I took the kids to a U-pick vegetable farm last week thinking we’d come home with a few zucchini and tomatoes, maybe some peaches too. Somehow, though, we ended up hauling home a trunk full the aforementioned peaches and tomatoes, plus sweet corn, eggplant, cantaloupe, watermelon, and more yellow beans than you can shake a stick at. I literally had to drag Gwen away from the bean poles screaming!
Our little adventure got me very excited for apple picking season which is just around the corner. Although I’m never ready to say so long to summer, the thought of making Apple Chips, Apple Crisp, Apple Dip and Gluten Free Apple Muffins with abandon sounds way more delicious than an eggplant and yellow bean stir fry.
(Ie the only thing I can think of to use up those two random-to-us ingredients!)
These sweet and pillowy apple cinnamon muffins are packed with the flavors of fall and could not be more tender, perfectly sweet, and totally delicious. Bake up then keep on hand for easy breakfasts, snacks, and every moment in between!
Gluten Free Apple Muffins
Both shredded fresh apple and applesauce in the batter keep these gluten free apple muffins soft and tender, while a hefty dose of cinnamon makes them taste decidedly fall. I can’t tell you how fabulous my kitchen smelled while these babies were baking up – it was torture waiting for them to cool down!
I love how these apple muffins calls for zero speciality ingredients outside of a gluten free baking blend, which I’ll go into more detail on below. Just regular, everyday ingredients are needed to make these fall-flavored muffins.
Best Apples for Baking
Personally I love baking with Granny Smith apples as their tartness balances out the sweetness of the muffins. Granny Smith apples also hold up well to baking and retain a little bit of texture, versus turning into mush or disappearing into the muffin. Truly though, any fresh apple you have on hand will work! I also love making these gluten free muffins with Honeycrisp apples.
Best Gluten Free Baking Blend to Use
For this recipe you’ll need a “1:1” or “measure for measure” gluten free baking flour blend, which means it contains a binder such as xanthan gum. I recommend King Arthur Measure for Measure Flour or Bob’s Red Mill GF 1:1 Baking Flour (light blue bag). I have not tested this recipe using a single gluten free flour such as almond flour, rice flour, coconut flour, etc. (Though if you have almond flour that needs to be used up, I highly recommend these or these muffins!)
Storage Tips
Gluten Free Apple Muffins get softer and more tender as they sit on the counter, and can do so for 2-3 days. If you’d like to extend their life a little longer, stash them in the fridge. They can also be frozen! Just thaw the muffins overnight in the fridge or for a few hours on the counter.
Ok, who is ready to bake?!
How to Make this Recipe
Start by mixing vegetable oil, sugar, and no sugar-added applesauce the bowl of an electric mixer, or a large mixing bowl if using a hand mixer, then beat until smooth and pale in color, about 1 minute. Next add eggs and vanilla then mix until just combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together gluten free 1:1 baking flour blend, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt, then the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in two batches. Last step is to fold in fresh apples that have been peeled then shredded on the large side of a box grater.
Scoop the batter into a lined muffin tin then bake for 24-26 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Your kitchen will smell DIVINE! Once the muffins cool, unwrap then devour. I hope you love these cinnamon-spiced gluten free apple muffins – enjoy!
More Gluten Free Muffins You’ll Love
- Green Smoothie Muffins
- Almond Flour Blueberry Muffins
- Banana Nut Mini Muffins
- Healthier Zucchini Banana Bread Muffins
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Gluten Free Apple Muffins
Description
Gluten free Apple Muffins are packed with the flavors of fall! Full of shredded apple and cinnamon, these muffins are a delicious snack or breakfast recipe.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup no-sugar added applesauce
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1-1/2 cups gluten free 1:1 baking flour blend
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup shredded apples from ~1-2 peeled apples
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees then line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners and set aside.
- Add oil, sugar, and applesauce to the bowl of a stand mixer, or a large mixing bowl if using a hand mixer, then beat until pale and smooth, 1 minute. Add eggs then mix until just combined. Add vanilla then mix until just combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt then add to the wet ingredient in two batches, mixing until just combined before adding the second batch. Add apples then fold into the batter with a spatula.
- Scoop 1/4 cup batter into each muffin tin liner then bake for 24-26 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Let cool in muffin tin for 10 minutes before transferring muffins to a cooling rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or on the counter for 3-4 days.
Notes
- I like King Arthur Flour Measure for Measure Gluten Free Flour for this recipe.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Do you have that stat for this recipe? I love these muffins but need to know the calories and carb numbers. Thanks
Hi Cindy! I don’t include nutritional information with my recipes because I don’t fully trust the apps that are currently available to calculate them. I’d absolutely hate to steer anybody wrong, especially if they’re eating with medical issues in mind (diabetes, etc).
Not a baker or cook…but trying to help mom go GFDF – low/no sugar. Any substitute for the sugar? All your recipes look great – maybe I’ll be inspired to up my game :)
December 23, 2020. I just made these and they came out great and are delicious!
December 22: i just made these and they came out great and are delicious! Thank you!
Is the flour the sane amount if using regular flour? Thank you!
Yes, it should be! :)
These sound amazing! I do not have unsweetened applesauce – I have regular. What do you suggest? Thx
Oh that should be fine! Maybe just decrease the amount of sugar by a big pinch!
These look so delicious! What did you use to shred the apples?
Cheese grater! :)
Can this be made into a loaf? I don’t have muffin pans/ if so, what will the cook time be?
Made these muffins and they are the BEST muffins ever! I followed the recipe just like it is written and they are so moist and delicious! My husband REALLY liked them too! Thank you for sharing!
Those muffins look delicious Kristin! Although Granny Smith apples are great, I like to use Pink Lady. They have a great combination of tartness and sweetness. Plus, they hold their shape well.
My kids love this recipe! Very easy and muffins keep well in the freezer to heat up and enjoy all week!
I like Apple Cinnamon Muffins dish . I was made this last night it was very tasty. thanks for sharing this recipe with us. I like your all dishes. All dishes are lovely.
Accidentally, just ate two of these within 10 minutes of them coming out of the oven. Oops
I can relate, Holly! So happy you liked them!
Made these last night and they are absolutely DELICIOUS! I didn’t have applesauce on hand but I substituted with unsweetened coconut yogurt. I also substituted GF flour with regular AP flour. Just delicious!!
So glad to hear that, Kara!!
Re, the eggplant-melitzanosalata; it’s a Greek baba ganoush but like…way better, lol. Gluten-free, vegan, telepathic(results vary on that last one). Always recommend extra garlic and extra lemon ?
Hehehe! I’ll definitely check that out – thanks Heather!
These look great, but you have my curiosity up with the aforementioned marinated tomato and sweet corn recipe. I encourage you to share! My tomatoes are coming on really late this year. Always looking for ways to cook them — when there’s more to eat in one sitting, but not enough to can. Also, I froze 25 quarts of sweet corn this summer. Ready to use both these ingredients! Thanks!
Carol, I’m hoping she meant next WEEK and not next year. I’m guessing it was a typo. ;)
Ok good to hear – I’ll noodle it some more! Thanks for your feedback, Carol!
These sound delicious, Kristin! We ended up with a 5 lb. bag of Pink Lady apples in our last grocery pickup order, so it will be a great way to use them. Thanks!
Perfect recipe to use Pink Lady’s in, Nancy! I hope you enjoy them!
These look yummy! Have all ingredients to whip up a batch today. :-) Have been wondering if you got hit by the horrible derecho that blew through?
We miraculously made it out of the storm with zero damage – it’s unbelievable what’s happened in neighboring communities though. 10 million acres of crops damaged and/or completely lost across the state, and so many still without power. Thank you for asking! <3
These look so good! Could I use regular AP flour?
That should work, Whitney!
These sound amazing and perfect for the transition from summer to fall! If we are not GF, I assume just sub 1.5 cups all-purpose flour?
I haven’t tested it of course, but it should work!