Name: Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 23 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/3 cup (67g) packed light or dark brown sugar; 1 Tablespoon (15g) granulated sugar; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp; 56g) unsalted butter, melted; 2/3 cup (84g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled); 1 and 3/4 cups (219g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled); 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature; 1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar; 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar; 2 large eggs, at room temperature; 1/2 cup (120g) yogurt or sour cream, at room temperature; 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 1/4 cup (60ml) milk (any kind), at room temperature; 1 and 1/2 cups (180g) peeled & chopped apples (1/2-inch chunks; about 2 medium apples); 1 cup (120g) confectioners’ sugar; 3 Tablespoons (45ml) heavy cream (or milk for a thinner consistency); 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Jump to Recipe· 4.9 from 43 reviews

If you’re craving that perfect cozy breakfast or an anytime snack filled with warm spices and comforting sweetness, you’re in for a treat with my Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins Recipe. These muffins boast tender chunks of fresh apples, a fragrant cinnamon spice blend, and a buttery, crumbly topping that’s pure magic. Trust me, once you try this recipe, you’ll want to bake a batch every week — it’s that fan-freaking-tastic!

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Why This Recipe Works

Balanced Flavors: The combination of cinnamon and fresh apple chunks delivers that perfect cozy sweetness without being overpowering.
Textural Delight: The crumb topping adds a buttery crunch that contrasts beautifully with the soft, tender muffin base.
Moist and Tender Muffins: Using yogurt or sour cream keeps the muffins moist, while the room temperature ingredients help everything blend smoothly.
Simple Yet Flexible: The recipe easily adapts to mini or jumbo sizes, and you can add a luscious vanilla icing for an extra touch of sweetness.

Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins, apple cinnamon muffins, cozy breakfast recipes, apple muffin recipe, cinnamon crumb muffins - The image shows nine apple crumb muffins arranged on a white marbled surface. Each muffin has three clear layers: a bottom baked golden-brown cake layer, a middle layer with visible light green apple chunks inside the muffin, and a top crumbly light brown streusel topping with a slight sprinkle of white glaze drizzled unevenly over it. One muffin is open, showing the inside texture and apple pieces, sitting in a white paper liner with a woman's hand about to pick it up. Small crumbs and a few green apple slices are scattered around, adding detail to the scene. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in my Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins Recipe is selected to create the best texture, flavor, and mouthfeel — and to keep your baking experience straightforward and fun. Let’s break down what’s going on in your bowl and why these ingredients rock together.

Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins, apple cinnamon muffins, cozy breakfast recipes, apple muffin recipe, cinnamon crumb muffins - Flat lay of a small pile of light and dark brown sugar crystals, a small mound of granulated white sugar, a teaspoon of ground cinnamon as a fine powder, a few chunks of unsalted butter melting slightly, a small heap of all-purpose flour, two large whole uncracked brown eggs, a small white bowl filled with creamy plain yogurt, a small white bowl with pale golden milk, two medium peeled and chopped fresh apples with visible skin edges, and a small white bowl containing pure vanilla extract placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p awthu7i m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: Provides structure and gives the muffins that perfect tender crumb when measured right (spooned and leveled).
Baking soda & baking powder: These leaveners work together to help the muffins rise nicely without getting too dense.
Ground cinnamon: The warm spice that’s the star flavor, amplifying the sweetness of the apples and the crumb topping.
Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness.
Unsalted butter (softened and melted): Using both forms plays a role — softened butter creamed with sugar creates tenderness, while melted butter in the crumb topping gives you those delightful crumbs.
Light or dark brown sugar: Adds moisture and a rich molasses undertone especially in the crumb topping.
Granulated sugar: For crispness and to balance the flavor with pure sweetness.
Eggs: Bind everything together while keeping the muffins light.
Yogurt or sour cream: Adds subtle tang and moisture, ensuring the muffins don’t dry out.
Pure vanilla extract: Enhances all the flavors, making everything taste homey and familiar.
Milk (any kind): Helps bring the batter to the perfect consistency and moistness.
Fresh peeled & chopped apples: The true stars, bringing bursts of juicy sweetness and a bit of texture throughout.
Confectioners’ sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla (optional — for icing): This trio creates a smooth vanilla glaze that’s just dreamy drizzled over the warm muffins.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the best things about my Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins Recipe is how easy it is to customize. I love mixing things up depending on what I have on hand or what mood I’m in, and you’ll enjoy that freedom too.

Add nuts or seeds: I sometimes toss in chopped walnuts or pecans to add a toasty crunch that pairs wonderfully with the crumb topping.
Swap the fruit: While I adore apples here, pears or even diced peaches can make for a fun seasonal variation.
Lighter option: Using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream keeps things tangy and protein-rich, also great if you want a bit more density.
Make mini muffins: Perfect for parties or kid-friendly snacks, just adjust baking time accordingly — I’ve included notes on this below.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins Recipe

Step 1: Preheat & Prep Your Pan

First things first, preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C). I recommend spraying your muffin pan generously with nonstick spray or lining it with cupcake liners—this recipe can make up to 14 muffins, so you might want two pans or plan to bake in batches. I’ve learned that this little extra prep saves so much cleanup stress later.

Step 2: Whip Up the Crumb Topping

Mix light or dark brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. Then stir in melted butter before gently incorporating the flour. The key: don’t over-mix — keep those crumbs chunky. I usually use a fork here, and that crumbly texture will bake into the perfect crunchy topping. Set it aside and try not to sneak bites; it’s dangerously good!

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients for Muffins

In a large bowl, whisk together your flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. This step ensures that your leavening agents and spices are distributed evenly, which means your muffins will rise uniformly and taste consistent throughout.

Step 4: Cream Butter & Sugars

Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter with your brown and granulated sugars on high speed until everything’s smooth and creamy — about 3 minutes. It’s important to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl as you go, so everything blends evenly. This step may feel a bit time-consuming, but trust me — it makes the texture melt-in-your-mouth amazing.

Step 5: Add Wet Ingredients & Mix

Beat in eggs, then yogurt and vanilla. I like to start on medium speed for about a minute, then crank it up to high until mostly creamy — it can look a little curdled, and that’s normal! Don’t worry, it all comes together nicely with the flour mix next.

Step 6: Combine Wet and Dry, Then Fold in Apples

With your mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients alternating with milk until you don’t see any flour pockets. Then fold gently in the chopped apples with a spatula. This gentle folding keeps the apple chunks intact and evenly distributed. Make sure the apples are peeled and cut into medium chunks — any bigger and they won’t bake evenly, any smaller and they might get soggy.

Step 7: Fill Muffin Cups & Add Crumbs

Spoon batter into each muffin cup, filling them up to the top for that perfect domed shape. Top each one with a generous spoonful of crumb topping, gently pressing it down so it sticks. This is the step where your muffins start to look irresistible!

Step 8: Bake & Cool

Bake at 425°F for 5 minutes, then, without opening the oven door, reduce the heat to 350°F (177°C) and bake for another 15–18 minutes. Total bake time is roughly 20–23 minutes — or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. When done, let the muffins cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. I’ve found this waiting step makes a huge difference; the muffins hold together better and the crumb topping stays intact.

Step 9: Optional Vanilla Icing

Whisk confectioners’ sugar, heavy cream (or milk), and vanilla extract together to make a smooth glaze. Drizzle over warm or cooled muffins for an extra sweet touch that my family goes crazy for. I like to keep the icing optional though — sometimes plain crumb topping is all you need!

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Tips from My Kitchen

Room Temperature Ingredients: Cold butter or eggs can cause your batter to curdle or mix unevenly — let them sit out for about 30 minutes before baking.
Don’t Over-mix: Overworking the batter leads to tough muffins; mix just until ingredients combine and no dry flour remains.
Apple Size Matters: I peel and chop apples into half-inch chunks to get tender but still distinct bites without sogginess.
Crumb Topping Consistency: Keep crumbs chunky, not a paste — otherwise it won’t crisp up during baking the way we want.

How to Serve Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins Recipe

Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins, apple cinnamon muffins, cozy breakfast recipes, apple muffin recipe, cinnamon crumb muffins - A close-up of a single muffin on a white marbled surface, wrapped in a beige cupcake liner that is slightly opened, showing the muffin's ridged, golden-brown sides. The muffin has a crumbly top layer with a mix of light and darker brown textures and a smooth white glaze dripping down from the top, creating small streams over the crumb topping. In the background, there are blurred parts of other muffins and a hint of a green fruit, all against a bright white background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

I love a light dusting of cinnamon sugar on top if I skip the icing—just a little sprinkle right out of the oven adds a subtle crunch and extra warmth. Sometimes, I also top them with a swipe of honey butter or a dollop of cinnamon-spiced cream cheese for a rich, indulgent twist.

Side Dishes

These muffins pair perfectly with a hot cup of coffee, chai tea, or even a simple glass of cold milk. For a more filling breakfast, I like to serve them alongside scrambled eggs or a fresh fruit salad to balance out the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

For a brunch or holiday spread, I line a rustic wooden tray with linen napkins and arrange the muffins in colorful cupcake liners. You can stack them pyramid-style, and add whole cinnamon sticks or fresh apple slices around for that beautiful autumn vibe. I’ve done this for gatherings and it always sparks compliments!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once completely cooled, I store leftover muffins in an airtight container at room temperature, and they stay soft and moist for about 3 days. After that, I move them to the fridge where they keep for up to a week, though they’re best within the first few days for freshness.

Freezing

Freezing is a game-changer when it comes to muffins! I baked and cooled batches freeze beautifully—just pop them in freezer bags or containers without the icing. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw them at room temperature or in the fridge. Adding the icing fresh after thawing makes them taste like they were just baked.

Reheating

To reheat, I microwave a muffin for about 20 seconds or warm it in a 325°F oven for 5-7 minutes. This revives the softness and helps the crumb topping regain some crunch without drying out the muffin.

FAQs

Can I use frozen apples for the Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins Recipe?

It’s best to use fresh apples for this recipe to avoid excess moisture that frozen apples can release, which might make the muffins soggy. If you only have frozen apples, thaw and drain them really well before folding them into the batter to prevent a wet texture.
How do I prevent the crumb topping from melting into the muffins?

Keeping the crumb mixture chunky and not over-mixing is key. Also, pressing the crumb gently down onto the batter before baking helps it stick and crisp up. Baking first at higher heat creates a quick crust, locking in that crumbly texture.
Can I make this Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins Recipe vegan?

Yes! You can swap the butter for a plant-based margarine or coconut oil, use a vegan yogurt alternative, and replace eggs with flax or chia egg substitutes (1 tablespoon ground flax/chia + 3 tablespoons water per egg, mixed and rested). Keep in mind, texture and flavor might vary slightly, but it still tastes delicious.
Why does this recipe use both baking soda and baking powder?

Both leavening agents work together to give the muffins a balanced rise. Baking soda reacts with the acidic yogurt or sour cream to create lift, while baking powder adds extra leavening power to ensure light, fluffy muffins.
Can I make jumbo or mini versions of these muffins?

Absolutely! For jumbo muffins, bake at 425°F for 5 minutes then reduce to 350°F for about 22–25 minutes. For mini muffins, bake at 350°F for 12–14 minutes. Adjusting times keeps the muffins perfectly cooked whether you want big, fluffy muffins or bite-sized treats.

Final Thoughts

I can’t tell you how many times this Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins Recipe has saved me during busy mornings or casual get-togethers. They’re not only simple to whip up but also deliver that heartwarming comfort of homemade goodness that everyone appreciates. Once you give this recipe a whirl, I have a feeling it’ll quickly become one of your favorite go-to bakes, just like it did for me. So grab your mixing bowl, peel some apples, and get ready for a batch of cozy muffins that’ll have your kitchen smelling like fall all year round!