These easy apple cinnamon muffins start with a can of apple pie filling and a box of yellow cake mix. They come together quickly in one bowl, and a brown sugar cinnamon crumb topping bakes right on top.
Apple pie is always a favorite at our house, and I love a good muffin, so I wanted a way to have both without peeling and slicing a pile of apples. The pie filling brings the apples, the cinnamon, and the moisture, so all you add is the cake mix, one egg, and a little extra ground cinnamon. It takes about 10 minutes of prep.
Since first sharing this recipe, I’ve made it with white cake mix and a gluten-free yellow cake mix, and both worked well.
How to Keep Muffins from Sticking to the Liners
I tested with and without liners with this muffin recipe to see if the liners stuck more from using the pie filling and cake mix. For six muffins, I sprayed the muffin tin with baking spray and the other six I used regular liners and both actually worked great with no sticking.
Whichever you use, it is very important to let the muffins cool completely before peeling. Warm muffins release steam that makes the paper stick.
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Ingredients Notes
The complete list of ingredients with amounts are listed in the full recipe card below.
For the Muffins:
- Apple pie filling – Use any brand you want. You can also use other flavors for this recipe. Add everything in the can, including the syrup. The syrup is the main liquid in this batter, so don’t drain it. I cut the apple slices into small pieces right in the bowl with kitchen shears so every muffin gets apple.
- Yellow cake mix – I use Betty Crocker Super Moist Yellow Cake Mix in the 15.25-ounce box. Cake mix boxes have gotten smaller over the years, and some older recipes call for an 18-ounce box, so check the size if you’re using a different brand. Substitute the yellow cake mix for a white cake mix if you wish. I have made them with a gluten free mix before as well.
- Cinnamon – You can also swap this for our homemade apple pie spice if you’d like.
- Egg – One large egg is all this recipe needs. Don’t add the oil, water, or extra eggs listed on the back of the cake mix box. The pie filling takes their place.
For the Streusel topping:
- Flour – I use plain all-purpose flour. (or gluten free one-to-one four like Bob’s Red Mill if you are making them gluten free.
- Brown sugar – I use light brown sugar but you can also use dark brown sugar or white sugar too if you’d like.
- Ground Cinnamon
- Butter – Cold butter makes the best crumbly topping.
Variations You Can Make
1. Mini muffins – Bake for 12 to 14 minutes.
2. Nuts in the topping – Stir chopped pecans or walnuts into the crumb topping for extra crunch.
3. Serve them warm – A few seconds in the microwave brings back that fresh-baked feeling.
How to Make this Apple Muffin Recipe
This is an amazing recipe made with just a few simple ingredients that makes them a perfect quick treat.
Step 1 – Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners or give each hole a spray of nonstick cooking spray.
Step 2 – In a large bowl, add the apple pie filling and cut the apple slices into small pieces. (I love using my kitchen sheers to do this right in the bowl).
Step 3 – Add the dry cake mix, cinnamon, and egg to the same bowl as the diced apple pieces and gently fold to blend together until just barely combined. It’s very important to not over mix the batter or the muffins will be more dense.
Step 4 – Spoon batter into the liners in the muffin pan.
Step 5 – Make the crumb topping – In a small bowl, add the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter and mix until all the dry ingredients are coated in the butter.
Step 6 – Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar topping evenly over top of the muffin batter.
Step 7 – Bake the muffins for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Step 8 – Remove from the oven and let them cool in the muffin tin for 5 minutes then transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Tips
- Avoid over mixing the muffin batter. This can cause the muffins to become dense and chewy when baked. For the best muffins, use the fold-in method when adding the apple pie filling.
- Use an ice cream scoop or a cookie scoop to fill the muffin cups easily with less mess.
- Make mini muffins if you’d like. Reduce the cooking time to 12-14 minutes.
If you love these apple cinnamon muffins, make these other easy apple recipes next:
Apple Puff Pastry Turnovers
Apple Cinnamon Bread
Apple Crisp
Apple Dump Cake
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Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Ingredients
For the Muffins
- 21 ounces apple pie filling
- 15.25 ounce yellow cake mix
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 large egg
For the Streusel topping:
- 1 cup flour
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 5 tablespoons butter melted
Instructions
Make the muffin batter
- Preheat the oven to 350° F and line a muffin pan with paper liners or spray each cup with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, add the apple pie filling and cut the slices into small pieces. I love using my kitchen sheers to do this.21 ounces apple pie filling
- Add in the dry cake mix, cinnamon and egg to the same bowl as the diced apples and stir to blend together completely.15.25 ounce yellow cake mix, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 large egg
- Spoon batter into the liners in the muffin pan.
Make the Streusel Topping
- In a small bowl, add the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter and mix until all the dry ingredients are coated in the butter.1 cup flour, ¼ cup light brown sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 5 tablespoons butter
- Sprinkle the topping evenly over the muffin batter in the muffin tin.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 5 minutes then transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclosure
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
LB
Can you make this in a loaf pan as a bread? If so, how does that change the cooking instructions?
Becky Davis
The recipes sound so good. I am going to make some this weekend.