Easy Applesauce Muffins Recipe

Easy Applesauce Muffins are the perfect healthy way to start the day! Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins are extremely moist and flavorful with applesauce, banana, oats, cinnamon, and the perfect amount of sweetness. 

If you open our freezer on any given day, you will find stashes of muffins. With four kids to get off to school, I need plenty of quick and nutritious breakfasts!

Store bought muffins are not an option due to their expense, excess sugar, and empty calories. Making homemade applesauce muffins keeps breakfasts affordable and healthy. 

Weekly my kitchen transforms into the muffin factory, so muffin recipes need to be easy to throw together. Applesauce oatmeal muffins ingredients are simple and quickly mix together in minutes.

A warm batch of moist, homemade muffins can be made, start to finish, in less than 30 minutes!

My kids love these muffins because of cinnamon apple flavor with a hint of banana. I enjoy them equally because of the comforting spiced flavor and they easily adapt to gluten free applesauce muffins.

What Makes these Applesauce Muffins Healthy?

You wouldn’t know by their indulgent taste, but these muffins are actually good for you! They contain less calories and sugar than a typical muffin, but are still amazingly irresistible!

• They contain no oil or butter and mashed banana replaces the fat. 
• A reduced amount of sugar is used.
• Oats builds structure in the muffin while adding more fiber and protein.
• Easily adapt into gluten free or dairy free muffins (see below for modifications)
• Unsweetened applesauce adds moisture, flavor, and additional fiber.

Can I Make Applesauce Muffins Recipe Even Healthier? 

Yes! There are easy ways to modify this recipe to make it even healthier.

To incorporate more whole grains, swap out the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour. Whole wheat muffins contain more fiber, vitamin content, and reduce blood sugar level spikes. 

Add more healthy fat to the muffins by replacing the mashed banana with 3 tablespoons of coconut oil. This will increase the calories slightly in each muffin, but lower the carbohydrates.

Lastly, instead of 1/2 cup brown sugar use an unrefined sugar, such as sucanat. Alternatively, reduce the amount of sugar to 1/3 cup or 1/4 cup.  

How to Make Gluten-Free Applesauce Muffins

To make gluten free applesauce muffins, substitute the all-purpose flour with your preferred gluten free baking flour. I use and highly recommend Cup 4 Cup gluten free flour because the taste most mimics regular flour. 

Additional recommended gluten free flours are Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten Free Baking Flour or King Arthur Measure for Measure Gluten Free Flour. 

Also be sure to use oats that are certified gluten free. This means they were processed in a dedicated facility that doesn’t share equipment with wheat products. 

Using gluten free baking flour usually requires a few minutes longer baking time. Check by inserting a toothpick into the center of the muffin. It should come out clean and dry.

If you love this recipe, try gluten-free apple cinnamon muffins or gluten-free apple bread as well!

How to Make Dairy-Free Applesauce Muffins

Since cinnamon applesauce muffins do not contain butter they are easy to make dairy free. In place of the milk, use a preferred non-dairy milk, such as soy, oat, coconut, or almond milk.

Please note if you need to make dairy free and gluten free muffins, do not use Cup 4 Cup gluten free flour because it contains milk powder.

Storing / Freezing Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins

Muffins don’t stick around long at our house, so I often make a few batches at a time to freeze. 

Make sure the muffins have completely cooled before freezing. If the muffins are warm they will create condensation and ice crystals will form. This leaves baked goods soggy and alters the texture upon thawing.

If you plan on freezing the muffins longer than 4 weeks, I recommend wrapping each muffin in plastic wrap and storing them in a ziplock freezer bag.

If you plan on enjoying them more quickly, cool the muffins and transfer in a single layer to a freezer safe ziplock bag. Lay the bag flat so the muffins do not become misshapen before freezing completely. 

Cinnamon applesauce muffins may also be stored at room temperature in an airtight container up to 3 days. Refrigeration is not recommended because it will dry them out. 

How to Make Applesauce Muffins 

First mix together the dry ingredients, like oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt, together in a large bowl. 

In a separate bowl whisk together all the ingredients that make these muffins exceptionally moist, like applesauce, mashed banana, egg, and milk.

Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and stir to combine. Divide the batter in the muffin pan, filling almost to the top. 

To quickly and evenly portion out muffins use a trigger ice cream scoop. It is the perfect size with no mess! 

Bake in a 400ºF oven to bake quicker and yield a more domed top. They take about 15 minutes to bake, but I always check with a toothpick inserted into the center.

Cool the muffins in the muffin pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing them to cool completely.  

Variations for Applesauce Muffins Recipe

The possibilities for applesauce oatmeal muffins are endless. Use this recipe to make so many different versions!

Optional Add-Ins:

• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins 
• 2/3 cup chopped bananas
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Optional Toppings:

• Sprinkle on turbinado sugar (also known as raw cane sugar) before baking.
• Streusel topping: Combine 1/4 cup quick oats, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon melted butter. Sprinkle on muffin tops before baking.
• Combine 3 tablespoons granulated sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Sprinkle on before baking.
• Crumb topping: In a small bowl mix together 3 tablespoons flour, 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Use a fork to mix in 3 tablespoons softened butter. Sprinkle over muffin tops and bake. 

Tips for Making the Best Applesauce Muffins! 

• To make mini muffins, reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees fahrenheit and bake 10 minutes. This will yield 36 mini muffins.
• Any applesauce may be used – cinnamon applesauce, homemade applesauce, or any variety of store bought.
• Since these muffins don’t contain a lot of fat, they will stick to the muffin cups. Make sure to spray muffin tins or insides of liners.
• For spiced applesauce muffins use 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves.
• If you don’t have a ripe banana on hand, replace it with 3 tablespoons canola or coconut oil. 

More Best of Breakfast Recipes!

Sausage Breakfast Casserole

Easy Breakfast Egg Muffins

Creamy Grits

Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Almond Flour Muffins

Homemade Gluten Free Granola

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