08/08/2026
These came from my family's favorite blueberry crumb muffin recipe, reworked with warm cinnamon and sweet apple in every bite. Soft, tender crumb underneath, buttery streusel on top — this is the kind of muffin that makes the whole kitchen smell like fall.
Cinnamon Apple Muffins
Crumb Topping Ingredients:
⇒ 60g all-purpose flour (½ cup)
⇒ 50g granulated white sugar (¼ cup)
⇒ 1.5g fine sea salt (¼ tsp)
⇒ 2.5g ground cinnamon (½ tsp)
⇒ 55g unsalted butter, softened (4 tbsp)
Apple Muffin Ingredients:
⇒ 250g all-purpose flour (2 cups)
⇒ 6g baking powder, aluminum-free (1½ tsp)
⇒ 2.5g baking soda (½ tsp)
⇒ 3g fine sea salt (½ tsp)
⇒ 4g cinnamon (2 tsp)
⇒ 100g light brown sugar, packed (½ cup)
⇒ 50g granulated white sugar (¼ cup)
⇒ 115g unsalted butter, softened (8 tbsp)
⇒ 2 large eggs, room temperature
⇒ 8g vanilla extract (2 tsp)
⇒ 115g sour cream or Greek yogurt, room temperature (½ cup)
⇒ 60ml whole milk, room temperature (¼ cup)
⇒ 2 medium apples, cut into ¼-inch pieces (2 cups diced)
Directions:
Prep: Preheat your oven to 425°F. Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with liners.
Make the Crumb Topping: In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Add the butter and use your fingertips to rub the mixture together until pea-size crumbs form and the mixture is no longer sandy. Set aside.
Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, cream together both sugars and the butter on high speed for 2 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating to incorporate between each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract, then add the sour cream and milk and beat on medium speed until well blended.
Combine: Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in 3 additions, gently mixing on low-medium speed. Do not overmix — stop as soon as it comes together with no dry streaks. The batter will be thick. Scrape down the bowl.
Add the Apples: Gently fold the diced apples into the batter until just combined. Divide the batter evenly between the lined muffin cups — it will seem like a lot, but it works. Top each muffin with about 1 tablespoon of the crumb topping, keeping it toward the center, and lightly press the crumbs down.
Bake: Bake at 425°F for 15–18 minutes, until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool: Let the muffins cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Notes: Use any crisp-tart apple such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji. Store cooled muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze individually wrapped for up to 3 months.
Prep Time: 20 mins | Bake Time: 15-18 mins | Cooling Time: 10 mins | Total Time: 45 mins
Servings: 12 muffins
Bon appétit and happy cooking!