Healthy apple muffins are the perfect anytime treat. Your kids will love making this healthier muffin recipe with you after a day at a pick your own orchard. You’ll love having a simple breakfast recipe for kids to serve, or top with sugar free frosting for a better for you dessert.
Fall where I live means apples. We live near a few different orchards and starting in September the weekend traffic can get nuts.
Come September, I’m itching to throw on some comfy boots and crank up the oven to bake up
From healthy apple cinnamon pancakes to simple apple hand pies, you’ll find my counter packed with apple goodness all fall.
These muffins are simple and have a lot less sugar than a cupcake and are packed with grated apple. Feel free to substitute 1/2 cup of the grated apple for some grated veggies like carrot or zucchini to add even more healthy stuff!
Healthy Apple Muffin FAQs
It really depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for less sweet, Granny Smith are a great choice. I usually use whatever I have on hand! I do think a firmer apple is usually best, like a Honeycrisp.
Sure can! Place on a sheet tray and freeze before putting into a large freezer bag. They will be great for about 3 months, if they last that long. Reheat by leaving on a counter overnight or warming in an oven.
How to Make Healthy Apple Muffins
Making these muffins is super simple and can easily be whipped together in the morning for a warm, fall breakfast.
- Grate the apples. Peel and core 2 apples before grating. I like to use my food processor because I’m lazy, but a box grater works as well. Keep the juice!
- Combine the dry ingredients. Whisk together the dry ingredients to disperse ingredients and break any clumps.
- Fold the wet into the dry. Gently combine the two until incorporated. Do not over mix – the batter will be lumpy!
- Bake and enjoy. Bake for 18-20 minutes in a 350 oven or until a toothpick comes out clean. Enjoy!
How to decorate healthy apple muffins:
You can easily just frost these and move on, but where’s the fun in that, right? Decorate them to look like little apples!
- Color your healthier cream cheese frosting red or pink. Green would also be fun!
- Using an offset spatula spread frosting thickly to the top of the muffin. Be sure not to overlap the indent that will make the top of your ‘apple’.
A butter knife would work as well, but it’s so much easier with an offset spatula - If planning to use sprinkles, dip the frosted muffin in red sugar sprinkles.
- Add a small pretzel stick to the top of your muffin and a green candy (I used an M&M on
it’s side) to make a ‘leaf’.
If desired add eyes to the ‘apple’ – I highly recommend it because omg so cute.
Want more breakfast options? Check out this post: Breakfast Recipes for Kids
Healthy Apple Muffin Recipe
These healthy apple muffins are the perfect fall treat. Packed with apple flavor, your kids will love gobbling these up for breakfast, a snack, or dessert.
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Healthy Apple Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting
Healthy apple muffins with healthier cream cheese frosting are the perfect fall treat – make apple muffins healthy by reducing the sugar and using a yogurt based frosting
Ingredients
Muffins:
- 1 1/2 cups of flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 TBS white sugar
- 3 TBS brown sugar
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup of milk
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups of grated apples with juice
Frosting:
- 1 8- oz brick of cream cheese softened
- 1 cup of thick Greek Yogurt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1-2 TBS of maple syrup to taste.
- Optional: red dye red sprinkles
Instructions
To make muffins:
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Preheat oven to 350. Combine dry ingredients and set aside. Combine wet ingredients before folding into the dry ingredients until just combined.
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Prepare your muffin tins by balling up a small amount of tin foil and adding to your muffin tin between the pan and paper liner.
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Spray your muffin liners with non-stick spray to ensure they don’t stick. Pour batter into the prepared cups and bake 20 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
To make frosting:
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Whip cream cheese until light before adding yogurt, vanilla, and sweetener to taste and whipping until totally combined. If using food dye, add now – start with 15 drops and go from there.
Okay, so tell me – favorite fall food? Are the kids still using ‘basic’? Let me know in the comments!
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Michelle Kunkel says
I too love all things fall. These sound delicious, and are adorable! I’m definitely going to pin this recipe to see if my 2.5 year old will eat them.