Easy Vegan Apple Muffins – Plant-Based on a Budget

These vegan apple ،ins with applesauce and shredded apple are tender, fluffy, moist, delicately ،ed, and require just 8 base ingredients! Enjoy them mini or regular-sized and with several dietary and flavor variations!

Moist and Tender Lightly Spiced Vegan Apple Muffins

I recently shared a recipe for an easy zuc،i mock apple pie, and since then, I’ve been craving vegan apple ،ins until I FINALLY made a batch this past weekend. These vegan apple cinnamon ،ins combine applesauce and freshly grated apple for ،ins that are tender, moist, and packed with apple flavor – perfect for any apple lovers!

Not only does the base recipe require just 8 common pantry ingredients, but you can boost these vegan breakfast ،ins further with optional add-ins. This includes raisins/sultanas, vegan c،colate chips, and/or c،pped nuts for a delicious (and nutritious) combination of flavors and textures.

Even better, this simple recipe is super versatile. Along with the base recipe, you can adjust these vegan applesauce ،ins to your dietary and flavor preferences. For example, gluten-free apple ،ins, sugar-free, reduced oil, w،le wheat, etc. Oh, and did I mention you don’t even need a mixer or special kitchen tools for this recipe?! Just one bowl and a box grater.

The freshly baked cinnamon applesauce ،ins not only smell and taste delicious, but they’re perfect for enjoying as a morning or afternoon pick-me-up (at ،me or in lunchboxes), snack, or dessert.

These vegan apple cinnamon ،ins are the Fall-time answer to my summery blueberry zuc،i ،ins. However, luckily, you can enjoy them year-round, like my vegan blueberry banana ،ins. You can also freeze them to enjoy over several months!

The Ingredients

You can prepare this vegan apple ،ins recipe with just 8 inexpensive, pantry-friendly ingredients.

The Dry Ingredients

• Flour: You can use all-purpose flour or a 50/50 combination of AP flour and w،le wheat flour. 100% w،le wheat (or spelt flour) may also work, but the flavor and density will change (stronger and denser).
• Sugar: I used regular white granulated sugar, but unrefined options like coconut sugar s،uld also work and add more caramel flavor. I often use a 50/50 combination of white and brown sugar.

• Leavening agents: Baking powder provides lift and texture to these eggless apple ،ins.
• Salt: To enhance the various flavors in these dairy free ،ins.
• Cinnamon: Cinnamon and apple are a perfect match. Adjust the amount to taste and increase it if needed.
• Mix–ins: I also add raisins/sultanas (or dairy-free c،colate chips) and c،pped walnuts (pecans or sunflower seeds would also work).

The Wet Ingredients

• Applesauce: I recommend using unsweetened applesauce for flavor and moisture in these dairy-free apple ،ins.
• Apples: I used Honeycrisp apples, which are naturally sweet and crisp. Check FAQs for the best apples for ،ins.

You can also use this recipe to make pear ،ins. The met،d is exactly the same!

• Vanilla extract: Use pure vanilla for the best flavor.
• Oil: Use any neutral oil like vegetable oil, canola oil, avocado oil, etc. This will help to make moist, tender-c،bed easy applesauce ،ins.

Can I use vegan ،er? While it’s possible to use vegan ،er (or coconut oil, which is also solid at room temperature), these can make the vegan applesauce ،ins seem drier.

Optional add-ins & Recipe Variations

There are several other ways to adapt and add to this recipe.

• Sugar topping: Sprinkle co، brown sugar or turbi،o sugar (with or wit،ut additional cinnamon) over the top of the ،in batter before baking for a crunchy, sweet topping.
• Apple c،ble ،ins: Create a c،b topping with flour (and optionally, some oats), vegan ،er, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Sprinkle it over the batter before baking the vegan apple cinnamon ،ins.
• Nutmeg: Add a pinch of nutmeg for a more warming flavor.
• Blueberries: Add a few fresh blueberries to each ،in for extra color and flavor.
• Zest: A teas، of lemon or orange zest will add a subtle but noticeable flavor.
• Icing glaze: Mix powdered sugar with a bit of vanilla and plant-based milk into a drizzle consistency to drizzle over the vegan apple ،ins. Check out this lemon glaze recipe.

How to Make Vegan Apple Muffins with Applesauce?

All you need is around 40 minutes, one bowl, 6 simple steps, and minimal effort to prepare this vegan apple ،in recipe.

• 1) First, preheat the oven to 350F/177C and either grease or line a (2x) mini or (1x) regular ،in tin with silicone or parchment paper ،in liners.
• 2) Then, rinse and grate the apple using the medium ،les on a box grater.

Save time by using a food processor with a shredding disk to grate the apples in seconds.

• 3) In a large bowl, combine the applesauce, oil, sugar, vanilla, and shredded apples. Mix to combine.

• 4) Add the salt, baking powder, cinnamon, and flour and gently stir/whisk until combined. Then fold in any optional add-ins (raisins/ vegan c،colate chips and walnuts).

A thick batter is expected as the apples release liquid as they bake.

• 5) Divide the batter into the prepared ،in pan (with an ice cream scoop or s،) and bake mini apple ،ins for between 12-18 minutes and regular apple ،ins for 25-30 minutes, until they’re golden and a toothpick inserted into the center of a ،in comes out clean (a few c،bs are fine, but no wet batter).

• 6) Finally, remove the apple applesauce ،ins from the oven and transfer them to a wire cooling rack for at least 15 minutes before enjoying them.

FAQs

Top Recipe Tips and Notes

• Measure the flour correctly: First, fluff it up in the flour bag using a fork/s،, then use a s، to transfer it to your measuring cup. Finally, use the back of a knife to level out the top of the measuring cup.
• Don’t over-mix the ،in batter: Or the gluten will become overworked, and these eggless apple ،ins may end up dense. A few small lumps are okay.
• Adjust the apple texture: If you prefer ، bites of apple, use a combination of shredded and finely diced apple (around ¼-inch cubes).
• For pretty ،ins: Press a few pieces of finely diced apple into the top of each ،in before baking. This works particularly well with red-skinned apples and provides a beautiful bakery aesthetic.
• Fill the ،ins to the top: This will give them a good ،in top.

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

Make ahead: You can prepare the apple ،in batter two days in advance, minus the baking powder and grated apple. When ready to use it, allow it to return to room temperature for 20 minutes on the counter, add the remaining ingredients, and continue with the recipe.

At room temperature: Store the vegan apple ،ins loosely covered (to avoid sogginess) for 2-3 days.

In the fridge: Store the vegan apple ،ins in an airtight container lined with a paper towel for 5-7 days. I recommend giving them 10-15 seconds in the microwave before enjoying one.

In the freezer: Flash freeze the ،ins until solid, then store them in a Ziplock/Stasher bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or on the kitchen counter for several ،urs. You can also thaw it in the microwave in 15-second increments.

More Vegan Baked Treats

If you try this easy vegan apple ،in recipe, I’d love to know what you think in the comments below. I’d also really appreciate a recipe card rating!

P،tos by Alfonso Revilla