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These Apple Oatmeal Muffins are naturally vegan and absolutely full of apple flavor from sautéed apples, apple cider, and applesauce! These healthier muffins are sure to be a breakfast favorite.
Fluffy, soft, flavorful: these Apple Oatmeal Muffins are truly so fantastic. Their perfection is in their simplicity. I mean it when I say these muffins are super addicting, flavorful, and delicious.
I first made these as an excuse to bake for a school project for my social entrepreneurship class. My group and I had to participate in a business plan competition as part of the class. So, of course, when I heard that people got to vote for the people’s choice award, I knew I had to bake something to help sway people’s votes my way.
My business plan revolved around providing wider access to affordable, healthy produce, so I aimed to create a baked good that centered around being easy, hearty, and delicious, to reflect the business I presented. For the night of the competition, I ended up making this recipe 5 times because I kept thinking I didn’t have enough mini muffins.
Over the course of those 5 times, I made little tweaks and edits to the recipe to get to the fluffy, flavorful, and easy-to-make muffins that you see in front of you. The version that has landed below is my favorite version. Sautéing the apples isn’t totally necessary, but it sure is delicious! The sauteed apples add an extra dimension of flavor to the apple oatmeal muffins.
As for how they went over…people were raving over these vegan apple oatmeal muffins. One guy stopped by our table and ate six right in a row. He continued to pop another in his mouth every time he walked by. Something about them was just addicting. After the event (p.s. I lost the people’s choice award, but my business plan won 1st!), we had a bunch left over (remember those 5 batches…?) and my housemates and I devoured them in no time.
These apple oatmeal muffins are so flavorful from the applesauce, cider, and chopped apples. They are full of great texture from the oats and so soft and sweet from all those things combined.
You will totally have NO idea that these are dairy-free and vegan. These are a perfect on-the-go snack, they’re lunchbox ready, or pop them in the freezer and microwave one for breakfast! Enjoy!
Want more vegan apple recipes?
- Paleo Vegan Apple Crumble Pie
- Gluten-Free Vegan Apple Crisp
- Gluten-Free Vegan Apple Cinnamon Scones
- 10+ Apple Dessert Recipes
Apple Oatmeal Muffins (Vegan)
Ingredients
For the apples
- 1 medium apple, peeled and chopped into 1/4” cubes
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
For the batter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, replace both flours with oat flour to keep gluten-free
- ¼ cup whole wheat flour
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar or coconut sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅓ cup refined coconut oil, melted
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ⅓ cup apple cider or non-dairy milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375ºF. Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.
- In a small saucepan, saute the apples, brown sugar and cinnamon for about 5 minutes over medium heat. The apples should begin to soften and caramelize slightly. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Stir together flours, oats, brown sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a mixing bowl. Add in the applesauce, vegetable oil, and cider or milk. Stir until just moistened. Fold in chopped apple. Fill muffin cups ¾ full.
- Bake for about 18 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
I don’t think these sound boring at all! I love the combination—and the fact that they’re vegan, Yum!!
these are delicious! Just made them with my son for school snack!!! We used coconut oil! Thank you!
So glad you liked them. Thanks for sharing, Evie!
These are terrific. I used to turn up my nose at the idea of vegan baked goods. Now my teen daughter is a vegan so consequently, we’re all eating vegan. These muffins are so moist and sweet and flavorful. There is no need and no room in them for eggs or dairy! Thanks!
I’m so glad you loved these muffins, Martha, and they they’ve helped turn you into a vegan baked good convert :) I used to be the same and turn my nose up at any baked goods that were remotely healthy, but with the right recipes, you can’t even tell. Thanks for sharing!
These are absolutely amazing!!!
I made these for a breakfast treat and they were amazing! Even my non-vegan picky roommate liked them. I omitted the granulated sugar altogether but added chia seeds, raisins, and extra cinnamon. I used coconut milk as the non-dairy milk and it made the muffins so silky and rich tasting. I definitely will make these again, thank you so much for an easy yet tasty recipe!
I made these today for breakfast and they were AMAZING! my whole family loved them. Thank you!
So glad they were a hit! Thanks for sharing your feedback, Hannah :)
I recently became vegan and have had a hard time finding recipes that have simple, readily available ingredients. I made these tonight but instead of applesauce replaced it with 1/4 cup of smashed banana and 1/4 of oil- they turned out beautifully! I think the banana is a great twist and totally willing to try if you want to mix things up :) thanks for the great recipe!
Hi Ellie – I actually adapted this recipe from my vegan blueberry muffin recipe, which uses banana to replace the egg! Great minds think alike :) so glad you enjoyed the muffins. Hope you can find some more simple vegan recipes on my site that you enjoy as well.
Hey, I was just curious could I substitute the applesauce for vegan coconut milk yogurt?
I’ve never used coconut milk yogurt, so I’m not sure how it would work in baking. Texture wise, it should work though! I’d love to hear how it turns out if you give it a go, Olivia.
This is the best base muffin mix ever! I like to add ingredients like flax seed, chia seeds, ground nuts; or change the fruits up. I have not made this recipe with the apples, instead using dried fruits. But they are always extremely moist and simply delicious!! And vegan❤️! Thanks so much!!
I’m so happy to hear that, Julie!! Glad to know it works for all the muffin varieties you can dream up :) thanks for sharing your feedback.
I made these today. They were delicious and looked even better than the picture. I am surprised that no one contacted you about the lack of white sugar in the list of ingredients but included in the directions and no mention of baking soda in the directions. After tasting the batter I decided to add 2 Tbsp. white sugar and the baking soda with the rest of the dry ingredients. When there are discrepancies you don’t know if there are errors. Fortunately I guessed right!
Thanks for noticing that, I’m surprised it hasn’t been brought up either! I’ll make the corrections now.