These impressive bakery-style Vegan Apple Muffins are loaded with chopped apples and cinnamon, topped with a sweet crumble topping, and decorated with vanilla icing.
If you love this apple muffin recipe, you’ll enjoy these Vegan Pumpkin Muffins, Vegan Chocolate Chip Muffins, Vegan Banana Muffins, and Vegan Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins as well!
These bakery-style vegan apple muffins are no ordinary muffins. They’re more like a mix between my Vegan Apple Crumble and Apple Fritter Bread!
The muffin batter is loaded with chopped apples and cinnamon, then topped with a sweet brown sugar crumble. Bake until tall and fluffy and finish them with a drizzle of the easy vanilla glaze! With sweet and comforting flavors in each bite, these apple cinnamon muffins are the best and most decadent fall breakfast or dessert.
What I love about these apple muffins
- The tender, moist texture – These are the softest, most tender muffins. You won’t be able to stop at just one!
- Plenty of apples throughout and the crumb topping – The crumb topping takes these muffins to the next level! And there are fresh apple pieces in every bite.
- Surprisingly easy and quick to make – The muffins are easy to make in 1 bowl and the crumble/icing mix up super quick with minimal ingredients. They might look fancy but they couldn’t be easier to make!
How to make vegan apple muffins
Make the flax eggs by stirring the ground flaxseeds and water together in a small bowl. Set aside to thicken.
Whisk the flour, sugars, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt together in a large bowl. Pour the melted vegan butter, oat milk, vanilla, and flax eggs into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir until just combined.
Do not overmix the muffin batter! The more you work the batter, the more dense the muffins will be. Only stir the wet and dry mixtures together until all of the dry flour is incorporated.
Next, use a wooden spoon or silicone spatula to fold the chopped apples into the batter.
Fill the muffin liners with the prepared batter. Sprinkle the crumb topping on top of each muffin.
Bake the apple muffins first at 425ºF for 5 minutes, then at 350ºF for 15 to 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Baking tip: Baking the muffins first at a high temperature for a short amount of time yields taller, more bountiful muffins!
Meanwhile, make the icing by whisking the powdered sugar, vanilla, and non-dairy milk in a bowl until smooth.
Drizzle the vanilla icing over the warm or cooled muffins. Enjoy!
Frequently asked questions
I recommend using any kind of firm and tart apple, like granny smith apples. They hold their shape well but still soften nicely when baked. And if you don’t want to use granny smith apples, feel free to use any of these six kinds of baking apples recommended by Bon Appetit. I often use honeycrisp for baking.
I haven’t tested it but replacing the all purpose flour with a quality gluten free flour mix (in the batter and crumble topping) should work well.
Transfer the muffins to an airtight container, then store them on the kitchen counter for 2 to 3 days or in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Yes, vegan apple muffins freeze well! Keep them in a sealed freezer-safe container or ziplock bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
Best Ever Vegan Apple Muffins
Ingredients
Muffins
- 2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds
- 5 tablespoons water
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup melted vegan butter
- 3/4 cup oat milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups peeled and diced apples
Crumb topping
- 1/4 cup melted vegan butter
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2/3 cup all purpose flour
Optional icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon oat milk
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F and line a standard muffin pan with paper liners. Spray lightly with oil.
- In a small bowl, stir the ground flaxseeds and water together. Set aside to thicken; these are your flax eggs.
- In a large bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients: flour, sugars, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
- To the bowl with the dry ingredients, pour in the melted vegan butter, oat milk, vanilla and flax eggs. Stir with a large spoon until just combined, but do not over mix or your muffins will be dense.
- Fold in the apples.
- Using a small measuring cup or ice cream scoop, transfer the batter to the prepared liners and fill to the top.
- Make the crumb topping: In a small bowl, combine all ingredients and mix with a fork until crumbly.
- Sprinkle the crumb all over the tops of the muffin batter.
- Bake for 5 minutes at 425 degrees, then reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for 15-18 more minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. This will help the muffins be tall!
- Make the icing: Add the powdered sugar, vanilla and non-dairy milk to a small bowl and use a fork to whisk until combined and smooth.
- Drizzle icing over warm or cooled muffins. They will stay fresh for 2-3 days at room temperature, up to 1 week in the refrigerator and can also be frozen.
Notes
- Gluten free – You may use a quality gluten free flour mix in the muffins and the crumb topping.
- Oil free – Use applesauce in place of the butter for the muffins. I’d probably just leave off the crumb topping for oil free.
Ils sont tout simplement délicieux…………. J’adore votre site. Toutes les recettes que j’ai essayé jusqu’à date sont excellentes
Merci
Excellent. We did these with honeycrisp, but I would do something more tart next time to counteract the wonderful sweetness. I have to say that Nora Cooks is the most consistent food website I’ve ever tried. Never a miss.
Thank you so much, I’m glad you enjoyed the muffins!
These really are the best ever apple muffins! If I could post a picture of my husband’s face when he took his first bite, I would! I made another apple muffin recipe recently that was good. But this one is GREAT!
Haha, that’s fantastic! Thank you so much for the terrific review! I’m so happy everyone loved the muffins 🙂
Delicious. I added some rolled oats for the crumble.
Do I have to use oat milk? Will almond milk work as well?
Yes. Any plant based milk will work! Enjoy!
So good!!! I left out the flax seed and they were fine in case anyone’s wondering. These definitely taste like they came from a bakery!
Thanks for your fabulous review and feedback, Kisha! I’m thrilled you loved the muffins!
These are so good! Not embarrassed to admit I burned mouth on 1st one (yes I had two almost straight out of oven!) because I couldn’t wait! These are simply wonderful, the tartness of apples, & crumble topping is the ‘piece de resistance’. Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge & delicious easy to follow vegan recipes!
Hi Aimee! Your comments and review are so uplifting! Thank you for sharing them! I appreciate you!
Absolutely delightful! I used Cortlands since they’re so fluffy and have a nice vanilla flavor, it worked well. I’ll try using the high-temp start on some of my other dense recipes to see if they respond well, thanks for the great technique!
You are welcome, Camille! Thank YOU for your fantastic review and feedback! Happy cooking!
I haven’t made these yet, but I’m sure I will love them, since I love everything that I’ve made from your site.
Thank you.
Thank you, Kathy! Enjoy the muffins! Happy baking!
You did it again Nora with another successful recipe! These muffins are so light and delicious. The best word to describe these freshly baked muffins is scrumptious!
. I too will be adding chopped walnuts or pecans the next time. (A granny smith apple was used in this recipe.)
Hi Patrice. I’m so thrilled you love the muffins! Thanks for your fabulous review and feedback! Happy baking!
What apple is best to use? Red? Green?
Granny smith or honeycrisp apples both work well.
Thank you!
Woo new recipe!! I HAD to make these right away (I love your apple fritter bread). I’m happy to report they’re delicious 😊. Sweet and indulgent but not overly so. Exactly what I want from an apple dessert. I’ll absolutely make them again, perhaps with walnuts incorporated somehow. Thank you so much! ❤
Hi Laura. How wonderful you found the muffins delicious! They would be delicious with walnuts! Thanks for your fabulous feedback and review!
I made these tonight and they are AMAZING! Only bad thing is, I only have a few left 😭😭😭
Isn’t it interesting how they just disappear! I’m thrilled you loved the muffins! Thanks for sharing your terrific review and feedback!