Healthy Apple Spice Crumb Muffins

Sweet and crunchy on the tops, moist and bursting with warm fall flavors on the inside, these Healthy Apple Spice Crumb Muffins are a MUST try!

I am quite certain that there is nothing in this world comparable to a warm, freshly baked muffin to wake up to in the morning. Bonus points if it’s healthy!

Typically, most muffins you find in bakeries are cupcakes in disguise – relying heavily on oil, butter, and cups of sugar for sweetness. When I’m craving a healthy muffin, I find the only way I can truly enjoy them is to just make them myself. Plus they make my house smell like a bakery.

These homemade Healthy Apple Spice Crumb Muffins are soft, fluffy, and full of good-for-you ingredients like whole grains, oats, and fresh apples. In lieu of butter or oil, I used unsweetened applesauce to give the muffins tons of moisture. I also used as little sugar as possible and went with coconut sugar, but you can totally use brown sugar if that’s what you have on-hand.

What I love most about these guys is that they actually rise. They’re just like the tall bakery muffins. Flat muffins?? No, thank you. It’s taken some practice, but I finally found a few tricks to bake up high, fluffy muffins – no more flat, dry muffins here!

TIPS FOR FLUFFY HEALTHY APPLE SPICE CRUMB MUFFINS:

• You’ll want your batter to be very, very thick. Think spoonable batter, not pourable.
• Do not overmix the batter- this will create hard, tough, flat muffins.
• Fill muffin tins all the way to the top. Filling your muffin tins only 1/2 or 2/3 of the way to the top is not enough batter to produce a muffin that will rise. Fill to the brim.
• Start off with a very hot oven temperature, then lower it down – doing so lifts the muffin top up quickly and creates a tall crust. Typically, muffins are baked at 350℉ – 375℉ the whole time, but set the oven to 425℉ initially, then bring back down to 350℉ or 375℉.

USING KODIAK CAKES TO GET EXTRA SOFT MUFFINS:

• The secret ingredient to a SUPER soft muffin that is still healthy, is Kodiak Cakes Pancake Mix. Your muffins will bake up ultra light and soft, instead of a typical denser muffin you usually get when using healthier ingredients.
• You can use most any variety of Kodiak Cakes mixes. For these Healthy Apple Spice Crumb Muffins, I suggest using the buttermilk, cinnamon oat (my personal favorite!) or the Kodiak Cakes All-Purpose Baking Mix. This post is not sponsored by Kodiak Cakes, I just REALLY love the product and use it in my kitchen a ton. Kodiak Cakes Mixes are widely available. I’ve seen them at Walmart, Kroger, Costco and Target; usually found near other pancake mixes.
• Also, as mentioned above, it’s important to keep the stirring to a minimum. As much as we all hate doing dishes, the separate bowls are pretty important to avoid over-stirring while making sure all the ingredients do get mixed together.

You guys are going to love these cozy fall muffins. They are made to imitate a bakery style muffin, but in a healthier way. They’ve really got the taste, texture and softness of a bakery muffin, but with about a third of the calories. Winning!

CHECK OUT MORE HEALTHY MUFFIN RECIPES YOU’RE SURE TO LOVE!

Flourless Banana Apple Muffins

Healthy Double Chocolate Banana Muffins

Healthy Blueberry Banana Muffins

Flourless Blueberry Banana Muffins from Making Thyme for Health

Healthy Cinnamon Sugar Apple Muffins from Pinch of Yum

I’d love to know if you make this (or any) recipe! Tag @kimscravings on Instagram and be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

4.70 from 10 votes

Leave a Review »

Healthy Apple Spice Crumb Muffins

Yield: 12 muffins

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 25 mins

Sweet and crunchy on the tops, moist and bursting with warm fall flavors on the inside, these healthy apple crumble muffins are a MUST try!

Author: Kim

Ingredients

Crumb topping:

• 1/4 cup Kodiak Cakes Pancake Mix (buttermilk, cinnamon oat, or all-purpose)*
• 1/4 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil or butter
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• pinch of salt

Muffins:

• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk or other preferred milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vinegar
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups Kodiak Cakes Pancake Mix (buttermilk, cinnamon oat, or all-purpose)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/8 teaspoon cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup grated apple (from one small apple. I used fuji.)*

Instructions 

• In a small bowl, combine all crumb topping ingredients and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 425℉ and spray a 12 cup muffin pan with cooking spray; set aside.
• In a small bowl, combine milk & vinegar; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, beat eggs and then stir in applesauce, sugar, vanilla and the almond milk/vinegar mixture.
• In a separate large bowl, combine Kodiak Cakes Pancake Mix, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice, cloves and salt. Toss in the grated apple.
• Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix with a big spoon, just until combined (a few lumps are ok). Do NOT overmix. The batter will be thick. Divide the batter evenly between the 12 muffin cups.
• Top each muffin evenly with the crumble topping and bake muffins for 4 mins at 425℉ then immediately lower oven temperature to 375℉ and bake for 10-11 mins more, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Remove and allow to cool for a few minutes before removing the muffins from the tin. Use a butter knife around the edges, as needed, to coax the muffins out after about 5-10 minutes. Place on a cooling rack to cool completely.
• If you have leftover muffins, store them, covered, at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freeze leftover muffins for up to 3 months.

Notes

*I used the cinnamon oat variety. If you don't happen to have allspice and/or cloves on-hand, no worries, just leave it out.

*Don't worry about adding in too much moisture from the grated apple. No need to drain or squeeze out excess water.

Author: Kim

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Serving: 1muffin, Calories: 187kcal, Carbohydrates: 31.5g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 2.8g, Saturated Fat: 1.3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Cholesterol: 33.2mg, Sodium: 383.2mg, Potassium: 11.3mg, Fiber: 2.6g, Sugar: 18.4g, Vitamin A: 65IU, Calcium: 140mg, Iron: 1.2mg

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @kimscravings on Instagram and be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy and delicious recipes straight to your inbox!