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Home » Recipes » Muffins

Simple Gluten Free Apple Muffins

Oct 3, 2022 · Leave a Comment

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Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
A gluten free apple muffin on a small white plate with text overlay, "Easy & Gluten Free Apple Muffins."

These easy Gluten Free Apple Muffins are filled with apple flavor and finished with a sweet crumb topping.  They’re simple to make and are great for fall breakfasts or afternoon snacks.

Two gluten free apple muffins on small white plates with a Granny Smith apple and more muffins in the background.
Jump to:
  • Why this Recipe Works
  • What Apples Should I Use?
  • Ingredients You’ll Need:
  • How to Make Gluten Free Apple Muffins
  • Step by Step Instructions
  • More Gluten Free Apple Recipes
  • Gluten Free Flour Blend
  • Recipe Tips and FAQs
  • More Gluten Free Muffin Recipes You’ll Love
  • Recipe

Fall is just around the corner and I’m looking forward to the abundance of apples available for baking.  I know many people connect pumpkin with fall baking, but apples should get their time in the spotlight, too. 

This easy recipe makes tender apple cinnamon muffins with a sweet, crumb topping.  If you enjoy the flavor of apples, you’ll want to bake these muffins

Why this Recipe Works

  • The brown sugar/cinnamon topping adds flavor and texture to the muffins.
  • Buttermilk makes the muffins moist and tender.
  • The combination of apples and brown sugar adds flavor to the muffins without being overly sweet.

What Apples Should I Use?

You’ll want to select a good baking apple like Granny Smith or Golden Delicious.  Both of these varieties have a firm texture and hold up well under heat.  

I prefer the tartness of the Granny Smith so they’re my choice in this recipe.  If you prefer a sweeter apple flavor, use the Golden Delicious.

(This post contains affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.)

Ingredients You’ll Need:

For the Topping

  • Brown sugar - I use golden brown sugar, but light brown sugar will work as well.
  • Gluten free flour blend - I use a 1 to 1 gluten free baking flour in my baking.
  • Cinnamon - Ground cinnamon.
  • Butter - Unsalted butter - slightly softened, but not melted.

For the Muffins

  • Gluten free flour blend - I use a 1 to 1 gluten free baking flour that contains xanthan gum.  If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum, try adding ½ teaspoon to the recipe.
  • Baking soda - The baking soda adds lift to the muffins. Check the expiration date on the box to make sure the baking soda is still fresh.
  • Salt - Table salt.
  • Egg - Use a room temperature egg.
  • Buttermilk -The buttermilk adds tenderness to the muffins.
  • Butter - Unsalted butter - melted.
  • Vanilla - Vanilla extract.
  • Brown sugar - Golden or light brown sugar will work.
  • Apples - I use Granny Smith apples in these muffins.

How to Make Gluten Free Apple Muffins

  1. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients for the topping.  Add the butter and combine into coarse crumbs.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  3. Add the egg, buttermilk, butter, vanilla, and sugar to a large mixing bowl and stir until combined.
  4. Fold the dry ingredients and the apples into the wet ingredients until just combined.
  5. Add the batter to a muffin tin, sprinkle the topping over the batter, and bake.
Overhead view of a stack of gluten free apple muffins on a round white plate.

Step by Step Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375° F. Grease a standard 12-cup muffin pan or line with baking cups.

In a small mixing bowl, stir together the brown sugar, gluten free flour blend, and cinnamon.

Add the butter and combine with a pastry blender, a fork, or your fingers until the mixture forms coarse crumbs.

Crumb topping for gf apple muffins in glass mixing bowl.

Set the topping aside while you make the muffins.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour blend, baking soda, and salt.

Dry ingredients for gf apple muffins whisked together in glass mixing bowl.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the egg, buttermilk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and brown sugar until combined.

Wet ingredients for gluten free apple muffins stirred together in glass mixing bowl.

Fold the flour mixture and apples into the buttermilk mixture until just combined.

Batter for apple muffins and rubber spatula in glass mixing bowl.

Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups.

Batter for gluten free apple muffins in lined muffin pan.

Sprinkle the topping over the tops of the muffins.

Unbaked gluten free apple muffins with crumb topping in a lined muffin pan.

Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, or until the tops of the muffins are golden brown and a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer the muffins to a wire rack to cool completely.

Baked gluten free apple muffins in muffin tin on wire rack.

More Gluten Free Apple Recipes

  • Apple Cake
  • Apple Dessert
  • Apple Walnut Crumb Cake
  • Baked Apple Fritters

Gluten Free Flour Blend

To get the best results, use a good quality all-purpose gluten free flour when making these apple muffins.  I like to use Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 which contains xanthan gum.

Xanthan gum works to hold the muffins together.  The gluten in all-purpose flour acts as the binding agent in traditional baking.  Gluten free baking requires a substitute for the binding agent and that’s the role of xanthan gum.

Your results may be different depending on the type of gluten free flour you use.  I haven’t tried using coconut flour or almond flour in this apple muffin recipe.

Remember to use the “spoon and level” method when measuring your gluten free flour.  Simply use a spoon to scoop the flour into the measuring cup and then use the back of a table knife to level off the top.  Using the measuring cup to scoop the flour directly from the bag or canister can give you more flour than needed in the recipe.

Recipe Tips and FAQs

  • If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own.  Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to 1 cup of milk.  Stir, and let sit for 5 minutes before using.
  • When adding the dry ingredients and apples to the wet ingredients, use a wooden spoon or spatula to mix everything together.  Stirring or folding the mixture by hand will prevent overmixing the batter.  Overmixing may lead to muffins that are tough.
  • Use a large scoop to fill the muffin cups with batter.  This will keep the muffins similar in size and ensure even baking time.
  • After cooling the muffins for 10 minutes, remove them to a wire rack to finish cooling. Leaving the muffins in the pan to finish cooling will make the bottoms of the muffins soggy.
Should you peel the apples before using?

It’s up to you if you want to peel the apples.  Apple peels may get chewy when baked, but some like the added texture.
 
I like to peel the apples because the apple chunks are more tender without the skin.

How should the muffins be stored?

Allow the muffins to cool completely, then store them in an air-tight container for up to 3 days.

Can you freeze apple muffins?

The muffins can be stored in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months.  I store the muffins in packs of two so I can defrost a couple muffins at a time.
 
Thaw the muffins overnight in the fridge and reheat in the microwave for a few seconds.

One gluten free apple muffin on white dessert plate with a cup of coffee and Granny Smith apples in the background.

These apple muffins are one of my family’s favorites. They’re covered with a tasty crumb topping and are great for breakfast or afternoon snack.

Give these gluten free muffins a try and I know you’ll be baking them again and again.  Happy Baking!

More Gluten Free Muffin Recipes You’ll Love

  • Banana Blueberry Muffins
  • Mini Corn Dog Muffins
  • Double Chocolate Muffins
  • Strawberry Muffins
  • Banana Oatmeal Muffins
  • Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

If you tried this recipe or any other recipe on the blog, don't forget to leave a star rating and let me know how it turned out in the comments below.  I really enjoy hearing from you!

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Recipe

A gluten free apple muffin on a white dessert plate with more muffins in the background.

Simple Gluten Free Apple Muffins

Connie @ Flavor Walk
These Gluten Free Apple Muffins are filled with apple flavor and finished with a brown sugar/cinnamon crumb topping.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prevent your screen from going dark
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 40 mins
Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 12 muffins
Calories 340 kcal

Ingredients
  

FOR THE TOPPING:

  • ½ cup brown sugar, firmly packed
  • ⅓ cup gluten free flour blend
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

FOR THE MUFFINS:

  • 2 ¼ cups gluten free flour blend
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 2 cups apples, diced

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375° F. Grease a standard 12-cup muffin pan or line with baking cups.

TO MAKE THE TOPPING:

  • In a small mixing bowl, stir together the brown sugar, gluten free flour blend, and cinnamon.
  • Add the butter and combine with a pastry blender, a fork, or your fingers until the mixture forms coarse crumbs.
  • Set aside while you make the muffins.

TO MAKE THE MUFFINS:

  • In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour blend, baking soda, and salt.
  • In a large mixing bowl, stir together the egg, buttermilk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and brown sugar until combined.
  • Fold the flour mixture and apples into the buttermilk mixture until just combined.
  • Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups.
  • Sprinkle the topping over the tops of the muffins.
  • Bake 22 to 25 minutes, or until the tops of the muffins are golden brown and a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer the muffins to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own.  Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to 1 cup of milk.  Stir, and let sit for 5 minutes before using.
  • When adding the dry ingredients and apples to the wet ingredients, use a wooden spoon or spatula to mix everything together.  Stirring or folding the mixture by hand will prevent overmixing the batter.  Overmixing may lead to muffins that are tough.
  • Use a large scoop to fill the muffin cups with batter.  This will keep the muffins similar in size and ensure even baking time.
  • After cooling the muffins for 10 minutes, remove them to a wire rack to finish cooling. Leaving the muffins in the pan to finish cooling will make the bottoms of the muffins soggy.

Nutrition

Serving: 1muffinCalories: 340kcalCarbohydrates: 59gProtein: 4gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 338mgPotassium: 108mgFiber: 3gSugar: 40gVitamin A: 359IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 79mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information provided is an estimate and will vary based on products and brands you use. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the ingredients you are using with your preferred nutrition calculator.

You can also view this post as a Web Story, "Gluten Free Apple Muffins."

This post was originally published in 2021. It was republished in 2022 with updated images, additional text, and FAQs.

More Muffin Recipes

  • Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Muffins
  • Easy Gluten Free Strawberry Muffins
  • Gluten Free Zucchini Muffins
  • Easy Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins

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