These moist and soft muffins are made with applesauce, vanilla, cinnamon, and oats. Enjoy them for breakfast, snacking, or even dessert. These wholesome muffins come together quickly and easily!
This is the type of recipe that I make all the time. These muffins are filled with nutritious ingredients and I almost always have everything I need on hand. You’ll love having a batch of these muffins to nibble on all week long.
Why you’ll love this recipe:
Basic ingredients: You probably have most or all of these ingredients on hand.
Quick and easy: This recipe requires only a few minutes of hands on time and it is super easy (even my kids can make it!).
Wholesome: These muffins are filled with good-for-you ingredients such as oats, applesauce, white whole wheat flour, and olive oil.
Stay moist for days: Unlike some muffins that dry out in the days after baking, these muffins stay moist and soft for days.
Ingredients needed:
Applesauce: Unsweetened applesauce works best for this recipe. I use store bought. Feel free to use cinnamon applesauce for a slightly stronger cinnamon flavor.
Milk: Dairy or plant based milk.
Egg: One large egg
Vanilla: Pure vanilla extract adds a hint of vanilla flavor.
Olive oil: I choose a mild flavored heart-healthy olive oil. You can use canola or vegetable oil if you’d prefer.
Light brown sugar: This adds just a bit of sweetness.
White whole wheat flour: This is my favorite (affiliate link) “whole wheat” baking flour. It’s less heavy than a traditional whole wheat flour but more nutritious than all purpose flour.
Baking powder and baking soda: For a bit of lift.
Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon adds a warm flavor.
Old fashioned rolled oats: For texture and fiber.
Applesauce oatmeal muffin recipe overview
Full recipe below in recipe card
- Combine the dry ingredients (flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon).
- In a separate bowl whisk together the sugar and all the wet ingredients (applesauce, milk, egg, vanilla, olive oil).
- Combine the wet and dry ingredients.
- Scoop into a greased or lined muffin pan and bake.
Optional mix-ins and toppings
I have made these muffins “plain” (as pictured) and I have also done the following:
- Top each muffin with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar before baking (about 2 tablespoons granulated sugar + ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon)
- Stir in up to ½ cup of nuts and/or dried fruit (I’ve used raisins and walnuts)
- These muffins are extra delicious served warm with cinnamon honey butter
More muffin recipes
Recipe
Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 cup (92g) old fashioned oats
- ¾ cup (100g) white whole wheat flour, spooned and leveled (see note)
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup (73g) light brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup (230g) unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ cup (52g) mild olive oil, or sub vegetable/canola oil
- ½ cup (120g) milk, dairy or plant based
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup total dried fruit and/or nuts, I like walnuts and raisins
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease or line 10 muffin cups.
- In a medium bowl, combine oats, flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk brown sugar, applesauce, oil, milk, egg, and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined. If desired, you can add nuts and dried fruit at this point. The batter will seem a little more thin than typical muffin batter- that's ok.
- Divide the batter between 10 muffin cups (I use an ice cream scoop).
- Bake for 16-21 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If you under bake these they will be more moist, like baked oatmeal. If you bake them a little longer they will be a sturdier muffin texture.
- Place the pan on a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes, then carefully remove the muffins from the pan and place directly on the rack to finish cooling. Serve warm with honey butter.
Notes
- Top each muffin with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar before baking (about 2 tablespoons granulated sugar + ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon)
- Stir in up to ½ cup of nuts and/or dried fruit (I’ve used raisins and walnuts)
- These muffins are extra delicious served warm with cinnamon honey butter
Nutrition
Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
Char
I need some “healthier food choices and I this one sounds like a good one.
They look delicious!
Celebrating Sweets
Thanks, Char! We really enjoyed them. 🙂
Megan Keno
These look amazing… Perfect grab and go breakfast!!
Celebrating Sweets
Thanks, Megan!
Celebrating Sweets
Thanks, Christina! The streusel is my favorite part. 🙂