Print

Cozy Apple Cinnamon Muffins Recipe with Easy Crunchy Streusel Topping

cozy apple cinnamon muffins - featured image
Print Recipe

These cozy apple cinnamon muffins feature a tender crumb with a buttery, crunchy streusel topping. Perfect for warm, comforting breakfasts or snacks, they balance subtle cinnamon spice with tender apples and a crisp topping.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (110 g) packed brown sugar
  • ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) buttermilk (or ¾ cup milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice, let sit 5 minutes)
  • 2 medium apples, peeled and diced (Fuji or Honeycrisp preferred)
  • For the streusel topping:
  • ½ cup (60 g) all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup (70 g) packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 4 tablespoons (57 g) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
  • ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease it lightly.
  2. Prepare the streusel topping: In a small bowl, combine ½ cup flour, ⅓ cup brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Add cold butter cubes and cut into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter or fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in nuts if using. Chill in the fridge.
  3. Mix the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, and salt.
  4. Mix the wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk melted butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in vanilla extract and buttermilk.
  5. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and fold gently with a spatula. Avoid overmixing; some lumps are okay.
  6. Fold in the diced apples gently to keep pieces intact.
  7. Scoop batter evenly into muffin cups, filling each about ¾ full (yields 12 muffins).
  8. Sprinkle streusel topping generously over each muffin.
  9. Bake for 22-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Tent with foil if streusel browns too fast.
  10. Cool muffins in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Keep the butter cold when making the streusel to ensure a crumbly topping. Avoid overmixing the batter to keep muffins tender. Use a sharp knife to dice apples evenly. If streusel browns too quickly, tent muffins with foil halfway through baking. Let muffins cool before storing to prevent soggy topping.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple cinnamon muffins, streusel topping, cozy muffins, breakfast muffins, easy muffin recipe, fall baking, cinnamon muffins

Find it online: https://wigglebite.com/cozy-apple-cinnamon-muffins-recipe-with-easy-crunchy-streusel-topping/