Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins (Gluten-Free Option)

Easy Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins recipe are the perfect healthy way to start the day! Traditional or gluten-free applesauce muffins are extremely moist and flavorful with applesauce, banana, oats, and cinnamon. Learn how to make oatmeal muffins with applesauce, along with the best variations, mix-ins, and expert baking tips!

Applesauce oatmeal Muffins Recipe

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 gluten-free breakfasts!

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

Weekly my kitchen transforms into the muffin factory, so muffin recipes need to be easy to throw together. The 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! Since they require no peeling, grating, or dicing of apples, it’s as simple of dumping ingredients in a bowl, mixing and baking.

While I love the ease in which I can make them, my family kids loves the cinnamon apple flavor with a hint of banana. Plus, they are easily adapt to gluten-free applesauce oatmeal muffins using my favorite gluten-free flour, without anyone detecting any difference!

Besides learning how to make muffins with applesauce and oatmeal, read on to learn my favorite variations, storing and freezing tips, plus many more expert baking tips for perfectly rounded, fluffy muffins!

What Makes these 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.

How to Make Applesauce oatmeal Muffins recipe

(Below shows step-by-step photos and modified instructions. For the complete recipe, along with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card.)

1. First, mix together the dry ingredients, like oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt, together in a large bowl. 
2. In a separate bowl whisk together all the ingredients that make these muffins exceptionally moist, like applesauce, mashed banana, egg, and milk.
3. 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! 
4. 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.
5. Cool the muffins in the muffin pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing them to cool completely.  

How to Make Gluten-Free Applesauce Muffins

To make a gluten-free recipe, substitute the all-purpose flour with your preferred gluten free baking flour. I use and highly recommend Cup4Cup gluten free flour because the taste most mimics regular 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!

Can I Make this Recipe Even Healthier? 

Yes! There are easy ways to modify oatmeal applesauce muffins 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.  

Dairy-Free Adaptation

Since this recipe does 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 gluten-free muffins, do not use Cup4Cup gluten-free flour because it contains milk powder.

Storing and Freezing tips

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 they 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 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. 

They 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. 

Variations and modifications

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. 

Expert baking Tips

• 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. 

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