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!
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
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
Once your ingredients are ready to go, these muffins are easy to make!
Make the muffin batter.
- 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.
- Mix and then fold in the diced apples.
Bake.
- Fill paper lined muffin cups to half full. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15-18 minutes. Remove and cool.
- 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!
Recipe FAQs
Granny Smith and Fuji apples are my favorite varieties for baking, their tart balances with the sweetness.
Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for up to one week.
No, you can spray the cupcake tin with baking spray instead.
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!
More Fall Recipes
- Pumpkin Bread
- Cinnamon Spice Cupcakes
- Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
- Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats
- Peach Galette
- Pumpkin Donuts
Easy Muffin Recipes
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Apple Spice Muffins with Caramel Glaze
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
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.
I love apple cobbler. Very very much.
I love the idea of so many apple recipes! My mom makes the best apple pie. It’s one of my favorite parts of fall 🙂 These muffins for breakfast though could definitely rank up there.
Ooooo, I’m all for muffins with glaze. I’ll take one for breakfast and two 😉 to go with my afternoon coffee. Thanks for organizing such a fun week!
My favorite apple recipe is probably apple crisp – I use the one from Joy the Baker. It’s delicious!
I love baking with apples and pumpkins. My family only likes the apple part though. These cupcakes look delicious.
wow! All of these recipes look soo good!
My mom’s apple crisp recipe is my fave by far! I’m looking forward to making these muffins, though!!!
I can’t wait to make these and of course I’ll eat them for breakfast 🙂
Normally I just make apple crisp with ice cream which is my favorite apple treat
What a heavenly little muffin!
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I love Apple Crisp with Ice Cream!
Apples wrapped in crescent rolls, then baked with a mountain dew sauce. It’s unhealthy, it’s sorta gross, but it’s super delicious!
I’m a broke college student with no muffin tins, but this sounds good enough to make me take the train ride to Target to buy some just for this recipe!
Apple pie with a crumb topping. Scrumptious!
lol, we are both totally thinking caramel glaze today!
I’m dying over your scones!!!
My favorite apple recipe was for an apple crumb cake – it was beyond delicious!!
I have a great apple cake recipe and I love caramel apple cider cookies. Found your blog via Pinterest and can’t wait to make some of your recipes!
My favorite apple recipe is homemade apple pie with a crumb topping, but those muffins look amazing. I can’t wait to try them!
I love apple cake….or fresh made apple sauce – so easy
Susan
losurymalu at cinci dot rr dot com
These muffins look so good, especially with that glaze!