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. 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
Like this recipe? Share it with friends!
