These wholesome muffins are simple, cozy, and homey in the best possible way. The warm touch of cinnamon and the toasty bits of oatmeal make me think of spontaneous hugs and baking something fun just because. And while I have a few different oatmeal muffin options—Healthy Pumpkin Muffins, Healthy Oatmeal Muffins (and even more non-oatmeal muffin options like Healthy Banana Muffins, Healthy Zucchini Muffins, and all of these healthy muffin recipes)—I did not have a recipe to suit what I was most craving: a batch of good, old-fashioned applesauce muffins. This is the ideal healthy muffin for kids, toddlers, and adults alike. The familiar flavors of cinnamon and applesauce appeal to all, they are perfect for breakfasts on the go, and the healthy ingredient lineup means you’ll feel great eating them too. THESE ARE THE BEST APPLESAUCE MUFFINS YOU WILL EVER BAKE. I pinky promise!
How to Make Healthy Applesauce Muffins
While these aren’t one bowl applesauce muffins, the prep is incredibly simple, quick, and you don’t need a mixer. With warm, cozy spices and a tender crumb, these muffins are a heart-warming embrace wrapped into a tiny package.
The Ingredients
Flour. These muffins are 100% whole grain, meaning they are rich in fiber and other nutrients to keep you fuller for longer. I promise they don’t taste like it! Enjoy the healthy breakfast boost, and help yourself to another.Applesauce. You can use applesauce in muffins (either store-bought or homemade versions like Crockpot Applesauce or Instant Pot Applesauce) to make them moist. It’s an excellent replacement for a portion of the oil in many healthy baking recipes like this one. Here, applesauce also becomes part of the muffins’ flavor.Eggs. To create the perfect muffin texture.
Honey. I wanted to see if I could make applesauce muffins no sugar by using honey as a natural sweetener. While honey is still a form of sugar, it’s more natural, and I simply adore the way its homey taste pairs with the oatmeal.Oats. Heart-healthy rolled oats are high in fiber, give the muffins a delicious texture, and make them more filling (just like in these Oatmeal Pancakes).Coconut Oil. Since these are applesauce muffins no butter, we need a little oil to create perfectly moist, flavorful muffins.
Cinnamon, Spice, and Everything Nice. I knew I wanted to make cinnamon applesauce muffins. For extra flavor, I added cinnamon’s BFFs nutmeg and allspice. These two small touches make the muffins truly special.Coarse Sugar. For a dreamy, lightly crunchy sweet muffin topping.
The Directions
Storage Tips
To Store. Place muffins in a single layer in an airtight storage container lined with paper towels. Store at room temperature for up to 4 days.To Freeze. Freeze muffins in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container or ziptop bag for up to 3 months. Thaw and enjoy as desired.
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
Muffin Pan. Perfect for making these applesauce muffins. Measuring Cups. These are great because they wash well and don’t bend when scooping a particularly hefty cup of oatmeal.Measuring Spoons. These stay organized in my drawer. Also, two sides mean fewer dishes to wash.
I hope you’ll give these delicious muffins a try! They’re a valued member of my healthy muffin family.
I do not recommend substituting 100% of the oil for applesauce in this muffin recipe (or any other). Baked recipes like muffins do need some fat to ensure they come out soft and splendid.If you use only applesauce in a muffin recipe, the muffins will be gummy.Generally, if the recipe doesn’t already contain applesauce, you can swap half of the amount of oil for the same amount of unsweetened applesauce.In this recipe, I’ve already cut out as much of the oil as possible and used applesauce; please don’t reduce it further.
See my guide on How to Store Muffins for additional tips and tricks.
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