Apple Spice Muffins

Apple Spice Muffins make morning coffee even better! Topped with a dreamy caramel glaze, these moist muffins have hints of cinnamon and are packed with apples.

If you love apple recipes, you need to try our Apple Dumplings recipe. So easy to make and everyone loves it! Or give these Cranberry Apple Muffins a try next!

Apple muffins topped with a swirl of caramel glaze.


Why this Recipe Works

This Apple Spice Muffin recipe has everything I love most about fall:

  • full apple flavor
  • cinnamon spice
  • caramel

The spiciness of the cloves makes the house smell amazing when these are in the oven.

These are the perfect addition to a crisp fall morning. Pour yourself a cup of dalgona coffee or pumpkin cream cold brew, wrap yourself in your favorite scarf and cozy up with a freshly baked muffin.

Whether you live somewhere with traditional “autumn weather” or not, a bite of Apple Spice Muffin will make you feel like you’re surrounded by falling leaves!

MORE APPLE RECIPES: Apple Pie | Apple Cinnamon Bread

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients needed to make apple spice muffins.

Apples.

  • Choose a variety with lots of flavor and a nice balance of tartness and sweetness. Honeycrisps and Pink Ladies are great choices, along with Granny Smiths and Fuji apples.
  • Core, peel and dice your apples before you begin preparing the muffins.

Orange Juice.

  • I strongly recommend you squeeze your own from fresh oranges. Use a manual citrus squeezer or just do your best squeezing by hand.

Almond Extract.

  • I also use almond extract in this recipe! It complements flavor of the apples and spices and makes these muffins smell extra good when they’re baking.

Step by Step Instructions

Step by step photos showing how to make apple muffins.

Once your ingredients are ready to go, these muffins are easy to make!

Make the muffin batter.

  1. Beat sugar, eggs, oil, orange juice and almond extract together in a large bowl. Add flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, kosher salt and cloves.
  2. Mix and then fold in the diced apples.

Bake.

  1. Fill paper lined muffin cups to half full. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15-18 minutes. Remove and cool.
  2. Apple Spice Muffins might taste good on their own but WOW does the caramel glaze really make them shine.

How to Make Caramel Glaze

Place brown sugar, butter and 1/4 cup milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and continue to boil for 2 full minutes, stirring constantly.

Remove the warm glaze from heat and whisk in the vanilla extract. Let the caramel cool for 15 minutes then whisk in powdered sugar and a little more milk to make a smooth spreadable icing.

Spread the finished caramel glaze on top of each muffin to make the best ever caramel apple muffin. Enjoy!

Aimee’s Pro Tip

Use our homemade caramel sauce in place of the glaze instead!

Apple muffin sliced in half with a caramel glaze on top.

Recipe FAQs

What are the best apples for muffins?

Granny Smith and Fuji apples are my favorite varieties for baking, their tart balances with the sweetness.

How do I store baked apple muffins?

Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for up to one week.

Do I have to use paper liners?

No, you can spray the cupcake tin with baking spray instead.

Can I freeze apple muffins?

Yes. Freeze muffins before adding glaze, then make the caramel glaze fresh while the apple spice muffins thaw.

I love these with hot cocoa or tea for breakfast or even a quick dessert. They definitely have a moist “muffin-y” crumb but the swirl of caramel on top is more than enough to satisfy my sweet tooth. You have to try them.

Hands down, these Apple Spice Muffins are the BEST apple muffin for fall!

Sliced apple muffins with a swirl of caramel icing on top.

More Fall Recipes

Easy Muffin Recipes

See all Muffins recipes

Apple Spice Muffins with Caramel Glaze

4.82 from 11 votes
By: Aimee
Apple Spice Muffins make morning coffee even better! Topped with a dreamy caramel glaze, these moist muffins have hints of cinnamon and are packed with apples.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 33 minutes
Servings: 24 -30 muffins

Ingredients 

For the Muffins:

  • 1 ⅓ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • ½ cup fresh orange juice I used 4 oranges
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 ½ cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 ½ cups peeled diced apples

For the Glaze:

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • 6 Tablespoons milk divided
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
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Instructions 

  • In a large mixing bowl, beat sugar, eggs, oil, orange juice and almond extract. Add flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cloves. Mix until combined. Fold in apples.
  • Fill paper lined muffin cups to half full. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15-18 minutes. Remove and cool.
  • For the frosting, in a medium saucepan, heat brown sugar, butter and 1/4 cup milk (4Tbsp). Bring to a boil over medium heat and continue to boil for 2 full minutes, stirring constantly.
  • Remove from heat and add vanilla. Cool 15 minutes.
  • Whisk in the powdered sugar and remaining milk until smooth. Spread on cooled muffins. ENJOY!

Notes

  • Apples- choose apples such as Honeycrisp or granny smith for best flavor
  • Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for up to one week.
  • Freeze muffins before adding glaze, then make the caramel glaze fresh while the apple spice muffins thaw.

Nutrition

Serving: 1apple, Calories: 248kcal, Carbohydrates: 44g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 29mg, Sodium: 147mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 33g
Course: Muffins
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!


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About Aimee

Aimee is a dessert lover (specifically rice krispie treats), workout enthusiast, self-taught foodie, and recipe creator.

Learn more about Aimee.

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Posted on September 11, 2020

Comments & Reviews

  1. You had me at Apple Spice and then you said Caramel Glaze…your muffins look wonderful. I’ve pinned them 🙂

  2. These look amazing! We would love to invite this apple recipe and other other of your favorite apple recipes in this week’s Iron Chef Mom link up contest!
    The Iron Chef Mom Team 🙂

    http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com/iron-chef-mom-1-apples/

  3. I love making homemade applesauce, but that doesn’t involve much of a recipe, so I’m going to say my grandma’s Apple Kuchen.

  4. I love all your receipes! I keep forgetting to follow you on Pintrest. I’m gonna go do that know.
    My favorite apple receipe is for crock pot apples. All the insides of an apple pie, with none of the worry about crust!

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