, maybe with a little dusting of icing sugar. Honestly, though, they're great on their own.

For sides? A bit of Greek yogurt or a dollop of whipped cream works a treat. And don't forget a cuppa! A nice Earl Grey is my go-to.

Clever Storage Tips

Got leftovers? (Though I doubt it!)

Keep 'em in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or two. or pop them in the fridge for up to a week.

For longer storage, freezing is your friend! just wrap them individually and they'll be good for a month or two.

To reheat, just microwave for a few seconds or let them thaw naturally.

Variations: Your Muffin, Your Way

Fancy a change?

For a vegan homemade snacks version, try swapping the egg for a flax egg. and for a healthy muffin recipe , use whole wheat flour instead of plain.

It's surprisingly easy! you can also try swapping seasonal ingredients, so maybe add blueberries in summer or pumpkin puree in autumn.

Want to get a bit fancy? Toss in some dark chocolate chips. It's always a good shout.

Nutrition Basics - Healthy Muffins !

Okay, i'm no nutritionist, but these applesauce muffins are reasonably good for you. especially if you use applesauce instead of oil ! they're not a fat free breakfast per se, but definitely a healthier option than some shop-bought ones.

We're talking fiber from the flour, plus the goodness of applesauce. win-win!

So there you have it! all my tips and tricks for baking the best applesauce muffins . they’re a great starting point to simple muffin recipe for all kind of apple sauce recipes .

This is also an awesome quick healthy baking method. now, go bake something delicious! have fun, and don't be afraid to get a little messy.

These are great as homemade clean snacks . this is one of the healthy fat free snacks options and a great way for oil free baking .

You can even use it as a fat free breakfast . so these recipes can be part of your healthy breakfast breads and muffins collection! now you got the full recipe of some amazing oil free desserts , it's time to bake them!