These sweet, tender and moist Paleo Apple Muffins have a deliciously addicting coconut sugar and cinnamon crumb topping and juicy apples throughout. They’re grain free, paleo, dairy-free, gluten-free, easy to make and family approved!
Have you gone apple picking yet?! I have not. When the kids were babies, it wasn’t hard to “schedule” in apple picking as soon as September rolled around. In fact, there were years I went twice, if only to have some sort of activity to get us all out of the house with strollers, diapers, and all that other jazz in tow.
It sort of amazes me now that I went through all that trouble for apple picking, because now (and since the kids have been school-age) it stresses me out just trying to find a free day to apple pick before October slaps me in the face and the apples are gone.
Between birthday parties, friend/family get-togethers and other random stuff that I can’t even pinpoint, apple picking has been demoted way down on the priority list.
The apple picking struggle is real, here, as I’m sitting here making mental calculations of how many chances we even have before the month is over. And hasn’t it only just begun?!
I mean, if my calculations are correct, and assuming my mind isn’t completely gone, wasn’t it just Labor Day Weekend? It definitely doesn’t help that I’ve been testing apple recipes for a solid month and a half now (eek!) and pumpkin ones for almost as long. I want my FALL back!!
Anyway, let’s slow down, savor the moment, and also savor the flavor of these paleo apple muffins. Yes I’m 100% aware that my last sentence sounded silly. Would sava-the-flava be better? No, no again, and nope, it would not.
Of course now I’ll be saying all day since I made such a big deal of it. But anyway, the muffins! Apple muffins are a must-make in the fall, whether you pick your own apples or not. I oddly did not have a paleo version until just now, even though I had lots of other apple recipes on the blog. Now, forgive me as I channel Bubba (Forest Gump) and list a few:
Apple pie skillet cookie, apple crisp, apple pie bars, apple cinnamon pancakes, caramel apple coffee cake, sweet potato apple breakfast bake, apple cinnamon hot cereal, sautéed apples and pears, and more to come. The muffins needed to be here, don’t you think?
So here we have it – classic apple muffins with a delicious cinnamon crumb topping that also happen to be grain free, dairy free, and paleo.
The muffins are moist and tender, thanks to doubling up on the apples (shredded and diced!) and they’re packed with all that spicy sweet fall flavor we love. You won’t want to say no to this! And, since they’re easy to make and actually good for you, it’s all YES for these paleo apple muffins!
One note on the coconut oil I used for this recipe (and for most of my baking recipes.) I usually stick with organic refined coconut oil for baking, as opposed to extra virgin, since refined is 100% flavorless, so you don’t get that “weird paleo taste” that kids and non-paleo eaters will tend the notice before they even take a bite.
I, personally, don’t mind the taste of coconut in nearly anything, but, for many of you feeding kids and other family members who are new to paleo, going with the refined coconut oil ensures you minimize coconut flavor and allow the other flavors to shine through.
That said, if you’d prefer to stick to extra virgin, it will work just fine! Are you ready to bake? Let’s go!
Paleo Apple Muffins with Crumb Top
Paleo Apple Muffins with Crumb Topping
Ingredients
Crumb top:
- 5 tbsp almond flour
- 2 tbsp coconut oil soft
- 3 tbsp coconut sugar
- 1.5 tsp cinnamon
- Pinch sea salt
Muffin Batter:
- 4 eggs
- 1/4 cup almond milk unsweetened, or other dairy-free milk you prefer
- 6 tbsp coconut sugar
- 3 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 med/large apple peeled and shredded, excess water squeezed out
- 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup blanched almond flour
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
- 1/3 cup tapioca flour
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 med/large apple peeled and finely diced
Instructions
-
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and line a 12 cup muffin pan with parchment liners*
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Combine crumb mixture ingredients in a bowl with a fork until combined (it should look like crumbs) then chill while you prepare muffin batter.
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Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl, except the coconut sugar, and set aside.
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Whisk together eggs, almond milk, vanilla, sugar, grated apple, coconut oil and lemon juice in a large bowl until well combined
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Gently stir dry ingredients into wet until no flour spots show, then fold in finely diced apples.
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Scoop into 12 lined muffin cups evenly and sprinkle the chilled crumb topping over each one. Bake in preheated oven 15-20 mins or until muffins rise and toothpick inserted into center of one muffin comes out clean. Allow to cool completely on wire racks before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition
What I Used To Make My Paleo Apple Muffins with Crumb Topping:
Want More Paleo apple recipes? Try one of these!
Maple Pecan Apple Crisp {Paleo and Vegan}
Paleo and Vegan Apple Pie Bars
Sautéed Apples and Pears with Coconut Butter {No added sugar}
Sweet Potato Apple Breakfast Bake {Whole30}
Tell Me!
Do you go apple picking every year? First thing you make after?
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Just made these, so delicious! Thanks!!
Great!
Is there something you could substitute the almond flour for to make these nut free? I would love to send them as a snack for school.
Even my husband and son loved these! My husband thinks pecans would take it to the next level. ?? So, next time. Right now this is at the top of their list for muffins. ??????
Went apple picking yesterday and ended up with waaaaay too many apples, which is what led me here… Searching for apple recipes! ? Anywho… I made these apple muffins today and I left the crumble off and these were still amazing! So good! ❤️
Made this last year and it was a big hit. Making again to take on a road trip.
So happy you enjoyed these!
These came out perfect! I didn’t need to make a single adjustment, and it made exactly the amount listed. They were delicious!
Second time making these, it’s 5am in Australia! Kids love them thank you.
You’ve done it again. These are delicious. I did add chopped pecans to the topping, and I didn’t have lemon so I omitted it. I can see that the lemon would brighten the apple and will definitely make these again with the lemon. I only had 3 eggs, so I made one flax egg to add. They came out great. Thank you for your recipes
We love these. So nice for breakfast with coffee. The crumb topping is delicious.
Yum! Delicious. I used a tablespoon less of the coconut sugar in the crumble and mix because I was making them for kids, and it still tasted good.
Your recipes are consistently delicious. Thank you for sharing, and thank you for the consistency!