Easy Apple Muffins

By
Carroll Pellegrinelli
Carroll Pellegrinelli
Expert baker and published author, Carroll Pellegrinelli shares her knowledge of bread baking and desserts.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 01/11/22
Easy Apple Muffins

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 50 mins
Servings: 18 servings
Yield: 18 muffins

These muffins are full of flavor and can take on many variations. Ready in less than an hour, they're simple muffins to which you can add the toppings, fillings, and icings of your choice.

Bake and freeze to have at hand when you're short on time. These muffins are a great way to start your day or to treat yourself when you need a pick-me-up during the afternoon.

We use a cake mix to speed up the process, and in a little under an hour the result is amazing.

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Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1 cup sour cream

  • 1 (21-ounce) can apple pie filling

  • 1 (18 1/2-ounce) package cake mix, yellow, white, lemon, or spice​ cake mix

  • Freshly ground cinnamon, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Easy Apple Muffins ingredients

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  2. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease or paper-line 18 muffin cups.

    paper lined muffin cups

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  3. In a large bowl, combine eggs, sour cream, and apple pie filling, mixing well.

    combine eggs, sour cream, and apple pie filling in a bowl

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  4. Add cake mix to the bowl, being careful not to overmix the batter.

    Add cake mix to the mixture in the bowl

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  5. Place batter in muffin cups and sprinkle tops with ground cinnamon (optional).

    Place batter in muffin cups and sprinkle tops with ground cinnamon

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  6. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the muffin. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing.

    Easy Apple Muffins on a cooling rack

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Muffin Extravaganza

Here are some ideas to give your muffins a twist:

  • Crunchy: Mix 1/2 cup of crushed almonds, cashews, or chunky granola into the batter to add some texture.
  • Chewy: Add 2/3 cup of currants, raisins, tart cherries, or chopped dried apricots to the batter to add sweetness and give your muffins a chewy texture.
  • Sweet: Mix 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips or caramel chunks into the batter to make them extra decadent.
  • Fruity Fillings: Mix 1/2 cup of the marmalade of your choice with 2 to 3 tablespoons of water. Transfer into a piping bag. With an apple corer remove a cylinder of dough from each of the muffins, fill with 1 teaspoon of the marmalade and put back the dough cylinder. Dust powdered sugar on top.
  • Icing: Pipe store-bought icing and use sprinkles to add some color for celebratory muffins, or use a simple glaze for decoration and extra sweetness.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
173 Calories
4g Fat
32g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 18
Amount per serving
Calories 173
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 28mg 9%
Sodium 239mg 10%
Total Carbohydrate 32g 12%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 20g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 1mg 4%
Calcium 79mg 6%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 51mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)