These apple coffee cake muffins are bursting with fresh apples, swirled with cinnamon sugar, and topped with a buttery brown sugar crumb topping. All the flavors of coffee cake, in muffin form!
Ahhhhhhh.
Guess where I've been? Nowhere.
We are having ourselves a little 'staycation'. This was going to be Hawaii...that was until I took a 1.5 hour flight with Kai and decided there was absolutely nothing relaxing about getting on a 10-hour flight with an 11-month old. Nope, nope, nope.
Instead, Ben took some time off work and we've done some fun family things around the city. We went to the zoo as a family, yesterday we went for a hike. Kai has had a lot of time with his Daddy, which is really nice.
And I've had some culinary therapy, in the form of these apple coffee cake muffins!
Reasons you'll ♡ these apple coffee cake muffins
- they are loaded with goodies: a cinnamon sugar swirl AND a delicious crumb topping
- they keep for 3-4 days
- your kitchen will smell amazing as these bake up
I have had a great time this long week-end with some uninterrupted kitchen time. Uninterrupted kitchen time = SO much more productive! Are you ready for a bunch of recipes?
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First up are these muffins. Or should I call them cakes? I really think they should be cake-fins, a hybrid, because these have a lot of goodies you'll find in cakes...yet are still undeniably muffins in taste and texture. But there has to be a better name out there than that.
These apple coffee cake muffins were actually 'created' back on holidays at my parent's house where the apple trees were overflowing. They are so good that I made three batches of them! It seems that my Mom and I have a very similar addiction: coffee cake.
So. Cake-fins. Cake-ins? Muf-akes? Ugh. I give up.
These muffins are packed with things that make me happy: apples. A cinnamon sugar swirl. And topped with a crumbly, buttery, brown sugar crumble.
They go down perfectly as breakfast...coffee break snack...dessert, you name it!
They are my way of ringing in the first 'unofficial' day of fall. The leaves are changing here, which means apples are totally acceptable!
What do you think?
Tips & equipment for apple coffee cake muffins
- for this recipe you'll need a muffin pan (I love this muffin pan!) and a pastry tool (a fork can work as well)
- swap the apples for pears, peaches, strawberries or blueberries
- looking for more muffin recipes? Check out these Healthy Blueberry Muffins, these Healthy Strawberry Apple Crumble Muffins or these Coconut Carrot High Protein Muffins
Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!
Apple Coffee Cake Muffins
Ingredients
Apple Coffee Cake Muffins
- 2 cups all purpose flour (250g; spooned, fluffed & levelled)
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar (165g)
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup milk (buttermilk recommended but any milk works)
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups of apples (peeled and diced into 1 cm pieces)
Cinnamon Sugar Swirl
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar {55g}
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
Crumble Topping
- 2 tablespoons cold butter (cut into pieces; 28g)
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar (55 g)
- ¼ cup all purpose flour (32 g)
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
Cinnamon Sugar Swirl
- Combine ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
Crumble Topping
- Combine brown sugar, flour and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Cut the butter in using a pastry tool. Mix until coarse and crumbly {see photos above}. Set aside.
Muffins
- Pre-heat oven to 400°F. Line a standard-sized muffin pan with large muffin papers and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and brown sugar.
- In a separate bowl, beat egg, and add in the milk and vegetable oil. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry with a spoon, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix!
- Fold in the apples.
- Spoon 1 tablespoon of muffin batter into the bottom of each muffin paper. Add a teaspoon of cinnamon sugar mixture, then top with remaining batter until the well is completely full. Spread a heaping spoonful of the crumble topping on top.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
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Nutrition Information
© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Avalon says
I made these last night and they were incredible!! They taste so delicious, the cinnamon is discernible, but not overpowering and the apples are definitely my favorite part 🙂 I used Honeycrisp. I also added a teaspoon of vanilla. I made mini muffins and full size muffins and the latter came out much better. In other coffee cake recipes some people reported that the crumb topping fell off, but I did not experience that with my muffins. Thank you so much for this recipe, I will definitely make these again! I am considering bringing a batch to our thanksgiving celebration 🙂
Denise says
Avalon, I'm so glad you liked the muffins! Thanks so much for all your kind words and for reporting back 🙂
Sheila says
You mentioned baking powder in the ingrediants and then baking soda in the directions. Which one is it?
Denise says
Hi Sheila, thanks for catching that! It is baking powder, I will fix the recipe ASAP. Hope you like the muffins 🙂
Suzanne @ Flour Arrangements says
These look heavenly. I need that cinnamon swirl! Now that school's back in session, I'm enjoying some uninterrupted kitchen time again at last!
Vanessa @ Vanessa Baked says
I would love an apple cake muffin! They look so good! I'm with you, on the topic of traveling with a toddler. Glad you had a fun "staycation" and family time!
Denise says
Thank-you so much, Mary Frances! I love coffee cake precisely because it is acceptable breakfast food 😉
Tiff C says
Muffee cakes, perhaps?
Denise says
Ha ha, Tiff, that's a great one! Actually better than most of my weirdo names 🙂
Ashley @ ashleymarieskitchen says
Yum! Those muffins look amazing. Apple muffins are my favorite and I am loving that cinnamon swirl 🙂
Denise says
Thanks, Ashley! I can't resist anything with a cinnamon swirl 😉
Annie @Maebells says
These are beautiful! I never get the topping right on my muffins but yours looks perfect!
Denise says
Thanks, Annie! I am a sucker for the crumb topping!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
These muffins are just so perfect, like a bakery's. I would adore having one for breakfast.
Denise says
Thanks, Jocelyn, what a compliment 🙂
katie says
These muffin/cake/yummy things look great. If I had these in my house they would be G O N E F A S T. I also have huge weakness for coffee cake!
Denise says
True story: me: how many muffins did you eat, Ben? Ben: 1....so math: me: 11. Ben: 1. Oops.
Denise says
Thanks, Arpita! Cinnamon swirled anything makes the world better 😉
Denise says
Yes to less dishes! I dirty way too many dishes at my house, it feels like I'm doing them non-stop!
Denise says
I whole-heartedly agree with you on that!
Karen - 2Teaspoons says
These muffin-cakes looks so delicious! I can't wait until apple picking season here. These are totally going to happen 🙂
Denise says
Thanks, Karen! I am also excited about apple season...pumpkin is great, but in my books, apples are even better 🙂
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
I love apple muffins! These look delicious.. and I totally am loving that little crumble ontop. Have to try the recipe.. craving a bite of one right now!
Denise says
Thanks, Thalia! I definitely love apple muffins, too, especially when crumbly toppings are involved 😉
Kathy @ Olives & Garlic says
I love that I can make these for a school snack. They look seriously delicious.
Denise says
These would be perfect for a lunch!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
These are my kind of muffins! I love this flavor, Denise! And the crumble topping looks gorgeous. So perfect for the upcoming season!
Denise says
Thanks, Gayle! It is really feeling like fall here, perfect muffin baking weather 😉
Melissa Belanger says
Yum! These look fantastic. I love everything in them. I think you should just call them muffins though because that means they're "healthy" and you can eat more of them! Enjoy the rest of your staycation!
Denise says
Muffins it is! I love your logic 🙂
Kathi @ Deliciously Yum! says
Gorgeous and absolutely perfect!!! Wish I had one of them to sink my teeth into right now. You had me at cinnamon sugar swirl and brown sugar crumb topping. Gah - who am I kidding?! Everything about them sounds absolutely mouthwatering 🙂
Denise says
Ha ha, thanks, Kathi 🙂 Cinnamon swirl and brown sugar crumb toppings make me super happy, too!
Ambar says
Can i have some of your alone kitchen time pretty please! Kitchen therapy is the best recipe! Great recipe:)
Denise says
Kitchen therapy is so nice! I don't get it very often. Thanks, Ambar!