Apple Crumb Muffins

These Apple Crumb Muffins are fluffy and filled with chunks of apples. The crumb topping is perfectly crunchy and sweet. Make them in just 3 easy steps!

If you enjoy sweet treats with apples, you may also like my apple fritters or the popular apple crumb cake. Perfect for apple season!

Best apple muffins with crumb topping

Apple season is here and I am sharing my favorite apple muffin recipe with the most delicious crumb topping! These muffins are soft, fluffy, and filled with chunks of apples and cinnamon. My fail-proof recipe for crumb topping takes them to a new level! Add them to lunchboxes, serve for an after-school treat or on an afternoon with tea or coffee.

Ingredients:

• apples: Granny Smith, fuji, or other
• flour
• sugars: granulated and brown
• baking powder, baking soda
• cinnamon
• salt
• buttermilk (use my homemade version)
• egg
• vanilla extract
• oil: canola or vegetable
• unsalted butter

How to make Apple Crumb Muffins?

• Mix dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
• Whisk wet ingredients in another mixing bowl.

• Add chopped apples to flour mixture.
• Add wet ingredients and fold in until incorporated.

• Combine dry ingredients for crumb topping in a bowl.
• Add melted (and cooled!!) butter and stir in with a fork.

• Scoop muffin batter into muffin pan.
• Top with crumb topping.
• Bake until golden brown.

Tips for the best apple muffins:

• Make sure you are using proper measuring cups for dry ingredients and for the wet ingredients. Glass ones with a spout are for wet. Fluff the flour with a whisk, then spoon into a measuring cup.
• Start by preheating the oven so it’s ready to go when your muffins are ready for baking. You don’t want the batter to sit in the muffin pan for too long.
• Cut the apples into chunks no bigger than 1/4″ chunks. Bigger ones can cause raw center because they will have too much moisture. You can also shred the apples. Just make sure to squeeze out the moisture before adding them to the flour.
• It is very important to cool the butter after melting. It should not be warm to the touch, just room temperature. If you add hot or too warm butter to the flour mixture, it will cook it and the “crumbs” will melt during baking.

Storing:

Store muffins in a container with a lid to prevent drying out. I keep them on the counter. No need to refrigerate.

Can I freeze these muffins?

Yes, these muffins can be frozen. Cool them completely before placing them in a freezer-safe bag or a container. Just keep in mind, the crumb topping will not be as crunchy after thawing.

More muffin recipes:

• Best Blueberry Muffins
• Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
• Coffee Cake Muffins

For more recipes like this one, feel free to browse our Baking category.

If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment!

5 from 3 votes

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Apple Crumb Muffins

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

35 mins

 

These Apple Crumb Muffins are fluffy and filled with chunks of apples. The crumb topping is perfectly crunchy and sweet. Make them in just 3 easy steps!

Course: muffins

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple crumb muffins

Servings: 12 muffins

Calories: 359 kcal

Author: Anna

Ingredients

for the muffins:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup buttermilk see note to make it
• 1 large egg
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3 apples see note

for the crumb topping:

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled
• 1 ½ cup all-purpouse flour
• ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon salt

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400° F. Line muffin pan with baking liners. I recommend parchment paper liners, not the colorful cupcakes ones.

2. Peel apples and cut into ¼" chunks.

3. Melt butter for crumb topping. Cool it completely, do not chill it.
4. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, soda, salt and cinnamon.
5. In another mixing bowl, whisk together buttermilk, egg, oil and vanilla.
6. Add apple chunks to flour mixture and stir in.
7. Add wet ingredients to flour apple mixture. Fold in with a spatula until incorporated. Do not overmix!
8. Scoop batter into muffin liners.
9. Mix flour, sugars, cinnamon and salt in a bowl. Add melted and cooled butter and stir in with a fork until coars crumbs form.
10. Sprinkle crumb topping generously over each muffin.

11. Bake muffins for 7 minutes. Then, without opening the oven door, lower the temperature to 375° F and bake muffins for another 13 to 15 minutes. The magic number for me was 14 minutes.

12. Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes in the pan. Then remove onto a cooling rack.

Recipe Notes

• Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.
• Make sure you are using proper measuring cups for dry ingredients and for the wet ingredients. Glass ones with a spout are for wet. Fluff the flour with a whisk, then spoon into a measuring cup.
• To make buttermilk, mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and as much half and half or whole milk to make 1 cup of liquid. Let it sit for at least 5 minutes. Use as directed in the recipe above.
• You should use 2 cups of apple chunks in this recipe.

Nutrition Facts

Apple Crumb Muffins

Amount Per Serving

Calories 359 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 8g50%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 2g

Cholesterol 31mg10%

Sodium 199mg9%

Potassium 182mg5%

Carbohydrates 60g20%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 30g33%

Protein 5g10%

Vitamin A 253IU5%

Vitamin C 2mg2%

Calcium 64mg6%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.