Vegan Apple Muffins

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It’s apple season and I’ve been making all the apple recipes, a lot, so I want to share my Vegan Apple Muffins Recipe with you, just don’t ask me how many times I’ve made it so far this year!

My kids really love ‘em, ok?!

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Originally Published: October 21, 2021

A single apple muffin with icing in front, with another muffin and apple behind it.

This is the second apple muffin recipe I’ve created, after dozens of hours developing and testing apple muffins. The first recipe was just as delicious, but would sometimes fall apart while eating because it was so stuffed full of apples.

I just wanted a simple, easy recipe that wouldn’t fall apart, and didn’t have any weird ingredients in it, so anyone could make it (even if they don’t keep flaxseeds, oat flour, and coconut sugar on hand in their pantry). And that’s where this recipe comes in!

Don’t worry, if you enjoyed the crumbly apple muffin that was here before, it’ll be back on this site soon, as soon as I take some new photos of it! (Which means I get to eat more apple muffins, yay!)

If you’re looking for a more dessert-like muffin recipe, that’s also oil free and refined sugar free, then you’ll love these Bakery-Style Gluten-Free Vegan Vanilla Muffins.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Vegan apple muffin ingredients laid out on a white marble countertop.

Non-Dairy Milk: Non-dairy milk is used as a substitute for regular milk in vegan baking. It adds moisture and helps bind the ingredients together. Some possible substitutes for non-dairy milk are almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, or coconut milk. We like to use almond or soy the most when baking.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar is used in combination with non-dairy milk to create a vegan buttermilk substitute. It helps the muffins rise and adds a subtle tangy flavor. Lemon juice can be used as a substitute for apple cider vinegar.

Flour: Flour provides structure and texture to the muffins. All-purpose flour or whole wheat flour can be used in this recipe. For a gluten-free option, you may be able to use a gluten-free flour blend.

White Sugar: White sugar adds sweetness to the muffins. You can substitute it with brown sugar, or coconut sugar.

Baking Powder: Baking powder is a leavening agent that helps the muffins rise. Make sure to use a vegan-friendly baking powder that doesn’t contain any added animal products.

Cinnamon: Cinnamon adds a warm and cozy flavor to the muffins. You can adjust the amount of cinnamon according to your taste preference. We LOVE cinnamon in my home.

Cloves: Cloves are optional but add a hint of spiciness to the muffins. If you don’t have cloves, you can omit them or substitute them with a small amount of nutmeg or allspice.

Salt: Salt enhances the flavors in the muffins. Use salt to balance the sweetness.

Melted Butter: In vegan baking, melted vegan butter or coconut oil can be used as a substitute for regular butter. Make sure to use a vegan-friendly butter or oil that doesn’t contain any animal products.

Apples: Apples are the star ingredient in these muffins, providing sweetness and moisture. You can use any variety of apples, such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Gala. Honeycrisp is the go to baking apple, and eating apple in my home.

Topping Ingredients:

Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds a caramel-like sweetness to the topping. You can substitute it with coconut sugar or granulated sugar.

Flour: The flour in the topping helps create a crumbly texture. You can use all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour.

Cinnamon: Cinnamon adds flavor to the topping. Adjust the amount according to your taste preference.

Butter: Use cold vegan butter to cut into the topping to give it the crumbly appearance and the clumps that we love on our muffins.
Walnuts: Walnuts add a crunchy texture to the topping. You can substitute them with pecans or omit them if you prefer a nut-free version.

How to Make Vegan Apple Muffins

*Note that these instructions can be printed below

Step one: Preheat the oven to 400℉.

Step two: Mix the apple cider vinegar in with the milk and allow to sit until needed in the batter, or at least 3-5 minutes.

Step three: Mix together all dry ingredients for the muffins.

Step four: Make a well in the middle and add in the milk mixture and melted butter, stir well.

The second and third steps for making Vegan apple muffins; stirring together the ingredients.

Step five: Fold in the diced apples.

Photo collage of adding and stirring in the apples to the apple muffins.

Step six: Make the topping by stirring together the sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Cut in the butter until well incorporated, but don’t stir. Fold in the walnuts.

2 photo collage of making the topping for apple muffins.

Step seven: Fill the muffins liners ⅔ of the way up with the batter and then top with the topping mixture.

Apple muffins in an apple tin, before and after adding the crumble topping.

Step eight: Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Step nine: (Optional) Make the icing while the muffins cool by stirring together the powdered sugar and milk, adding ¼ cup more powdered sugar at a time if needed or a teaspoon of milk to get your desired consistency. Then ice the muffins and enjoy!

Apple muffins in a muffin tin after they've been baked. A couple of muffins are tilted toward the camera to be able to see the tops of the muffins.

Baker’s Tips for Making the Best Apple Muffins

Peel the apples
Dice the apples small
Thick batter
Measure the flour correctly
Don’t overmix the batter

Topping Suggestions

Sliced apples
Walnuts
Pecans
Streusel
Cinnamon
Coconut sugar
Raw sugar

How to Serve

These are best served warm and with a little drizzle of icing over them! Just like a lot of apple recipes!

You can eat them for breakfast, they have apples in them so that equals healthy, lol, right?

They can also be served as a snack for kids or toddlers, or yourself.

With the icing, they could even be considered a dessert.

They travel well, so you can bring them to Thanksgiving or to a Halloween party, or wherever a quick muffin snack might be needed.

One quick note, if you’re serving them to toddlers, you may want to omit the walnuts, depending on how well the toddlers handle eating nuts. This should be determined on a case to case basis, as I don’t know your toddlers chewing abilities, only you do, so keep that in mind before making these for littles.

How to Store

No matter how you store these muffins, be sure they are completely cool before storing them.

Room Temperature: 3-4 days in an air tight container.

Fridge: 5-6 days, not recommended, they tend to get soggy

Freezer: 3 months, flash freeze these and then store in a freezer safe bag or container.

Reheat in the microwave in 15 second intervals until thawed or warm.

Vegan apple muffins for toddlers with icing on a black cooling rack.

FAQ’s for these Vegan Apple Muffins

Can I tweak this recipe to make healthy vegan apple muffins?

Absolutely! The first thing you can do to make this recipe healthier is cut the sugar in the muffins half. Then you could omit the crumble topping or replace it with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar and maybe the walnuts. Then try replacing the plant-based butter. Depending on your definition of healthy, you could replace it with coconut oil or try applesauce (although I have not personally tested it with applesauce as a replacement yet – be sure to use silicone baking cups or spray the muffin liners if you’re not using plant-based butter or oil, as those are what helps prevent muffins from sticking to the liners).

What else can I add to these muffins?

Other things you can add to these muffins would be raisins, cranberries, other fruit, and other nuts or seeds!

Can I use other fruit?

Yes! These would taste amazing with peaches or pears.

Can I use less sugar?

Absolutely! Feel free to cut the sugar in the muffins in half. If reducing the sugar in the crumble topping be sure to reduce the rest of the topping ingredients so the ratios stay the same.

Are apple muffins healthy?

This will depend on your definition of healthy. They’re healthier than other muffins (like coffee cake muffins), but then again, there are other muffins healthier than apple muffins (such as blueberry muffins using cashew butter or oat flour.

What type of apples should I use for this recipe?

The best kind of apples to use in these apple muffins are fuji, gala, pink lady, or honey crisp. Unless you like sour apple muffins, stay clear from using green apples.

Should these muffins be refrigerated?

No, these muffins do not need to be refrigerated, they store well in an airtight container for 3-5 days at room temperature.

Can I freeze these muffins?

Yes, you can freeze these muffins. The easiest way to reheat these is in the microwave for about 30 seconds.

Are these muffins dry?

No, these muffins have been tested many times and always come out soft and moist, with a bit of crunch from the apples and walnuts. If your muffins turn out dry, try baking the next batch for a little less time (17-18 minutes) and checking with a toothpick to see if they are done.

Can I use oil instead of butter?

For the muffin itself, yes, you can substitute oil for butter. However, you will still need butter for the muffin topping, there is not a good substitute for butter in the topping.