Healthy Apple Muffins made with whole wheat flour and agave are an ideal fall snack that will satisfy the whole family. Not only are they filling and nutrient-rich, they’re bound to impress everyone eating them because they’re as beautiful as they are delicious. Plus, they are ready in under 30 minutes.
Busy schedules, short days, upcoming holidays and end of year work commitments have everyone losing their minds this time of year. One of the most important things we shouldn’t forget when things are hectic is not to skip meals, especially in the morning. I love these Healthy Apple Muffins because they make a perfect on-the-go breakfast and keep me going without lots of processed sugar. The fact that they’re great for breakfast, a snack or even dessert is just a bonus.
I know you all love a good Apple Cinnamon Bread and the smell that spreads in your home when baking it. How about making a similar thing that is healthier and in individual portions?
How to Make Healthy Apple Muffins
This healthy apple cinnamon muffins recipe is an eternal favorite because it requires very little work and almost no kitchen equipment. Two bowls, a whisk, a muffin tin and a grater will suffice. As with many similar recipes, the method used here combines all the wet ingredients in one bowl and all the dry ingredients in another before mixing them together. Make sure that you add the dry ingredients to the bowl with the wet ingredients, rather than wet to dry, to help evenly incorporate everything and avoid lumps of flour in your muffins.
When it comes to ingredients, this recipe uses agave instead of granulated sugar as a sweetener which has the advantage of having a lower glycemic index. If you prefer to use another sweetener, brown sugar, honey or even maple syrup can be substituted to make these easy apple muffins. The recipe also uses whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour, which will help keep you full longer and adds a depth of flavor. What’s more, olive oil and grated apple will help keep these healthy apple cinnamon muffins moist.
Feel free to use any type of apple, but a crisp red variety, such as a Honeycrisp, is ideal. A great rule of thumb is that if you like to eat the apple, you’ll also like it in baked goods. I prefer to leave the apples unpeeled when I grate them as I find that the skin adds a little bit of texture, but you can peel them before grating for a smoother consistency. Just remember to core them as no one likes apple seeds in their whole wheat apple muffins! The same goes for the apple slices on top of the muffins.
Are these apple cinnamon muffins dairy-free?
Because these apple cinnamon muffins use olive oil instead of butter, they are 100% dairy free. You can substitute another neutral oil such as canola, but other vegetable oils tend to have less flavor. Some prefer the final product using a more neutral oil, so I encourage you to experiment and figure out what you like.
Regardless of the substitutions you make, these healthy apple muffins are out of this world and will hopefully keep you fueled up for the busy season coming. Let me know how you made them! We’d be happy to see your feedback in the comments section below. Please don’t forget to rate this recipe!
Want more apple recipes? Check out the following recipes!
Cinnamon Baked Apple Slices Recipe
Turkish Apple Cinnamon Cookies
Zucchini Apple Cinnamon Muffins
PrintHealthy Apple Muffins
So refreshing, soft and light apple muffins without butter and sugar. Made with whole wheat flour, these keep you full for a long time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 15 muffins
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- ½ cup agave (or brown sugar)
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 and ¾ cup whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup apple, grated (I used 2 apples)
- 2 apples, thinly sliced for topping
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Mix eggs and agave until smooth.
- Add in olive oil and continue mixing.
- In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
- Add these to the wet mixture and mix with a spatula.
- Fold in grated apple.
- Share batter into muffin liners, top with thin apple slices and sprinkle cinnamon over them. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Check if they are done with a toothpick.
- Remove the muffin tin from oven and let it cool.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 muffin
- Calories: 159
- Sugar: 11.4g
- Sodium: 54.7mg
- Fat: 8.7g
- Carbohydrates: 19.9g
- Protein: 2.5g
- Cholesterol: 37.2mg
Keywords: apple, apple muffins
This post was published in 2013 and has been updated with new pictures and additional information.
I was looking something special with cinnamon for a special friend that is in love with cinnamon.I think i find it,thanks to you dear 🙂 Greetings from Albania 😀
★★★★★
Easy to make, easy to bake, lovely texture but I won’t be making them again, serious lack of flavour even though they have a ton of sugar in them (almost 5 oz) the consensus of opinion of the tasters all said they were plain, no depth to the flavour, sorry.
★★
What is the hamur kabartma kozu? I don’t see it in the recipe. Can’t wait to try this recipe.
It is baking powder.
Beautiful muffins Zerrin!
Thank you Marla!
So delicious and sure light, I like when add olive oil in the batter instead of butter just to make more healthy too.
These muffins look divine. I could imagine how the house smelled as they were baking. YUM!
Hi Tia! Thank you! Our home was smelling so good that we thought even our neighbors felt it!
What temperature? They look delicious!
Hi Rosalie! Thanks for asking, I forgot to add it! I’ve just added in the recipe that you need to bake it at 170C.
How did you know I had a whole bunch of apples that needed to be baked into something delicious? I love muffins, and I’m always eager for a new recipe. Thank you for sharing!
Glad to hear that Monet! I know you love baking and this is really a good way to use the apples in hand!
Luvin’ this recipe, Zerrin. Uses olive oil and lemon (yum!) and best/most of all…they’re muffins. Like that scalloped muffin pan you’re using. Of all things in baking, I love to bake up muffins! Savin’ this recipe to make for sure. 😉
Hi Cristina! Olive oil and lemon make these muffins wonderfully light!Hope you love these as much as my colleagues when you try!
Wow, the apple tarts look delicious! Great photos too!
Thank you! They really were! Still trying to improve the photography here and my husband generally takes the role of shooting.
These are gorgeous Zerrin! How lucky your colleagues are to enjoy your delicious baking! Hope your week is going good!
Thank you Reeni! I felt so proud when I heard all those positive feedbacks! The best part of cooking and baking, right?
we have so many apples in the veggie bin and I often want to make something with them so this is a perfect option! thanks!
Hi Joumana! These are great to use apples waiting to be eaten!
Lovely muffins! They must taste really good. Apples pair so well with cinnamon.
Cheers,
Rosa
Thank you Rosa! Cinnamon definitely goes perfect with cinnamon. Another sweet treat I love to use these together is Easy Apple Pie: http://www.giverecipe.com/easy-apple-pie.html you can check it out too!
Zerrin those apple muffins are delectable, more with the perfect and heavenly pictures. The first image deserves to be hung as a work of art on the wall 🙂
And yes, I want to have a bite!
Thank you Alex! They were so good that one bite will never be enough!