Wholesome & Moist Apple Cinnamon Muffins with Optional Vanilla Glaze
Discover the perfect fall treat: incredibly moist and healthy apple muffins made with hearty whole wheat flour. These delightful muffins are bursting with warm cinnamon spice and generous chunks of sweet apples, all crowned with an optional, luscious vanilla glaze. They’re light on sugar but undeniably delicious!
Can you feel that unmistakable chill in the air? The leaves are starting to turn, and there’s a certain magic that autumn brings, especially when it comes to baking. And if you’ve been following along, you might have noticed my slight, yet utterly delightful, obsession with all things apple this season. Is it overtly obvious? Perhaps! But when apples are at their peak, fresh and crisp, it’s hard to resist their charm.
Just last week, I shared that wonderfully vibrant and nourishing autumn harvest salad, packed with sweet apple chunks. Many of you loved serving it while handing out Halloween candy to eager trick-or-treaters, and that just makes my heart happy! Before that, we indulged in those irresistible caramel apple cinnamon rolls, which were an absolute sensation with friends and neighbors alike. And who could forget the velvety smooth apple cider caramel sauce? A spoon and a jar of that liquid gold, and I’m in pure bliss! It’s truly apple season, and I’ve completely gone bananas over them – pun intended! How about you?
Embracing the Autumn Vibe with Freshly Baked Goodness
Around here, fall has truly settled in. We’ve experienced several delightfully chilly evenings, often followed by those wonderfully gloomy, dark, and rainy days that just beg for cozy blankets and warm beverages. While we’re still enjoying some lingering 70-degree days, I can already sense winter’s gentle creep. I’m just a few degrees away from breaking out my fuzzy slippers and embracing full-on cute boot weather. I simply cannot wait! This past week, I made significant progress on my seasonal to-do list. I dedicated some time to lovingly spruce up our home with serious fall decor. You know I’m truly committed when I’ve swapped out all my usual air fresheners, candles, and essential oils for super festive autumn scents like crisp apple, pumpkin patch, and freshly fallen leaves. And amidst all this seasonal nesting, I whipped up a glorious batch of these cinnamon-loaded apple muffins.
These muffins, in their purest form, are already incredibly flavorful and delightful, easily standing on their own. However, I couldn’t resist adding a delicate vanilla glaze to make them feel just a little bit extra special. Because let’s be honest, what’s a truly indulgent muffin without that perfect touch of glaze?
The Secret to Perfectly Moist & Healthy Apple Muffins
These whole wheat apple muffins share a delicious lineage with my incredibly popular super-moist and healthy carrot cake muffins, which continues to be one of the most beloved recipes on Little Spice Jar. Building on that success, I’ve perfected this apple version by making a few strategic adjustments to enhance both its health factor and its luscious texture. For these cinnamon-spice, apple-loaded muffins, I’ve thoughtfully reduced the amount of oil, opting for a lighter approach, and significantly increased the quantity of creamy Greek yogurt. This smart combination of unsweetened applesauce and Greek yogurt works wonders, ensuring these muffins remain incredibly moist and tender, even with a reduced fat content. A little tweaking here and there, and we’ve successfully created a brand new, cinnamon-loaded, apple-stuffed muffin that doesn’t compromise on flavor or texture. We’re also incorporating wholesome whole wheat flour, which adds a nutty depth and an extra boost of fiber, making these muffins a truly guilt-free indulgence.
The Crunch You Crave: Oats for an Apple Crisp Experience
If you’ve had the pleasure of trying my carrot cake muffins, you’ll know exactly how delightful the oats scattered on top and baked within are. They create a fantastic textural contrast and impart a rustic, “crisp-like” flavor that is utterly addictive. There’s truly no need for a heavy, buttery streusel topping on these apple muffins when you can simply sprinkle them with a pinch or two of rolled oats. These oats add the perfect amount of satisfying crunch and a lovely, wholesome flavor without adding unnecessary calories. It’s a simple trick that elevates these muffins from good to absolutely extraordinary, reminiscent of your favorite apple crisp, but in a convenient, grab-and-go muffin form.
The Vanilla Glaze: An Optional Touch of Sweetness
The sweet vanilla glaze for this recipe is completely optional, designed to cater to your preferences. The apple cinnamon muffins are inherently sweet and flavorful enough on their own, meaning the glaze isn’t strictly necessary for a delicious experience. Think of it as a little “something extra” – a delightful bonus that truly takes these muffins to the next level of indulgence. If you’re preparing these for young children who certainly don’t need any additional sugar in their lives, or for adults who prefer to allocate their calories elsewhere, feel free to skip it entirely. These muffins are fantastic either way, offering a versatile treat for every palate and dietary consideration. It’s all about making this recipe work for you and your loved ones.
Beyond their incredible taste, these healthy apple muffins are wonderfully versatile. They pair magnificently with a steamy cup of coffee or a comforting mug of hot tea, making them an excellent choice for a hearty breakfast or a satisfying 3 PM pick-me-up. And dare I mention, they also make for the tastiest midnight snack? There’s nothing quite like sneaking into the kitchen for a soft, warm muffin before bed.
Still not convinced of their undeniable deliciousness? I dare you to bake a batch and give them a try!
Healthy Apple Muffins with Vanilla Glaze
15 minutes
20 minutes
35 minutes
Moist and healthy apple muffins that are made with whole wheat flour. These cinnamon loaded muffins have chunks of apples inside and a sweet vanilla glaze on top! Make them without the vanilla glaze for a healthier muffin recipe.
Ingredients
For the muffins:
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup white whole wheat flour (whole meal flour)
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup oil (I used coconut oil)
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce (or no sugar added)
- 1/2 cup greek yogurt
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups chopped apples (I used 1 macintosh and 1 granny smith)
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
For the vanilla glaze:
- 1 cup confectioners (powdered) sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons half and half or whole milk
Instructions
To make muffins:
- Position the oven racks near the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake baking pan with liners, sprinkle half the oats on the liners and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together both of the flours, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the brown sugar and oil and bet on the medium-low setting. Add the apple sauce and yogurt and continue to beat until fully combined, about 1 minute. Mixture will be gritty and thin. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla. With a spatula, manually fold in dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined, do not overmix. Fold in the chopped apples and walnuts. Divide the muffin batter equally into the muffin cups. Sprinkle the remaining oats on top. Bake for 20 – 23 minute so or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs.
To make the vanilla glaze:
- In a small bowl, mix together the powdered sugar, vanilla and half and half. When the muffins have cooled, drizzle glaze on using a spoon.
Have you made this recipe?
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