Healthy Apple Muffins

Healthy Apple Muffins are naturally gluten-free and made with whole grain oat flour. They are a delicious way to use up any apples you have on hand! 

Why You’ll Love Them

They are nourishing. Made with applesauce and freshly chopped apple, this muffin recipe has plenty of apple flavor, and added fiber. 

They are fluffy. Some gluten-free recipes can turn out dense or dry, but these muffins are perfectly moist, with a fluffy texture you’ll love. 

They aren’t too sweet. This recipe is naturally sweetened with coconut sugar, which is slightly less sweet than white sugar. As a result, these muffins are lightly sweet, with tender bites of apple pieces throughout. 

They are allergy friendly. Unlike whole wheat flour, oats are naturally gluten-free, but be sure to use certified gluten-free oat flour if you need to. This will help to avoid any potential cross-contamination during processing. Using olive oil keeps this recipe dairy-free, and if you skip the optional walnut topping, you can make this recipe nut-free, too.

Ingredients You’ll Need

What’s in healthy apple muffins?

• Oat flour
• Coconut sugar
• Applesauce
• Chopped apples
• Vanilla extract
• Cinnamon

If you don’t keep coconut sugar on hand, you can use another granulated sugar (like brown sugar) or try replacing it with a 1/2 cup of maple syrup or honey instead. In that case, you’ll want to cut back on the applesauce, since you’ll be adding more moisture to the recipe. See the substitution notes below for more details. 

I like to sprinkle a few chopped walnuts on top for extra texture, but that’s optional. You could also use pecans or almonds!

Don’t have oat flour on hand? You can make homemade oat flour by simply grinding rolled oats in a blender or food processor.

How to Make Healthy Apple Muffins

1. Mix the dry ingredients. 

Add the oat flour, coconut sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt to a large bowl. Whisk well, to help break up any clumps. 

2. Mix in the wet ingredients. 

Next, add in the eggs, olive oil, and vanilla extract, and stir until the batter looks smooth. Then fold in the chopped apple. 

3. Bake. 

Line a muffin pan with 12 paper liners and use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to divide the batter among the cups. 

Sprinkle the tops with chopped walnuts, if you like, then bake in an oven preheated to 350ºF for 25 minutes, or until the muffins feel firm to the touch in the center. (You can also test the center with toothpick to make sure it comes out relatively dry.)

4. Enjoy!

Let the healthy apple cinnamon muffins cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes, then they are ready to serve. Split them in half, and spread them with butter, or peanut butter, for a more filling treat. 

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week, or you can freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen muffins in the fridge overnight before you plan on serving them again.

Note: If you let these muffins sit at room temperature for too long (2 hours or more), the tops can start to develop a slightly sticky texture. The middles are still perfectly fine, but I recommend storing these in the fridge for the best results.

Common Questions & Substitutions

Can I use another flour? This recipe was developed with oat flour in mind, so I don’t recommend using a drastically different flour, like almond flour or coconut flour. If you’d prefer to use all purpose flour, or whole wheat flour, I’d use a 1/4 cup less flour than this recipe calls for. Try Almond Flour Muffins or Buckwheat Banana Muffins, if you would prefer to use one of those flours, instead.

Can I swap the oil? You can use coconut oil instead of olive oil if you prefer, or any other mild-flavored oil. Using coconut oil or butter will result in a drier muffin when they cool, since those fats turn solid at room temperature. You can also use extra applesauce instead of oil, for an oil-free muffin. (The texture will change slightly in that case, too.)

Can I use flax eggs? Flax eggs aren’t a great substitute in recipes that call for more than 2 eggs. I’d recommend trying a powdered egg substitute (like Bob’s Red Mill brand) for this recipe, if you need a vegan option. 

Can I use a different sweetener? You can replace the coconut sugar with a 1/2 cup of maple syrup, and in that case reduce the applesauce by a 1/4 cup so the muffins don’t turn out too moist.

Which apples work best? You can use any variety of apple that you have on hand, but keep in mind that varieties like pink lady, honey crisp, and Fuji will taste sweeter than a variety like granny smith, which is more tart.

Don’t have baking powder on hand? You can replace it with a 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda plus 1 teaspoon of vinegar, to help it rise.

Looking for more apple recipes? Try Instant Pot Applesauce, Paleo Apple Crisp, and my favorite Apple Smoothie.

If you try this healthy apple muffin recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like it!