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    Make It Skinny Please » Recipes » Breakfast » Skinny Apple Muffins recipe (vegan)

    Published: Oct 24, 2021 · Modified: Nov 26, 2022 by Toni Dash · 17 Comments

    Skinny Apple Muffins recipe (vegan)

    Weight Watchers Points5
    Calories: 148kcal
    Carbs: 34g
    Protein: 2g
    Fats: 1g
    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Apple Muffins with title overlay

    These easy vegan Apple Cinnamon Muffins are packed apple pieces in a delicious spiced muffin. It's a great recipe for breakfast or a quick snack with sweet apple flavor and significant calorie savings too!

    Apple Muffins with title overlay
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    Apple Muffins with title overlay

    The load of fresh apples in these easy healthy apple muffins is delicious. You'll get fall flavor in every bite!

    If you are worried about not using eggs or oil, don't be! We have a great baking trick to replace them adding more apple flavor and creating moist muffins.

    This muffin recipe has a great texture and stays very moist thanks to the chunks of apple. It reminds us of apple cake.

    Pair them with our Tex Mex Instant Pot Egg Bites for some additional protein for breakfast! For some fall flavor try our skinny Pumpkin Apple Muffins.

    Jump to:
    • What makes this skinny?
    • Recipe Ingredient Notes
    • Best apples for baking
    • How to make Apple Muffins - Step-by-Step
    • Variations
    • Expert Tips
    • How to Store
    • Pro Tips
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More recipes you'll love!
    • Recipe

    What makes this skinny?

    • Less sugar. We used ⅓ cup each of brown sugar and white granulated white sugar. Granulated sugar is sweeter than brown sugar for the same amount so mixing gives more sweetness with less sugar used than if just using brown sugar.
    • No vegetable oil or butter. Using applesauce (that trick from our Skinny Swaps series) provides the function of oil without the calories.
    • No eggs

    The same things that make these vegan strip out extra calories too! A traditional Apple Cinnamon Muffin can be up to almost 500 calories. This version is 148 calories and 4 WW SmartPoints on all plans.

    Recipe Ingredient Notes

    apple muffins ingredients labelled

    All Purpose Flour. Regular or gluten-free measure-for-measure flour can be used. For our gluten-free baking versions we use (and love) Bob's Red Mill gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour.

    Almond milk. Used unsweetened almond milk. Use regular or vanilla flavor.

    Applesauce. Store bought unsweetened applesauce or homemade applesauce can be used.

    Apple. You'll need 1 ½ cups fresh chopped apples which is the equivalent of 1 large apple (approximately). Wonder what kind of apples to use? The best baking apple choices below.

    Best apples for baking

    Our favorite for these muffins (especially in apple season) are Honeycrisp apples. They have a strong sweet flavor and wonderful firm texture that holds up during baking. Choose firm apples with bright apple flavors.

    Here are some classic apples for baking that won't become mushy and taste great:

    • Granny Smith apples
    • Jonagold
    • Braeburn
    • Crispin
    • Pink Lady

    How to make Apple Muffins - Step-by-Step

    STEP 1. Preparation

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare muffin pan with liners or spraying with non-stick food spray.

    apple muffins recipe steps 1-4

    STEP 2. Make the batter

    In a large bowl combined the unsweetened applesauce, vanilla extract, brown sugar, granulated sugar and almond milk (photos 1-3). Whisk to combine.

    In a second medium bowl combine the flour, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, baking powder and baking soda (photos 4-8). Whisk to combine.

    Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients and whisk just to combine (do not overmix)(photos 9-10). Stir in the diced apples (photo 11).

    apple muffins recipe steps 5-8
    apple muffins recipe steps 9-12

    STEP 3. Bake

    Divide the muffin batter evenly between the prepared muffin cups. Using a large ice cream scoop makes this quick and not messy.

    Mix together 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on the top of each muffin. It adds some extra sweetness and crunch (photo 12).

    Bake muffins for 20-22 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean or just with a few crumbs.

    Allow to cool in the muffin tin for 10 minutes before placing on a cooling rack to cool completely.

    vegan apple muffins close up in back

    Variations

    Substitute some oats. Adding oats to baked goods can take out extra calories and add more nutrients. We have found they also add a gummier texture to the baked goods. The rule of thumb for substituting is up to one third of the flour can be swapped for rolled oats (also called old fashioned oats) or quick cooking oats. Do not use instant oats.

    For this recipe you could substitute up to ⅔ cup of oats in addition to 1 ⅓ cup of flour (for a total of 2 cups). We tested rolled oats and quick oats and ultimately preferred the texture best using quick oats however liked just flour over the two oats options.

    Expert Tips

    Spoon the flour; no scooping! Spoon the flour into your measuring cup piling it above the top of the measuring cup, use the back of a dining knife to to scrape across the measuring cup to discard excess flour to make a cup. This ensures you won't have the flour densely packed which happens with scooping the measuring cup into the flour. Scooping risks too much flour making muffins dense and tough.

    Use non-stick baking liners. We recommend using non-stick parchment liners, reuseable silocone baking cups and spraying the muffin tin without using liners to ensure the muffins do not stick to the liners.

    How to Store

    Once the muffins have cooled they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature in a cool location or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    When storing at room temperature line the bottom of the container with a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture.

    If stored in the refrigerator pop them in the microwave for 15 seconds before eating to soften them up.

    Freezing the muffins

    Place the cooled muffins on a baking sheet and put in the freezer for 1-2 hours to flash freeze them. Then place into a freezer bag or container. Flash freezing keeps the muffins from sticking to each other so you can remove one or two when you want them rather than the entire batch.

    Allow to thaw in the refrigerator or using the defrost setting on your microwave.

    vegan apple muffins inside

    Pro Tips

    When using liners they often will not peel off cleanly the day of baking. On day two they do!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use a different type of milk?

    Yes any milk (plant milk or dairy milk) can be used. If using dairy milk these muffins will no longer be vegan but it works in the recipe.

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    Recipe

    vegan apple muffins on cooling rack

    Skinny Apple Muffins (vegan)

    Weight Watchers Points5
    Click to track Weight Watchers Points
    These moist delicious Apple Muffins are packed with fresh apple chunks and are calorie-slim with no oil or eggs. Great for breakfast or a healthy snack!
    5 from 79 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Low Calorie, Vegan
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 22 minutes minutes
    Cooling Time (estimate): 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 7 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 148kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ⅓ cup brown sugar
    • ⅓ cup granulated white sugar
    • ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour regular or gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blend
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ⅛ tsp ground cardamom
    • Pinch of freshly ground nutmeg
    • 2 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 ½ cups peeled can finely chopped fresh apple
    • Topping
    • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350F. Prepare a 12 muffin tin with 12 muffin liners or by spraying with non-stick cooking spray.
    • In a large bowl combine the wet ingredients and sugars: applesauce, vanilla extract, brown sugar, granulated white sugar and almond milk. Whisk to combine.
    • In a second bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, ground cinnamon, ground cardamom, ground nutmeg, baking powder, and baking soda.
      Add them to the wet ingredients and stir until well combined. Do not overmix.
    • Add the diced apple and stir to combine.
    • Divide the batter evenly between the 12 muffin cavities. NOTE: using an ice cream scoop works great for this.
    • Combine 2 tablespoons brown sugar with ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon. Sprinkle evenly across the tops of the muffins.
    • Bake the muffins for 20 to 22 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
    • Let the muffins cool for 10 minutes before removing them from the muffin tin.

    Notes

    Ingredient Notes
    Flour. If making the muffins gluten-free we use Bob's Red Mill gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour.
    Apples. Use crisp apples with big apple flavor: honeycrisp, granny smith, jonagold, pink lady,
    Milk. Any milk can be used. To keep the muffins vegan use a non-dairy milk.
    Expert Tips
    Spoon the flour; no scooping! Spoon the flour into your measuring cup piling it above the top of the measuring cup, use the back of a dining knife to to scrape across the measuring cup to discard excess flour to make a cup. This ensures you won't have the flour densely packed which happens with scooping the measuring cup into the flour. Scooping risks too much flour making muffins dense and tough.
    Use non-stick baking liners. We recommend using non-stick parchment liners, reuseable silocone baking cups and spraying the muffin tin without using liners to ensure the muffins do not stick to the liners.
    How to Store
    • Once the muffins have cooled they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature in a cool location or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
    • When storing at room temperature line the bottom of the container with a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture.
    • If stored in the refrigerator pop them in the microwave for 15 seconds before eating to soften them up.
    Weight Watchers points from previous program (WW SmartPoints):
    • Green: 4
    • Blue: 4
    • Purple: 4

    Nutrition

    Calories: 148kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 133mg | Potassium: 67mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 15IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 1mg
    Apple Muffins with title overlay
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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutritional Coach and certified Weight Loss Specialist, writer/blogger, photographer, chief recipe developer and creator of Make It Skinny Please. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her slimmed down recipes using real food ingredients bring excitement to the dining table and never taste like 'diet food'. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 79 votes (66 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Gloria says

      November 17, 2022 at 7:48 am

      5 stars
      You can never go wrong with a fresh baked muffin. Great for breakfast. Perfect for lunch boxes. A must with my afternoon latte or tea.

      Reply
    2. Sue says

      November 17, 2022 at 7:44 am

      5 stars
      Loving all your skinny swaps ~ I'm a muffin-for-breakfast girl so this is super helpful 🙂

      Reply
    3. Suzanne says

      November 17, 2022 at 7:44 am

      5 stars
      Love these! I've made multiple batches. Taken them to book club, stuck them in my kids lunches and love them for breakfast.

      Reply
    4. Katherine says

      November 17, 2022 at 7:43 am

      5 stars
      These are breakfast perfection! I love the flavors.

      Reply
    5. Dana says

      November 17, 2022 at 7:27 am

      5 stars
      Love these and the hint of cardamom is so so nice!

      Reply
    6. Jessica says

      November 02, 2022 at 4:39 pm

      I just made these and they are delicious. I made no substitutions and they taste great. I love that there's no oil or eggs.

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        November 02, 2022 at 7:02 pm

        I'm so glad you enjoyed them Jessica!

        Reply
    7. Tracy Henderson says

      June 25, 2022 at 7:58 am

      I need more recipes dessert
      Salad
      Casserole dishes

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        June 25, 2022 at 6:22 pm

        Hi Tracy! Thanks for letting us know about your interests! Have you checked the recipes in our recipe categories here: https://makeitskinnyplease.com/recipes/. We are adding new recipes every week and I’m glad to know what interests you! We’ll put that on the list! Thank you.

        Reply
    8. Jessica Burgess says

      October 25, 2021 at 11:50 am

      5 stars
      Thank you, thank you, thank you! I've been looking for a muffin recipe like this and after trying a few others, THIS is the one I love the most. Thank you!

      Reply
    9. katerina @ diethood.com says

      October 25, 2021 at 10:41 am

      5 stars
      The perfect apple muffin! These are SO delicious!

      Reply
    10. Katie says

      October 25, 2021 at 10:13 am

      5 stars
      I love that these are clean, simple, and healthy. So delicious too! We love them.

      Reply
    11. Caroline says

      October 25, 2021 at 9:33 am

      5 stars
      I love all the warm spices in these and they sound like a great seasonal treat, perfect to grab for breakfast or a snack.

      Reply
    12. Heather Johnson says

      October 25, 2021 at 8:40 am

      5 stars
      delicious - i love anything apple cinnamon and to find something that's SKINNY too - woohoo! thanks!

      Reply
    13. Jennifer says

      October 25, 2021 at 8:31 am

      5 stars
      Moist, apple-y, and flavorful, these muffins are perfect! And, I love that they're vegan! Yum!

      Reply
    14. Alisa Infanti says

      October 25, 2021 at 8:07 am

      5 stars
      Made a batch this weekend and they were perfect with my morning coffee.

      Reply
    15. Michelle says

      October 25, 2021 at 8:05 am

      5 stars
      These apple muffins look incredibly moist and so full of flavour from the spices! Can't wait to make it soon!

      Reply

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I'm a Certified Nutrition Coach and NASM certified Weight Loss Specialist. I'm excited to share Classic Recipes made more calorie friendly using real food!

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