• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers & Dips
    • Bars & Brownie Recipes
    • Bread Recipes
    • Brunch & Breakfast Recipes
    • Cakes, Cupcakes & Cheesecakes
    • Cheese Recipes
    • Chocolate Recipes
    • Condiments & Sauces
    • Cookies & Crackers
    • Desserts
    • Fruit Recipes
    • Grains & Legumes
    • Muffins and Quick Breads
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Pies & Tarts
    • Readers' Favorite Recipes
  • Collections
    • Freezer Friendly
    • Heritage Recipes
    • Seasonal Recipes
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Spring
      • Summer
    • Vintage Recipes
    • Holiday Recipes
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • St. Patrick's Day
      • Thanksgiving
      • Valentine's Day
  • Basic recipes
  • About this blog
    • The author
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility statement

Vintage Kitchen Notes logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • ALL RECIPES
  • Holidays
  • Seasonal
  • Vintage
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • ALL RECIPES
    • Holidays
    • Seasonal
    • Vintage
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Muffins and Quick Breads

    Published: Aug 30, 2022 by Paula Montenegro · Income from ads and affiliates

    Applesauce Muffins

    Jump to Recipe
    Eaten muffin in paper liner on white napkin with red text overlay
    Top view of single muffin on grey napkin, brown test overlay

    Applesauce makes muffins super soft and moist. These are all of that plus easy to make and perfect for freezing. They will rise, crack and bake to a light golden brown. This recipe is not overly sweet and can be flavored with different spices, zests, and extracts.

    Top view of two applesauce muffins on a grey cloth.

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.

    The season is changing, and for most readers of this blog, it's starting to feel like apples and pumpkins.

    So I'm starting a new batch of Fall recipes that will include our favorite flavors! First, let's discuss the homemade applesauce recipe posted a while ago. So darn easy and smooth, just plain delicious.

    I used it to make these applesauce muffins and applesauce quick bread, both easy recipes I'm sure you'll love.

    Half a muffin in opened paper liner on white napkin.
    Table of Contents Open
    About this recipe
    Ingredients
    How to make applesauce muffins
    Baking the muffins
    Top tips
    Related recipes you might like:
    Applesauce Muffins (quick & easy)

    About this recipe

    • Very easy to make: no special equipment needed, just a few bowls, a spatula or whisk, and the paper liners. It uses oil, so there's no need to soften or cream butter.
    • A healthier alternative: applesauce can replace the fat ingredients in a recipe, like butter or oil. So it's an easy way to lower the fat content of your morning muffin.
    • Make ahead: as with most muffins, they can be frozen for a month or more and then warmed in a medium oven until soft. It's a great way to have last minute quick breakfast or brunch addition.
    Metal muffin tin with baked muffins on wooden table, white napkin

    Ingredients

    • Applesauce: you want to use unsweetened applesauce, homemade or store-bought.
    • Brown sugar: light or dark brown sugar; both work and add a great extra layer of caramel flavor.
    • Oil: sunflower or other neutral oil is what I recommend. But you can use coconut oil (for healthier muffins) or even a light olive oil.
    • Flour mixture: also called dry ingredients. They are made up of all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda (the leaveners), and a little salt (I use kosher) to bring out the flavors.
    • Eggs: large, fresh ones.
    • Vanilla: I use pure vanilla extract or pure vanilla paste when available, but a good vanilla essence (artificially flavored) also works. 
    • Cinnamon: any ground cinnamon you normally use works fine. I like Frontier Vietnamese cinnamon and Simply Organic Ceylon cinnamon. 
    Applesauce muffins ingredients

    How to make applesauce muffins

    This is an easy, old-fashioned muffin recipe; you only need a bowl and a whisk. No need for beating, only mixing the ingredients to integrate.

    1. Oil and eggs are mixed lightly, and then the applesauce is added.
    2. Brown sugar is added and mixed.
    3. Spices and flavorings are added next.
    4. Finally, the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda) are added. Simply mix with a whisk just until incorporated. No need for a very smooth batter.
    White surface with glass bowl showing applesauce added to muffin batter, and adding brown sugar
    Collage mixing spices with muffin batter and then flour in glass bowl with gold whisk

    Filling the muffin tin

    Paper liners: this is the easiest way because there's no need to butter or spray the metal pan, and there's little washing up later. You will have less crust as it will only form at the top, not the sides or bottom. Image 5, below

    Butter or spray: if you don't want to use paper liners because you want more crust (the batter needs to be in contact with the metal for this to happen), simply butter or use a baking spray to prevent the muffins from sticking.

    Horizontal image with hand filling paper cups in metal tin with muffin batter

    Baking the muffins

    • Oven: make sure the oven is preheated at the right temperature.
    • Baking time: put a timer for the specified baking time and check if they're done by inserting a tester or toothpick in the center of a muffin. It should come out shiny but not wet or with crumbs attached.
    • Cooling rack: cooling them down on a wire rack is highly recommended.
    Baked muffins in metal tin

    Top tips

    • Organization: read the recipe first and ensure you have ingredients at the correct temperature, equipment, and enough workspace. This will make the process so much easier!
    • Baking time: keep in mind that all ovens and pans are different, even if they look the same or very similar. The baking time in my recipes is as accurate as it can be, but it might take you more or less time. You can use a thermometer(like the OXO oven thermometer) to check that your oven is at the right temperature. I recommend you keep track of how your oven works and what tiny details you might need to adjust.  
    • Healthy applesauce muffins: use coconut oil and coconut sugar to make them healthier. Remember that the latter sweeten less than brown or white sugar, so they will not be as sweet.
    • Serving them: they are great warm and also at room temperature.
    • Storing these muffins: you can keep them at room temperature for two days or refrigerate them for 4-5 days. Always covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container. Or freeze them for a month. I recommend you warm them in a medium oven before eating.
    • Small muffins: use a mini muffin pan and reduce the baking time accordingly.
    Row of scones in paper liners on wire rack.

    Related recipes you might like:

    • Top view of a white bowl with applesauce on white cloth and surface.
      Homemade Applesauce (sweetened & unsweetened)
    • Cut applesauce blueberry loaf on white cloth
      Blueberry Pecan Applesauce Bread
    • Apple loaf cake on a black cooling rack, slices and cut green apple around.
      Apple Walnut Cake
    • Applesauce Bread

    Let me know in the comments below if you made this recipe and loved it and if you had issues so we can troubleshoot together. I love to hear what you think, always. Thanks for being here. It's much appreciated.
    You might also consider subscribing to our FREE email series to Boost your Home Baking Skills! And our regular newsletter.
    And let's connect via Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

    Print
    clockclock iconcutlerycutlery iconflagflag iconfolderfolder iconinstagraminstagram iconpinterestpinterest iconfacebookfacebook iconprintprint iconsquaressquares iconheartheart iconheart solidheart solid icon
    Several applesauce muffins on a beige cloth and golden colored wire rack.

    Applesauce Muffins (quick & easy)

    ★★★★★

    5 from 1 reviews

    Print Recipe
    Save Recipe Recipe Saved

    Applesauce makes muffins super soft and moist. These are all of that plus easy to make and perfect for freezing. They will rise, crack and bake to a light golden brown. This recipe is not overly sweet and can be flavored with different spices, zests, and extracts.

    • Total Time: 35 minutes
    • Yield: 12 regular muffins

    Ingredients

    Units
    • 2 eggs
    • 6 tablespoons sunflower oil
    • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
    • ½ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ to ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven at 350°F/180°C
    2. Line 12 muffins tins with paper liners, or butter or use baking spray.
    3. Beat eggs with oil for a minute. 
    4. Add applesauce and mix. The mixture will thicken.
    5. Add sugar and mix well. 
    6. Add cinnamon and vanilla and mix.
    7. Sift dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda) and add to them in two parts to the wet ingredients. You don't need to incorporate the first part before adding the second one. 
    8. Mix with a spatula but don't beat at this point. 
    9. Fill muffin cups, dividing as evenly as possible. 
    10. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 
    11. Let cool on a wire rack. 
    12. Eat warm or at room temperature. 
    13. For storing and freezing, see Notes below.

    Notes

    Organization: always read the recipe first and make sure you have all the ingredients, at the right temperatures, and also the rest of the equipment and space to make it. This will make the process so much easier!

    Baking time: keep in mind that all ovens and pans are different, even if they look the same or very similar. The baking time in my recipes are as accurate as I they can be, but it might take you more or less time. You can use a thermometer that is placed inside the oven (like the OXO oven thermometer) to check that your oven is the right temperature. I recommend you keep track of how your oven works and what tiny details you might need to adjust. 

    Healthy applesauce muffins: use coconut oil and coconut sugar to make them healthier. Keep in mind that the latter sweetens less than brown or white sugar, so they will not be as sweet.

    Serving them: they are great warm and also at room temperature.

    Storing these muffins: you can keep them at room temperature for two days and refrigerated for 4-5 days. Always covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container to prevent drying out. You can also freeze them for a month. Use airtight container or freezer bag, or wrap first in plastic and then in foil. I recommend you warm them in a medium oven before eating.

    • Author: Paula Montenegro
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 20 minutes
    • Category: Muffins
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: American

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1/12
    • Calories: 189
    • Sugar: 10.1 g
    • Sodium: 68.2 mg
    • Fat: 7.8 g
    • Carbohydrates: 26.9 g
    • Fiber: 0.8 g
    • Protein: 3.2 g
    • Cholesterol: 31 mg

    Keywords: applesauce muffins

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @vintagekitchenblog on Instagram and hashtag it #vintagekitchenblog

    More Muffins

    • Opened paper liner with half blackberry on top on wooden grey surface, loose blackberries, muffin pan in background.
      Blackberry Muffins
    • Cut glazed blackberry bread on wooden board, beige background.
      Lemon Blackberry Bread
    • Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
    • Close up of piled banana nut muffins on a striped cloth with a light grey background.
      Healthy Banana Nut Muffins

    About Paula Montenegro

    I'm Paula, a baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe developer, sharing the best ones here with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Thank you for leaving a review for this recipe Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Allison says

      February 05, 2022 at 11:55 am

      How much salt is needed? I didn't see it in the ingredient list but it is called for in the recipe.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. angiesrecipes says

      August 30, 2021 at 7:14 am

      They look so soft and tender...perfect for any time of the day!

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Person with apron and tray of scones

    Hi, I'm Paula!

    A baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe finder, sharing the best ones on this blog, with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

    More about me →

    Featured in:

    Several colorful logos on white canvas

    Popular recipes

    • Shortbread fingers stacked on white surface
      The Best Lemon Shortbread
    • Close view of peach dump cake serving in white bowl with a teal spoon.
      Peach Dump Cake
    • Close up of goblet with lemon and raspberry dessert being held with a blue shirt as background.
      No Bake Lemon Dessert
    • White plate with two wedges of roasted pumpkin, white background, herbs, forks, salt.
      Easy Roasted Pumpkin
    • Purple bowl with almond cream being lifted with a silver spoon. Grey and white surface and background.
      Frangipane (almond cream) with video!
    • Lifting a slice of ricotta cheesecake from the whole cake on a white plate with a silver knife. White background.
      Crustless Ricotta Cheesecake

    Fruit desserts

    • Serving of apple berry crumble in a white bowl. Hands holding it. Teal background.
      Apple Berry Crumble
    • Close up of chocolate cherry dump cake serving in a white bowl.
      Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake
    • A white round dish with baked peach crumble and a silver spoon.
      Peach Crumble
    • White plate with square of apple crumb bar with ice cream. Green cloth in the background.
      Easy Apple Crumb Bars

    Footer

    About

    The author
    Privacy Policy
    Amazon Associate
    Cookie Policy
    Accessibility

    Contact

    Sign Up! for emails and updates
    Contact


    Copyright © 2022 Vintage Kitchen Notes