Chunky Gluten Free Apple Muffins (dairy-free option)

These gluten free apple muffins are soft and moist, with chunky pieces of juicy apple and warm cinnamon. And because the prep time is only 10 minutes, you can have these easy and healthy muffins on the table in 30 minutes. It's the perfect fall breakfast!

I created this muffin recipe with fall weather in mind, regardless of the temperature being in the 90's here. These fluffy apple cinnamon muffins are loaded with plump pieces of fork-tender apple, warm spicy cinnamon, and a bit of creamy yogurt for added tang and moisture.

This healthy muffin recipe couldn't be easier, with minimal prep work, no special equipment needed, and ready in just 30 minutes. And for those of you who avoid dairy, I've included a dairy-free option as well.

For more gluten free muffin recipes, try my gluten-free blackberry muffins!

Jump to:

• ⭐️ Why These Apple Muffins are the Best
• 🍎 Ingredient Notes
• 📝 Variations & Substitutions
• 🥄 How To Make Gluten Free Apple Muffins
• 👩🏼‍🍳 Expert Tips
• 💬 Frequently Asked Questions
• 🍑 Related Recipes
• Chunky Gluten Free Apple Muffins Recipe

⭐️ Why These Apple Muffins are the Best

• Tasty - I can't decide what's better - the chunky pieces of apple distributed throughout these moist muffins or the warm cinnamon spice. Ok, I love them equally. 🙂
• Quick & easy - Could these muffins BE any easier to make? (Chandler Bing lives!) Other than dicing your apples, you simply pour everything else into a mixing bowl and bake for 20 minutes.
• Healthy - By incorporating yogurt, we add protein and good bacteria, with apples providing fiber as well as a variety of vitamins and minerals. In addition, this muffin recipe has a minimal amount of butter and sugar.
• Freezer-friendly muffin recipe
• A great way to use your apple orchard pickings!

🍎 Ingredient Notes

• Plain yogurt - Provides moisture and slight tanginess
• Unsalted butter - Using unsalted butter helps us control the amount of salt in our baking.
• Gluten-free all-purpose flour - Use your favorite brand of gluten-free flour. I used Bob's Red Mill for this recipe, but all gluten-free flours are a little bit different. Use it to make this gluten-free galette.
• Eggs - For best results, use room temperature eggs. This allows you to incorporate more air into the eggs when you beat/whisk them.
• Xanthan gum (only needed if your flour doesn't already include it) - Acts as a thickening agent
• Apples - Use a firm, crisp apple like Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn.
• Cinnamon - Adds warm spiciness and is the perfect complement to the apples

📝 Variations & Substitutions

• Make dairy-free/vegan: Substitute non-dairy butter and yogurt; I've made it this way before, and it comes out great! You can also substitute 2 flax eggs* (see Notes section in recipe card for instructions) to make a vegan version.
• Spices. I love the generous amount of warm cinnamon in this recipe, but you could also add ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg, cloves, or cardamom.
• Pinch of sugar. Sprinkle a pinch of granulated sugar on top of your muffins to give them a bit of crunch.
• Brown sugar. Substitute brown sugar if you want a deeper, more molasses-like flavor in your muffins.

🥄 How To Make Gluten Free Apple Muffins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place baking cup liners into muffin tin, or spray with non-stick cooking spray. Whisk together melted butter and yogurt in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs and whisk thoroughly. Pour in sugar and vanilla extract and whisk for an additional minute.

In a separate bowl, combine gluten-free flour, xanthan gum (if using), baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Add dry mixture to yogurt mixture and stir to combine. Fold in diced apples.

Using a cookie scoop or large spoon, distribute batter evenly into prepared muffin tins.

Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

👩🏼‍🍳 Expert Tips

• If your gluten-free all-purpose flour already contains xanthan gum (mine already contains it), you can omit it from the recipe.
• Your batter should be thick. The batter for this gluten free muffin recipe is quite thick, but the diced apples add a lot of moisture, so don't try to thin it out.
• For best results, use room temperature eggs. This allows you to incorporate more air into the eggs when you beat/whisk them.
• Use firm & crisp apples. Apples like Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn are all excellent apples for making muffins when you want them to add a touch of sweetness without turning mushy.
• When measuring gluten-free flour, spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level with a knife. Try to avoid scooping your flour into your measuring cup.
• How to store: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• How to freeze: Wrap individual muffins in foil and place in a freezer bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

💬 Frequently Asked Questions

🍑 Related Recipes

Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook.

Subscribe to my email newsletter to get a FREE e-book of 15 Healthy Weeknight Recipes, and get new recipes delivered to your inbox every week!