Name: Apple Cinnamon Streusel Muffins Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour; ½ cup granulated sugar; 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder; ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon; ¼ teaspoon salt; 1 large egg, at room temperature; ½ cup milk, at room temperature; ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1 cup chopped apples, peeled, cored, and finely diced; ½ cup all-purpose flour; ¼ cup packed light brown sugar; ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon; ¼ cup unsalted butter, very cold and cut into small pieces

Ingredients

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (for muffins)

½ cup granulated sugar (for muffins)

1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (for muffins)

¼ teaspoon salt

1 large egg, at room temperature

½ cup milk, at room temperature

¼ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled (for muffins)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup chopped apples, peeled, cored, and finely diced

½ cup all-purpose flour (for streusel)

¼ cup packed light brown sugar (for streusel)

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon (for streusel)

¼ cup unsalted butter, very cold and cut into small pieces (for streusel)

Instructions

Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine ½ cup all-purpose flour, ¼ cup packed light brown sugar, and ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon. Cut in ¼ cup very cold unsalted butter using your fingertips or a pastry blender until a coarse, crumbly mixture forms. Set aside the streusel topping.

Step 2: Peel, core, and finely dice the apples. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.

Step 3: In a large bowl, whisk together 1 ½ cups flour, ½ cup granulated sugar, baking powder, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, and salt until evenly combined.

Step 4: In a separate medium bowl, whisk the egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth and just combined.

Step 5: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently fold with a rubber spatula until just moistened. Carefully fold in the diced apples evenly.

Step 6: Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds to three-quarters full. Generously sprinkle the cinnamon streusel on top of each muffin. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C) without opening the door and bake for 15–20 minutes more, until golden and a skewer inserted comes out clean or with moist crumbs.

Step 7: Remove the muffins from the oven and let them cool in the tin for 5–10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.

Tips & Variations

Use tart apples like Granny Smith for a nice balance of sweet and tangy flavors.

For extra moisture, substitute half the milk with apple juice or buttermilk.

Add a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans to the streusel for added crunch.

Mix in a teaspoon of freshly grated nutmeg along with the cinnamon for deeper spice notes.

FAQs

Can I use frozen apples instead of fresh?

Frozen apples can be used but make sure to thaw and drain them well before folding into the batter to avoid excess moisture that could affect the muffin texture.

How can I make these muffins dairy-free?

Substitute the milk with your favorite plant-based milk (such as almond or oat milk) and use a dairy-free butter alternative for both the batter and streusel topping.