Oh my goodness, you *have* to try these Vegan Apple Spice Muffins! If you’re dreaming of warm, cozy flavors that just hug your tastebuds, you’ve landed in the right spot. Seriously, these aren’t just good for vegan muffins, they’re just plain *good* muffins. I spent ages tweaking this recipe because I wanted them to be perfectly moist, bursting with apple goodness, and spiced just right – you know, that comforting blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves that smells like heaven. I remember the first time I pulled a batch of these out of the oven; the whole house smelled incredible, and my neighbor took one bite and practically inhaled it! It’s so easy to whip up a batch, and trust me, they disappear faster than you can say ‘apple pie’!
Why You’ll Love These Vegan Apple Spice Muffins
Honestly, what’s not to love about these muffins? They’re a total game-changer, and here’s why:
- Super Easy to Make: Seriously, you just whisk and stir! No fancy equipment needed, making them perfect for a quick treat.
- Incredibly Moist: Thanks to the applesauce and oil, these muffins stay wonderfully tender and moist, even the next day.
- Packed with Flavor: The perfect blend of warm spices with sweet apples means every bite is an explosion of cozy deliciousness.
- Completely Vegan: No dairy, no eggs! Just pure plant-based goodness that everyone can enjoy.
- Quick Baking Time: Ready in under 30 minutes from start to finish, so you can satisfy those muffin cravings in a flash.
- Versatile: Great for breakfast, a snack, or even dessert with a dollop of vegan whipped cream!
Gather Your Ingredients for Vegan Apple Spice Muffins
Alright, let’s get real about what you need to make these amazing Vegan Apple Spice Muffins! Everything here is pretty standard, and you might already have most of it hanging out in your pantry. Having everything measured out and ready to go makes the whole process so much smoother, trust me! It’s my little secret to stress-free baking.
Here’s what we’re working with:
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour: This is our base, giving the muffins their structure.
- 1 teaspoon baking soda: For that nice lift!
- 0.5 teaspoon baking powder: Works with the baking soda to make sure they’re fluffy.
- 0.5 teaspoon salt: Just a pinch to make all those sweet flavors really pop!
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon: The star spice, adding that warm, comforting scent and taste.
- 0.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg: A little goes a long way, adding a nice depth.
- 0.25 teaspoon ground cloves: This one is potent, so just a touch adds that perfect hint of spice complexit.
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce: This is HUGE for moisture and keeps them super tender!
- 0.75 cup granulated sugar: For sweetness, of course!
- 0.33 cup vegetable oil: Or any neutral-flavored oil like canola or even melted coconut oil works too. This also helps with that lovely moist texture.
- 0.25 cup unsweetened plant-based milk: Almond, soy, oat – whatever you have on hand will be just fine!
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract: Because vanilla makes everything better, right?
- 1 cup diced apple: Make sure these are cut into small, bite-sized pieces. Honeycrisp or Fuji are great choices, but use your favorites!
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Vegan Apple Spice Muffins
Alright, let’s get down to business and whip up these gorgeous Vegan Apple Spice Muffins! Don’t worry, it’s super straightforward and honestly, kinda fun. Just follow these simple steps, and you’ll have a batch of warm, delicious muffins in no time. It’s like a little baking adventure!
Prepping Your Muffin Tin and Oven
First things first, let’s get that oven preheating to 375°F (190°C). We want it nice and toasty when the muffins are ready to go in! And grab your muffin tin – either line it with your favorite cute paper liners or give it a good grease. This is important so your beautiful muffins don’t stick!
Combining Dry Ingredients for Your Vegan Apple Spice Muffins
Grab a big bowl and whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and all those lovely spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Give it a really good whisking. This is my little trick to make sure everything is super evenly distributed so you get that perfect spice in every single bite!
Mixing the Wet Ingredients
Now, in a separate bowl (you’ll need two for this!), combine the unsweetened applesauce, sugar, vegetable oil, plant-based milk, and that splash of vanilla extract. Just give it a good mix until it’s all nicely combined and looks smooth.
Bringing Wet and Dry Together
Okay, time to combine! Pour those wet ingredients into the big bowl with your dry ingredients. Now, the most important part here: stir *just* until everything is combined. Seriously, don’t go crazy mixing it. A few little streaks of flour are totally fine! Overmixing is the enemy of tender muffins, trust me on this one.
Folding in the Apples
Now for the star of the show – the apples! Gently fold them into the batter. We fold because we don’t want to mash them up or overwork the batter. You just want them nestled in there, ready to bake into sweet little pockets of apple goodness.
Filling the Muffin Cups
Spoon the batter into your prepared muffin cups. Fill each one about two-thirds full. This gives them enough room to puff up nicely without overflowing gloriously (though a little overflow can be charming too!).
Baking Your Vegan Apple Spice Muffins to Perfection
Pop that tin into your preheated oven and bake for about 18 to 22 minutes. The best way to tell if they’re done? Stick a toothpick right into the center of one. If it comes out clean, no gooey batter clinging to it, then they’re perfect! If there’s still a little wet batter, give them another minute or two.
Cooling and Finishing
Once they’re baked, let those beauties cool in the muffin tin for just a few minutes. This lets them set up a bit. Then, carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. This is key to a good texture and prevents them from getting soggy bottoms. While they’re still warm, maybe do a quick peek at our vegan baking tips for extra brownie points on your technique!
Tips for Perfect Vegan Apple Spice Muffins
Making these Vegan Apple Spice Muffins is pretty foolproof, but a few little tricks can make them absolutely *stellar*. Trust me, I learned these by baking them more times than I can count!
First off, let’s talk about those apples. You *really* want to dice them into small, uniform pieces. If you have some big chunks and some tiny bits, they won’t all bake at the same rate. Aim for about a 1/4-inch dice. This ensures you get little bursts of apple in every bite without any crunchy surprises.
And that little sprinkle? Oh, it makes a difference! Before they go into the oven, I love to mix a tablespoon of sugar with about half a teaspoon of cinnamon and sprinkle it right over the top of the batter in each cup. It gives them a lovely slightly crunchy, spiced crust. It’s totally optional, but *so* worth it for that extra touch of magic!
Ingredient Substitutions for Vegan Baking
Sometimes you’re mid-bake and realize you’re missing an ingredient, or maybe you just want to customize things a bit! That’s totally fine with these Vegan Apple Spice Muffins. For the plant-based milk, pretty much any unsweetened variety will work like a charm. Oat milk is fantastic for richness, almond milk is a classic, and soy milk is a great all-rounder. They all do the job of adding just enough liquid.
As for the oil, vegetable oil is my go-to because it’s neutral and light. However, you could totally use canola oil or even melted coconut oil (just make sure it’s cooled a bit so it doesn’t cook the other ingredients!). If you use coconut oil, you might get a *very* subtle hint of coconut, which I actually kind of like! These little swaps can be found in more detail on my plant-based milk guide, but for these muffins, you’ve got options!
Frequently Asked Questions About Vegan Apple Spice Muffins
Got questions about these yummy Vegan Apple Spice Muffins? I’ve totally got you covered! Little hiccups happen, and it’s good to know your options.
Can I make these muffins gluten-free?
You sure can try! For gluten-free Vegan Apple Spice Muffins, I’d suggest a good quality 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend. You might need a tiny bit more liquid if the batter seems too thick, but usually, it works like a charm. Just make sure your blend has xanthan gum!
How do I store leftover Vegan Apple Spice Muffins?
These muffins are pretty forgiving and stay moist! Just pop them into an airtight container once they’ve cooled completely, and they’ll be lovely at room temperature for about 2-3 days. Honestly, mine rarely last that long, but that’s my go-to method!
Can I freeze these apple spice muffins?
Absolutely! If you find yourself with extra muffins (miracles happen!), freezing is a great option. Wrap each cooled muffin tightly in plastic wrap, then pop them into a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll keep well for about 2-3 months. Just thaw them on the counter for a bit when you’re craving one!
Estimated Nutritional Information
Just so you know, the nutrition info for these Vegan Apple Spice Muffins is an estimate, since everyone uses slightly different ingredients! But as a general idea, one muffin usually has around:
Calories: 250
Fat: 10g
Protein: 3g
Carbohydrates: 40g
Sugar: 25g
Fiber: 2g
It’s always a good idea to remember that these numbers can change a bit depending on the exact brands of ingredients you use, especially the applesauce and plant-based milk!
Share Your Vegan Apple Spice Muffins Creation!
Okay, so you’ve baked up a batch of these amazing Vegan Apple Spice Muffins, right? I would absolutely LOVE to hear all about it! Did you get that perfect moist crumb? Did your kitchen smell like a dream? Let me know in the comments below – I read every single one! If you’re feeling brave, snap a pic and tag me on social media; seeing your creations makes my day!
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Vegan Apple Spice Muffins
- Total Time: 35 min
- Yield: 12 muffins 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Moist and flavorful vegan muffins with warm apple and spice notes.
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 0.5 teaspoon baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 0.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 0.25 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 0.75 cup granulated sugar
- 0.33 cup vegetable oil
- 0.25 cup unsweetened plant-based milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup diced apple
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a muffin tin with paper liners or grease it.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
- In a separate bowl, combine the applesauce, sugar, vegetable oil, plant-based milk, and vanilla extract. Mix well.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Gently fold in the diced apple.
- Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
- Let the muffins cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For extra flavor, you can add a sprinkle of sugar and cinnamon on top of the muffins before baking.
- Ensure your apples are diced into small, uniform pieces for even baking.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 muffin
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: vegan apple muffins, apple spice muffins, vegan baking, dairy-free muffins, egg-free muffins