Best Apple Crumble Muffins (Easy Cinnamon Recipe)

Imagine biting into a perfectly soft and moist muffin, absolutely bursting with tender apple pieces and crowned with a sweet, buttery cinnamon crumble that melts in your mouth. These aren’t just any apple muffins. these are the kind you’ll find yourself dreaming about. I’ve baked batches of these over the years, and they always bring a smile to everyone’s face. They are incredibly easy to make and smell absolutely heavenly while they bake. perfect for a cozy morning or an afternoon treat.

Why These Apple Muffins Will Be Your New Favorite

There are so many reasons to fall in love with these muffins. First, they are incredibly tender and moist inside, thanks to the buttermilk and melted butter. The generous amount of fresh apple keeps them juicy. Plus, that irresistible crumble topping adds just the right amount of sweetness and texture. It is simple to make and uses common ingredients you likely have in your pantry. These muffins are a wonderful way to use up fresh apples and fill your home with the most amazing autumn-like scent any time of year.

Simple Ingredients You Will Need

Gathering your ingredients is the first step to these delightful muffins. You will need some pantry staples plus fresh apples.

For the Muffins

• All purpose flour
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Packed light brown sugar
• Buttermilk
• Large egg
• Unsalted butter, melted
• Vanilla extract
• Diced fresh apples (peeled or unpeeled)

For the Topping

• Packed light brown sugar
• All purpose flour
• Ground cinnamon
• Unsalted butter, melted

Using packed brown sugar is key for that deep flavor and moisture in both the muffins and the topping. Make sure your buttermilk is at room temperature if possible, it helps everything combine smoothly.

Step By Step Guide to Making Apple Crumble Muffins

Making these muffins is straightforward and fun. Follow these steps for perfect results every time.

1. Start by getting your oven hot. Preheat it to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Prepare a standard muffin tin that holds 12 cups. You can either grease the cups really well or line them with paper muffin liners.
2. Now, work on the muffin batter. Get a large mixing bowl out. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt into this bowl. Give these dry ingredients a quick stir together until they are well combined.
3. In a different bowl, maybe a smaller one, measure the brown sugar, buttermilk, the half cup of melted butter, the egg, and the vanilla extract. Take a whisk and mix this wet mixture really well. Keep whisking until the sugar seems to be dissolved into the liquids.
4. Pour the wet mixture from the smaller bowl into the large bowl where you have the dry ingredients.
5. Gently sprinkle the diced apple pieces evenly over the mixture in the large bowl.
6. Now, carefully stir everything together. Mix just until the ingredients are barely combined. It is important not to overmix the batter, as this can make the muffins tough.
7. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups. Fill each cup generously, all the way up to the very top. This helps create those nice domed tops.
8. Next, prepare the crumble topping. Grab a small bowl for this. Put the half cup of brown sugar, the third cup of flour, and the cinnamon into this bowl. Stir these dry topping ingredients together.
9. Drizzle the two tablespoons of melted butter over the dry ingredients in the bowl.
10. Use a fork to mix the melted butter into the dry ingredients. Toss the mixture with the fork until it is well blended and looks crumbly.
11. Sprinkle this crumbly topping mixture evenly over the tops of the filled muffin cups. Be sure to get a good amount on each one.
12. Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven. Bake for about 25 minutes. You will know the muffins are done when their tops spring back gently when you lightly press them with your finger.

Let them cool slightly in the pan before moving them to a wire rack. Enjoy them warm.

Expert Tips for Baking the Best Muffins

Getting perfect muffins is easy with a few simple tricks.

• Measure your flour correctly. Spoon it into the measuring cup and level it off. Do not scoop directly from the bag, as this can pack it down and result in too much flour.
• Do not overmix the batter. Stir just until the flour streaks disappear. Lumps are okay. Overmixing develops the gluten too much and leads to tough muffins.
• Make sure your baking soda is fresh. This is crucial for the muffins to rise properly.
• Fill the muffin cups full for nicely domed tops like you see in bakeries.
• You can easily substitute the apples. Pears work wonderfully too.
• For added texture, try adding about half a cup of chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter when you add the apples.

Storing Your Apple Muffins

These muffins are best enjoyed fresh, especially warm from the oven. However, they store well too.

• Let the muffins cool completely on a wire rack.
• Store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
• They will stay fresh for about 2-3 days.
• If you want to keep them longer, you can freeze them. Wrap individual muffins tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer bag. They will last up to 3 months in the freezer.
• To reheat, simply microwave a frozen muffin for 30-60 seconds or warm it in a low oven.

Common Questions About Apple Muffins

Here are answers to some things people often ask about making these tasty muffins.

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