Apple Applesauce Muffins are just delicious, but they are also fun and easy to make. Any apple lover in your life will be pining for more.
Apple Applesauce Muffins might feel redundant at first, but this recipe is so special, I had to name it twice! One of the biggest questions asked when I make a recipe with butter or oil is “can I replace the butter with apple sauce”? I wish it was that easy in every case. Since applesauce has a completely different texture than butter it doesn’t work every time, or even most of the time.
I knew I wanted to make a double apple muffin recipe after buying tons and tons apples at the farmers market. This one took some playing around with, though, to get the perfect tender crumb with little pieces of fresh apples in each bite. After a few tries it was totally worth it! As a bonus, there’s no refined sugar so these apple applesauce muffins are perfect for those wanting the healthiest little nibble possible!
For me, muffins are a no-brainer when it comes to simple, handheld foods that even the tiniest of kids can enjoy, yet many muffins found at the supermarket can be laden with tons of unnecessary additives, fat and calories and can really weigh you down. These muffins, however, are lighter than you might expect.
Made with apple sauce to replace some of the butter, buttermilk instead of whole milk, honey instead of refined white sugar and white wheat flour to replace all-purpose flour, they’re a dream muffin all wrapped into one seasonal bite! There are tons of muffin recipes on Weelicious that you HAVE to try like Strawberry Muffins, Banana Wheat Germ Muffins and Spinach Cake Muffins to name a few.
Apple Applesauce Muffins will be your new go-to this fall. Tag me on social media if you make them!
Apple Applesauce Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cups peeled and chopped apples (about 2 medium apples)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the applesauce, buttermilk, honey, egg, and vanilla.
- Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Fold in the apples.
- Pour batter into greased muffin cups, about 3/4 full and bake 20 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
These were so easy to make and the flavor was nice and simple. The kids and I loved them so much, they were gone in the blink of an eye.
They were very good and I felt I was being so healthy!
Quick and Easy Family Recipes
Oat milk is sweet naturally and may work half and half with another milk
You can make your own buttermilk with any milk. I make it with 1cup rice milk and 1tablespoon of lemon juice. I just mix it well and let it sit for 5 minutes.
I use cupcake liners but half of the cupcakes stick to the liners. What can i do without using spray or grease? Thanks.
[…] I think I’m enjoying them more than Owen is. He is soooo picky with food these days. I made apple muffins as well as mini taco hand pies. Owen took one bite of the apple muffins and said,”I […]
Have to say – not good. Not only would my kids not eat them but my husband (who likes everything) was like “yeah, no, these don’t taste very good”.
oops – I used the avocado for another recipe – not this one.
Excellent – will try this version – but maybe with pears. I just made the book version which called for oil. I made 3 substitutions: (1/5 of the flour is millet flour), half the oil amount was avocado, and I used maple syrup instead of sugar or honey. Anyway was a big hit and great selection for my baby’s first birthday cake! I paired it with a dollop of fruit preserve and yogurt :). Thanks Weelicious !
I found it on pintrest
I see the preparation for these Apple applesauce muffins, but where are the ingredients with amounts? Tia
I tried these today with brown whole wheat flour and yoghurt instead of butter milk (didn’t have any) but I have to admit they did not turn out too well. I hope I’ll have better luck next time!
Thank you for sending me the link to the written version, I love it and have made it twice in one week!
You have great food ideas.
[…] this recipe jumped out at me. I can’t tell you how or when I came across the recipe for these Apple Applesauce Muffins for the first time but I knew that I had applesauce in the freezer and apples in the fruit bowl so […]
What would be the best way to keep these muffins fresh? Ziplock on counter top, or in the fridge? I’d rather not freeze them, but would like them to last for 4-5 days. Thanks!
You can swap vegetable oil or butter for equal parts coconut oil almost everytime. Coconut oil is a healthy fat. and is much better than butter or vegetable oil. Also, applesauce works really well for an egg substitute in so many things! It’s my go to substitution for eggs! I also like to use maple syrup or honey instead of Agave. I read something about it causing blood sugar spikes!
I used almond milk and quinoa to make it gluten & dairy free. I also popped a couple of left over blueberries in each muffin. They taste great!
My son and I just made a double batch of these. We subbed canned coconut milk and added a 1/4cup of flax and 1/2tsp baking soda. We didn’t bother peeling the apples. They worked out fantastic! Yumm! Will be great for school lunches!
[…] made some apple-applesauce muffins for Wee Reader yesterday (using this recipe from Weelicious but since I only had one scrawny apple, I threw in some raisins […]
Thank you for this recipe! I made these today, and they’re wonderful. They’re not too sweet, and my 13 month old loves them. These will be great for travel too!
Ah, now I know what to do with all those apples! These look fab!
Is there an easy way to incorporate oats into this recipe? Could I just sub a small portion of oats for some of the flour?
That will really depend on your family’s tastes! It might be too strong. Can you use rice or soy milk?
I know you said any milk would do, but would coconut milk be too strong of a taste? I have a little guy with a milk protein and almond allergy. Thanks 🙂
[…] Apple Applesauce Muffins: Courtesy of Weelicious.com […]
Delicious! These muffins are the best muffins I have made since switching to whole wheat flour! Bonus- they look beautiful too! So so yummy! Thank you very much for sharing!
You can use any milk! Or make your own buttermilk by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to 1 cup of any milk.
1.5 tsp vinegar than fill milk to 0.5 cup mark. Let sit for a few minutes.
What can u sub for buttermilk?
Love Love Love it ..been back a couple of times mylsef lol works just wonderful thankyou thankyou thankyou ..any chance of more things lol, pretty please with a cherry on top.
So excited to make these today. Perfect for Fall! What a treat! Thank you as always for a better option to the normal fatty muffin trap!
Applesauce recipe! http://b12.ba4.myftpupload.com/2008/07/15/apple-sauce/
How do you make applesauce?
ummm YES PLEASE!
What a great idea – I feel so many apple baked goods aren’t “apple-y” enough for me but you’ve solved that issue for sure!
Thanks for sharing! I just made these for my little guy and they came out great. I did make a couple minor changes: my son is almost 7 months old so I omitted the chunks of apple (but it is still plenty apple-y) and I swapped maple syrup for honey. Also, since he loves cinnamon I doubled to 2 tsp. Thanks again!
Never mind, found the answer further down! Thanks anyway
Hi, thanks for the recipe, sounds yumm! Any way to substitute the buttermilk with normal milk?
🙂
I haven’t tested this recipe with that, but I’m sure that an all-purpose gluten-free flour mix would work!
Hi. Can I sub gluten free flour mix?
Hi! I love your recipes! I was wondering if I could substitute the applesauce for coconut oil? Thanks 🙂
I also wanted to inquire about a dairy free substitute. My daughter is allergic to dairy but I think she would love these. can I try almond milk?
I have a dairy allergy, what would be a good buttermilk substitute?
Yes, they freeze great!
I am using whole wheat flour (didn’t notice the white until just now). They are baking now so we shall see how they turn out.
I’m assuming these freeze well?
I subbed maple syrup for the honey and almond milk for the buttermilk and they came out great! I chopped the apple up small but I’d do it even smaller next time.
Yes! Reduce cooking time by about 5 minutes!
These can be made as mini muffins right? You would just reduce the cooking time?
I used Gala, but you could use any kind you love!
What types of apples do you use?
These sound amazing!
You could use half whole wheat and half all purpose!
Can I use regular AP flour or Whole Wheat Pastry flour. I have everything but the white whole wheat flour?
Yes you can!
Can I use 2% milk instead of buttermilk?
You can use any milk. Or make your own buttermilk by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to 1 cup of any milk!
What can I use in place of buttermilk?
I haven’t tested these without eggs, but a common egg replacer is 1 tablespoon ground flax seed mixed with 3 tablespoons water for 1 egg!
My son is allergic to eggs. Is there something I can substitute for the egg?
I have everything for these (minus buttermilk but I can make that) and I’m making them tonight! I also bought a lot of apples at the market and just made applesauce last week so I wanted something different to make. My toddler will love these. Thanks!
Yes!
did you use unsweetened applesauce?