These Healthy Apple Muffins are made with whole grain oats and sweetened with just a touch of honey, making them the perfect simple fall breakfast! This post is sponsored by my friends at Bob’s Red Mill.
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Apple season = the best season in my opinion. There are few things I love more than baking with apples, whether it’s these muffins, Healthy Baked Apples or Apple Oatmeal!
I’m the type of person that eats apple cinnamon and pumpkin flavored things all year round because I love them so much, but there’s something about enjoying fall flavors on a chillier autumn day that make them taste even better!
I have so many fond memories of going apple picking every fall with my mom and brother. Usually we’d go with cousins or friends, and we would come back with WAY more apples than we could ever eat.
Even as a kid, I can remember being so excited to get home and bake with the apples. There’s just something about spending an afternoon at an orchard, coming home, making something yummy with the apples + enjoying it for dessert!
Back then we probably would’ve made apple crisp, or baked apples.. but I can tell you if we had made these healthy apple muffins, I would’ve been one happy camper – especially if I got to take them as a snack at school!
Why we love these healthy apple muffins:
Obviously these muffins are just delicious, but we love them for other reasons too!!!
- Low Sugar – Lots of muffin recipes are loaded with sugar, these are sweetened with just apples and a bit of honey.
- Versatile – You can enjoy these for breakfast, or as a snack. You totally could even warm one up, serve it with ice cream and call it dessert!
- Simple ingredients– You probably have everything you need on hand to make these healthy muffins!
Ingredients for healthy apple muffins:
These healthy apple muffins are made with pantry staples you probably already have on hand. I use Bob’s Red Mill Old Fashioned Rolled Oats, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon , ginger , nutmeg, cloves, salt, honey, coconut oil, almond milk.
You’ll also want to have a muffin tin, silicone muffin liners and a blender.
How to make Healthy Apple Muffins:
Making healthy apple muffins is VERY simple. First, pulse your oats in a blender until they are a flour like consistency. (I used Bob’s Red Mill !) You can also use their oat flour! Add your remaining dry ingredients to the blender.
In a separate bowl, stir together your wet ingredients
Combine your wet + dry ingredients in a blender. Fold in chopped apples. Do not blend apples.
Pour the batter into lined muffin tins + bake!
I love baking with Bob’s Red Mill products because it’s a brand I trust. My pantry is always overflowing with their products, but their oats and oat flours are my favorite.
By now I’m sure you’ve seen me use their oats in these Healthy Lemon Chia Baked Oatmeal Cups and their oat flour in this Healthy Zucchini Bread. (We also love using their whole wheat flour in our Healthy Banana Muffins or their regular flour in the Italian Cream Pie)
Oats are a great wholesome source of good carbs and they go in practically anything! I love them for breakfast in the morning, ground up into a flour for the base of these apple muffins, as a topping on breads… the list goes on and on!
If I was you, I’d make these Healthy Apple Muffins STAT!
You can even double the batch and freeze half of them for the school year.
They’re perfect for defrosting in the microwave, slathering with peanut butter and heading out the door with (or enjoying in the afternoon with a cup of coffee… or pumpkin spice latte!)
What kind of apples are best for baking?
ANY apple will work for baking, but different apples have different tastes.
If you prefer sweeter apples, Cortland or Fuji are a good choice. For a more tart applesauce Braeburn, McIntosh are a better choice.
This post lists all of the different apples and flavors they bring to a dish.
There’s really no ‘wrong’ apple to use – when you bake apples them they become softer, sweeter + sooo delicious!
Substitutions for healthy apple muffin recipes:
You can easily substitute many ingredients in this skinny apple muffin recipe. Here are some suggestions for you.
Oats – You can not substitute steel cut oats for this recipe, it won’t work! You could substitute quick cook oats if needed.
Honey– you can swap honey for maple syrup
Milk – you can use any type of milk in the recipe – nondairy, or dairy will work.
Oil – You can use olive oil or avocado oil.
Gluten free– Make sure to use certified gluten free oats.
Egg free– I have not tried making these muffins egg free. I think subbing flax eggs would work, but I’m not sure.
How to store apple muffins:
Storing: I store these muffin in the fridge for up to a week to maintain freshness. You can leave them out of the fridge on the counter, but they will not last as long.
Freezing: You can freeze these muffins. Put them in an airtight container or ziploc bag. To defrost, leave out the night before in the fridge and they will thaw out. Or – just pop in the microwave for 1-2 minutes!
Other healthy muffin recipes:
Healthy muffins are the best! Here are some of our favorite recipes:
- Healthy Carrot Muffins
- Healthy Pumpkin Muffins
- Healthy Banana Protein Muffins
- Healthy Lemon Chia Seed Muffins
- Healthy Cranberry Orange Muffins
Healthy Apple Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 cups Bob’s Red Mill Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup honey
- 1/4 cup coconut oil melted+ cooled
- ⅓ cup almond milk
- 1.5 cup apples peeled + chopped (Approx 2 large apples)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 and prepared greased or lined muffin tin
- In a blender pulse oats until they are flour like consistency. Add in baking powder, baking soda, and spices. Pulse to combine
- In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, honey, melted coconut oil and milk.
- Combine dry and wet ingredients in blender. Fold in chopped apple pieces* Do not blend the apples!
- Pour batter into greased/lined muffin tin, filling ¾ the way
- Bake at 350 for 20 minutes until golden brown.
Notes
- Oats - You can not substitute steel cut oats for this recipe, it won't work! You could substitute quick cook oats if needed.
- Honey- you can swap honey for maple syrup
- Milk - you can use any type of milk in the recipe - nondairy, or dairy will work.
- Oil - You can use olive oil or avocado oil.
- Gluten free- Make sure to use certified gluten free oats
- Egg free- I have not tried making these muffins egg free. I think subbing flax eggs would work, but I'm not sure.
Dana Bacon
I loved this recipe! Normally I find recipes online and alter them a little, but these were perfect. I added some chopped pecans on top, but they would be delicious without them too. Perfect breakfast slathered with peanut butter. Thanks for the recipe! I am excited to try your other recipes! 🙂
The Clean Eating Couple
Oooh I love the addition of pecans, Dana!! I’m totally trying that next time I make these 🙂
Taryn
Made these last night. Used quaker rolled oats because that’s what I had on hand. They turned out good taste wise but the texture is very crumbly. Any idea why this would happen? Yours in the picture look more muffin like than mine.
The Clean Eating Couple
Hi Taryn – Did you pulse the oats until they were a flour like consistency? That is key to getting the batter right!
Daniela
I made these this morning and they were absolutely delicious. I don’t have a very big sweet tooth but they satisfied the one I have.
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you liked them, Daniela! They’re just the perfect amount of sweetness!
Marie
Hi! That sounds great. Do you have to use almond milk or could you use regular milk?
The Clean Eating Couple
Hi Marie – there’s a note about substitutions in the post. You can use nondairy or dairy milk. Either will work!
ratika
hi! does it matter what kind of apples? I have a mix of green apples and gala apples. thanks!
The Clean Eating Couple
Nope! Any apples will work – there are notes in the post talking about the different types of apples.
Summer
These are awesome!! One of the best I have found! I used apples and pears and both were great. I also used oat milk due to a nut allergy and it seemed to work just as well. Thank you!
The Clean Eating Couple
I’m so glad you liked them Summer! They’re the perfect fall treat!
Kaitlyn
These are great! I made them for my husband to have in the mornings. If I wanted to add sugar or sweetness, how much would you reccommend adding?
The Clean Eating Couple
Hi Kaitlyn – I created these muffins without sugar because I think they’re sweet enough without added sugar! You could try adding more honey or 1/4 cup of sugar – but it’s not something I’ve tested and I don’t know how it would affect the outcome!
Katie
I made these muffins with GF oats and they were amazing! Overall hit by everyone! I will definitely be making these apple muffins again 🙂
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you liked them Katie!! Makes me so happy to hear!
Julie
Delicious and a big hit with the kids. One had with peanut butter and one with almond butter and they both wanted more! Love that these are delish but also healthy! Bravo.
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you and your kids liked them!! They are delicious on their own or with any type of nut butter!
Kayla
These are delicious! Perfect fall treat 🍁
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you like them, thanks Kayla!
Wendy
Moist and delicious! Easy to meal prep for the week
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you like them, Wendy! Thanks!
Kady Torres
I loved these muffins! They are quick, easy and above everything else – pretty good for you. I admit I did serve mine with a little scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream + coconut whipped cream but these are also amazing on their own!
I am Vegan so I subbed out the egg with apple sauce and used Steel Cut Oats from TJs, but I loved these and have made them several times 🙂
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you like them, Kady. I LOVE that you served them with ice cream – i bet that is delicious. Have you tried my ? It’s also delish with a scoop of ice cream, and vegan!
Jenn
These are so easy to make and delicious!
The Clean Eating Couple
Thank you!! They’re one of my favorite muffins!
Joy Kirkreit
These are super delicious and easy to make! 🙂
The Clean Eating Couple
Glad you liked them, Joy!
Charisa R Sloan
I haven’t made these yet but would like to try, however, I am not big on chunks of fruit in my food. I don’t eat pie just for that reason. Is there a way to substitute the apples for unsweetened applesauce?
The Clean Eating Couple
Hi! I can’t be sure how this would work without trying it. I don’t think you would need 1.5 cups of applesauce, maybe only 1 cup? I’d recommend you check out this Healthy Banana Muffins recipe and sub in applesauce for the banana. Applesauce and mashed bananas can be used interchangeably, but applesauce and chopped apples aren’t the same so I’m not confident on how it will turn out! Sorry!
Bernadine
Absolutely would recommend this recipe! Delicious and flavourful. Next time I might add raisins and nuts.
The Clean Eating Couple
Thanks, Bernadine! So glad you liked them. That would be delicious!
Carlos Gómez
What is the size for the cups you are using on this recipe?
The Clean Eating Couple
Hi Carlos – I’m not sure what you’re asking. These are made in a standard muffin tin.
Indigo
HI Im thinking of making these but do not have any coconut oil. You mentioned in substitutions about using olive oil, which I have, but will it give off an olive-like flavour or not? Thank you x
The Clean Eating Couple
Hi Indigo – If you use a light olive oil it should’t affect the flavor. Vegetable oil will also work!
Patricia
Hi! Have made these twice and have liked them. But both times they seem not compact enough (they fall apart very easily). Any thoughts on how I may improve that? Thanks so much!
The Clean Eating Couple
Hi Patricia – They’re definitely a more crumbly muffin. Did you substitute any ingredients? Maybe try adding a bit more oil. (1/2 teaspoon) and see if that helps. I’m not sure why that would happen!
Patricia
Thanks! Did not substitute. Will try this improvement. They are very tasty! Thanks many!!!
Kristin Kolat
I made a batch of these on Sunday and they were delicious! Relatively quick to make and came out lightweight, moist and delicious! Perfect for breakfast, snack or dessert. Even my picky father (whom I gave some to) called me to tell me how good they were! I love that he could enjoy them despite being a diabetic given the low sugar/carb content in these!
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you liked the, Kristin! Thank you so much!
Sarah
Hi, is there a sub for applesauce? I don’t have any on hand and don’t have enough apples to make some applesauce. Thanks, Sarah
The Clean Eating Couple
I’m sorry but we haven’t tried making this recipe without the applesauce. Bananas might work but they will definitely affect the flavor.
Sami
So yummy and so naturally sweet! I had a lot of fun making these with my Mother in Law last weekend. Added peanut butter on top for a fueled breakfast muffin, and cinnamon sugar for a dessert muffin.
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you enjoyed them! Thank you so much, Sami!