These Gluten Free Apple Muffins with a Crumble Topping are absolutely divine! They are lightly sweetened with coconut sugar with lots of chunky apple flavor.

three apple muffins on a plate with a bite taken out of one

This is the time of year when it’s all about seasonal ingredients like apples, pumpkins, and squashes. And, this recipe for Gluten-Free Apple Crumb Muffins is so perfect to celebrate the season.

The combination of the soft muffin center that is loaded with chunky apples and topped by a crisp and sweet crumble topping is one of my favorites. I hope you love this gluten-free muffin recipe too.

As written, this recipe is:

  • gluten-free,
  • grain-free using a flour like cassava flour,
  • dairy-free using vegan butter,
  • vegan-friendly using an egg replacer and vegan butter,
  • and vegetarian.
labeled photo with ingredients for apple crumb muffins

Recipe Steps

Step One

The first step to making these muffins is to pre-heat your oven and spray a muffin with with non-stick cooking spray. Be sure to see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact measurements.

Step Two

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl, along with the chopped apples. You can use whatever type of fresh apple you like, but I prefer a sweet red apple like Fuji or Honeycrisp for these apple muffins.

dry ingredients for muffins in a mixing bowl

Step Three

Then, add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Divide the muffin batter between the muffin wells.

apple muffin batter in a muffin tray

Step Four

Make the crumble topping in a small bowl by mixing together the butter or ghee, flour, cinnamon, and coconut sugar.

ingredients for crumble topping

Step Five

Divide the crumble topping between the tops of all the muffins and then bake for 35 minutes. The muffins will turn a golden brown when they are finished cooking.

apple muffins cooling on a cooling tray

Step Six

Let the muffins cool for 5-10 minutes and then serve warm or at room temperature. The insides of the muffins will be moist from the chopped apples, but the outsides and top of the muffins will be crisp and golden brown.

apple muffin on a plate with a bite taken out of it

FAQs

Can I use regular flour if I am not gluten-free?

Yes, you can.

Can I use two flax or chia eggs instead of regular eggs to make this recipe egg-free?

Yes, but I have not tested the recipe that way. The muffins may not rise as much as they normally do.

What type of gluten-free flour do you recommend?

I used the Bob’s One To One Gluten Free Flour for this recipe.

Other Healthy Apple Recipes You Might Like

apple muffins on a plate with fresh apples and cinnamon sticks on a countertop
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Gluten Free Apple Crumb Muffins

plate with three apple muffins on a table

★★★★

3.7 from 3 reviews

These Gluten Free Apple Muffins with a Crumble Topping are absolutely divine! They are lightly sweetened with coconut sugar with lots of chunky apple flavor.

  • Author: Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 12 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Scale

Ingredients

  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 1 1/2 cups gluten-free flour (for grain-free, use cassava flour)
  • 1/2 cup coconut sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 cup chopped apples (from about 2 medium apples)
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 cup butter, ghee, or vegan butter, melted*
  • 1/4 cup applesauce
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • For the crumble topping:
  • 2 tablespoons butter, ghee, or vegan butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon gluten-free flour
  • 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly spray a muffin tin with the cooking spray.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups of the flour, 1/2 cup of coconut sugar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, baking powder, chopped apples, and sea salt. Stir to combine.
  3. Then, add to the mixing bowl the melted butter or ghee, applesauce, eggs, almond milk, and vanilla extract.
  4. Stir to combine and divide the mixture between 12 muffins wells.
  5. Then, in a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of melted ghee or butter, 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon of gluten-free flour, and 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon of coconut sugar. Use a spatula to stir together.
  6. Use a small spoon or your fingers to divide the crumble topping between the tops of the muffins.
  7. Bake for 35 minutes, or until the top of the muffins have turned a golden brown.
  8. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the muffins cool for a few minutes before removing them from the muffin tin.
  9. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

*use vegan butter for dairy allergies.

  1. Store any leftover muffins in a tightly-sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat before serving.
  2. You can use whatever type of apples you like in this recipe. I prefer a sweet red apple like Fuji or Honeycrisp.
  3. VEGAN: use vegan butter and an egg replacer.

Keywords: gluten free muffins, apple muffins with crumble topping, gluten free apple dessert

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