
These gluten free applesauce muffins are easy, tender muffins made with clean applesauce and loads of floor cinnamon for the right breakfast or snack.

Fulfill your urge for a easy, tender chunk of one thing calmly candy with these easy gluten free applesauce muffins. Add some extra heat spices, or maintain them easy to serve for breakfast, or brunch!

What makes these gluten free muffins with applesauce particular?
Normally, after we describe one thing as “plain,” it isn’t meant as a praise. This recipe for gluten free muffins made with applesauce is a real exception to that rule. They might be plain, however they’re stuffed with all the sunshine, tender texture and light-weight sweetness of the perfect snacking muffins, and by no means depart you feeling weighed down.
Applesauce provides a number of tenderness to baked items, and may even be used rather than mashed bananas in some recipes like our gluten free banana pancakes. It does not have the polarizing taste of bananas, although, tending to fade into the background as an alternative.
If you happen to’re on the lookout for a muffin with plenty of apple taste, you may want one which has chopped apples combined into the batter. Fortunately, we have already got that one in our gluten free apple muffins, which I extremely advocate and have lengthy been a reader favourite recipe, particularly within the fall.
Notes on gluten free applesauce muffin components
- Gluten free flour – I often bake with Higher Batter’s traditional gluten free all objective flour mix, and this recipe isn’t any exception. You can too use Cup4Cup, or both my mock blends for these packaged blends, which you will discover on my all objective gluten free flour blends web page.
- Baking powder – Baking powder offers a lot of the elevate in these muffins, so ensure that yours is contemporary, or they will not rise as meant.
- Baking soda – Baking soda helps with rise, however its fundamental job right here is to assist the muffins brown simply and evenly within the oven.
- Salt – Salt offsets the sweetness and enhances the opposite flavors in these muffins.
- Floor cinnamon – Since these are supposed to be actually easy, nearly plain muffins, floor cinnamon within the muffins and within the elective cinnamon sugar topping provides a very nice taste. You can too add 1/4 teaspoon of freshly grated nutmeg, or change the whole quantity of floor cinnamon with apple pie spice for much more advanced taste.
- Granulated sugar – Sugar is each a sweetener and a tenderizer in these muffins. If you happen to select to make use of another sugar, they are usually fairly drying, so you will have so as to add extra liquid to achieve the appropriate batter consistency.
- Butter – Melted butter provides taste and tenderness to those muffins, but additionally makes a extra compact crumb, which is useful for the reason that applesauce tends to make a extra open crumb.
- Applesauce – Along with the melted butter, the graceful, unsweetened applesauce in these gf muffins with applesauce provides loads of moisture and has some pectin from the apples, which acts as a little bit of a thickening agent and helps these muffins keep more energizing, longer.
- Buttermilk – Buttermilk provides tenderness and a few taste to those muffins. It is thicker than milk, although, so keep in mind to not change it with common milk (sure, even should you’ve soured it with some lemon juice!).
- Eggs – The eggs on this recipe assist create the construction, and the egg whites even take in a few of the moisture of the applesauce, creating the right crumb.
- Vanilla – Pure vanilla extract provides some depth of taste to those tremendous easy, calmly candy muffins.

Ideas for making excellent gluten free muffins with applesauce
Make certain your applesauce is clean and unsweetened
This recipe is developed utilizing clean, unsweetened applesauce with none clumps. It isn’t clean like a liquid, however is absolutely in line with minimal texture. That is what combines nicely with the opposite components in these calmly candy gf breakfast muffins.
Select your gluten free flour mix fastidiously
The less complicated the recipe, the extra necessary your flour mix is. I extremely advocate utilizing Higher Batter’s traditional mix (or our mock mix) or Cup4Cup, my favourite gf flour blends on this recipe for constantly good, gentle and tender outcomes.
Measure all of your dry components by weight, together with sugar
Measuring by weight, utilizing a easy digital kitchen scale, is the one option to measure dry components precisely, since dry measuring cups are inclined to fluctuate and you’ll’t keep away from human error—regardless of how skilled the baker! You should buy a easy Escali model scale for lower than $30, and it is all you actually need for years of measuring.
If you have no buttermilk readily available, use a correct substitute
Common milk with lemon juice is not buttermilk, however you may change buttermilk with half common milk and half bitter cream, by quantity. There is not a number of buttermilk on this recipe, so it is somewhat more durable to measure precisely by whole quantity, so attempt utilizing 3⅓ tablespoons common milk and a couple of tablespoons bitter cream for a complete of 5⅓ tablespoons, or ⅓ cup.
Make certain your components are round room temperature earlier than combining them
When a recipe specifies ingredient temperature, it is necessary! In case your butter has been melted and cooled, so it is not sizzling to the contact, however your eggs or buttermilk is chilly, your butter will clump once they’re mixed. That implies that the moist components will not mix correctly into the dry components, and you will have pockets of butter, quite than a homogenous batter.
Use a light-colored muffin tin
My favourite muffin tins are these light-colored Wilton nonstick tins from their “Recipe Proper” line. They’re gentle in colour, do not have further seams that may make them more durable to wash, and so they’re so cheap that I do not thoughts messing them up! Darkish coloured bakeware of every kind attracts extra warmth within the oven, shortly, so it will probably result in your baked items, like these applesauce muffins, to over brown and even burn.
Heat up your buttermilk and eggs to room temperature earlier than baking with them
In case your eggs are chilly, you may carry them shortly and simply to temperature by floating them in a bowl of very heat (not sizzling) water proper from the faucet for about quarter-hour. Each on occasion, simply give them a fast flip within the water. For buttermilk, microwave it on about 50% energy for 30 seconds at a time till it is not chilly.

Gluten free applesauce muffins: components and potential substitutions
Gluten free dairy free applesauce muffins
The dairy in these applesauce muffins comes from each butter and buttermilk. If you happen to’re dairy-free, attempt changing the butter with Soften or Miyoko’s Kitchen model vegan butter. I’ve tried them with oil rather than butter, and so they turned out greasy, so I do not advocate that. Rather than buttermilk, attempt utilizing 3⅓ tablespoons unsweetened nondairy milk and a couple of tablespoons dairy free bitter cream for a complete of 5⅓ tablespoons, or ⅓ cup.
Gluten free applesauce muffins with out eggs
There are two eggs on this recipe, and they need to be capable of get replaced with two “chia eggs” (2 tablespoons floor white chia seeds + 2 tablespoons lukewarm water, combined and allowed to gel).
Gluten free vegan applesauce muffins
If use you employ the dairy free and egg free substitutions on this recipe, and ensure your sugar is made with out bone char, you’d have gluten free vegan applesauce muffins.

FAQs
Can I make gluten free applesauce muffins with do-it-yourself applesauce?
Sure! You should utilize do-it-yourself applesauce, however please ensure that it is comprised of peeled and cored apples, totally pureed till clean, and made with none added sugar.
Can I change buttermilk with common milk with some lemon juice?
No, that age-old advice for a buttermilk substitute provides acid, however method an excessive amount of water, to your recipes. Commercially ready buttermilk has added thickeners and fewer moisture than common milk, which is a part of why it really works so nicely in baking recipes.
Is applesauce gluten free?
Sure, most applesauce is gluten free. The truth is, until it has been contaminated with gluten or has gluten-containing components added to it, like thickeners, applesauce is of course gluten free.
Could make these into gf oatmeal muffins with applesauce?
You would possibly be capable of change 36 grams of the all objective gluten free flour mix on this recipe with gluten free oat flour should you needed so as to add some complete grains. I would not add rolled oats to the batter, however you may sprinkle a couple of on high of the muffin batter earlier than the muffin tin goes within the oven. Our wholesome gluten free blueberry muffins are made utilizing applesauce, and fully with oat flour, and with none rice flour mix.
Can I make mini gluten free applesauce muffins with this recipe?
Sure, you should use this similar recipe to make miniature muffins. All the identical guidelines apply for recipe success that we have mentioned on this submit. Simply begin checking them for doneness by 12 minutes, and cut back the time they spend at 425°F to three minutes.
Can I add mix-ins to those muffins?
You may add some mix-ins, however make sure they do not additionally add moisture. Keep away from berries, however attempt including not more than 3 or 4 ounces of chopped smooth nuts, like pecans or walnuts. Chocolate chips may additionally be good.

Storing your gluten free applesauce muffins
These muffins will keep contemporary on the counter, lined, for about two days. After that, quite than refrigerating them, which dries out baked items, freeze them in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, then pile them right into a freezer-safe container. Even a zip-top freezer protected bag works nicely, as soon as they’re already frozen.
Defrosting your gf muffins with applesauce
We all the time have muffins within the freezer are our home, and my youngsters typically defrost them the evening earlier than by inserting one, wrapped or lined nicely, on the kitchen counter. It is good to go very first thing within the morning. If you happen to’re in a rush, you may defrost certainly one of these easy muffins simply within the microwave on decreased energy (attempt 50%) for about 1 minute. Give it a mild squeeze to make certain it isn’t frozen nonetheless within the middle.

Gluten Free Applesauce Muffins
These gluten free applesauce muffins are easy, tender muffins made with clean applesauce and loads of floor cinnamon for the right breakfast or snack.
Yield: 12 muffins
Substances
- 2 cups (280 g) all objective gluten free flour mix (I used Higher Batter; please click on via for more information on applicable blends)
- 1 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit in case your mix already incorporates it)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons floor cinnamon
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons (84 g) unsalted butter melted and cooled
- ⅔ cup (160 g) applesauce at room temperature
- ⅓ cup (2.66 fluid ounces) buttermilk at room temperature
- 2 (100 g (weighed out of shell)) eggs at room temperature, overwhelmed
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Cinnamon sugar combination for sprinkling (elective; see Recipe Notes)
Directions
-
Preheat your oven to 425°F. Grease or line the wells of a normal 12-cup muffin tin and set it apart.
-
In a big bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, salt, floor cinnamon, and granulated sugar, and whisk to mix nicely.
-
Create a nicely within the middle of the dry components within the giant bowl and add the melted butter, applesauce, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla, and blend to till simply mixed. The batter shall be very smooth.
-
Divide the batter among the many ready wells of the muffin tin. Shake the pan forwards and backwards to distribute the batter evenly in every nicely of the muffin tin.
-
Sprinkle the tops of the batter within the muffin wells with a light-weight dusting of the elective cinnamon sugar combination. I take advantage of about 3/4 teaspoon of cinnamon sugar on every muffin.
-
Place the muffins within the middle of the preheated oven, and allow them to bake for five minutes.
-
Cut back the oven temperature to 350°F and proceed to bake till a toothpick inserted within the middle of a muffin comes out with no various moist crumbs connected (about one other quarter-hour). Don’t overbake.
-
Take away the pan from the oven. Permit the muffins to chill within the tin for five minutes earlier than transferring to a wire rack to chill utterly.
Notes
To make a cinnamon sugar combination for sprinkling on high of the uncooked muffins, you may nearly use as little or as a lot as you want. The ratio of floor cinnamon to granulated sugar ought to be about 1 teaspoon cinnamon to 1/4 cup granulated sugar (or 4 teaspoons floor cinnamon per full cup of granulated sugar).
Dietary info is approximate, and is calculated with out the added cinnamon sugar combination on the highest of the muffins.
Diet
Energy: 221kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 2g | Fats: 7g | Saturated Fats: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fats: 2g | Trans Fats: 0.2g | Ldl cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 239mg | Potassium: 34mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 230IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Gluten Free Applesauce Muffins
These gluten free applesauce muffins are easy, tender muffins made with clean applesauce and loads of floor cinnamon for the right breakfast or snack.
Yield: 12 muffins
Substances
- 2 cups (280 g) all objective gluten free flour mix (I used Higher Batter; please click on via for more information on applicable blends)
- 1 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit in case your mix already incorporates it)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons floor cinnamon
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons (84 g) unsalted butter melted and cooled
- ⅔ cup (160 g) applesauce at room temperature
- ⅓ cup (2.66 fluid ounces) buttermilk at room temperature
- 2 (100 g (weighed out of shell)) eggs at room temperature, overwhelmed
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Cinnamon sugar combination for sprinkling (elective; see Recipe Notes)
Directions
-
Preheat your oven to 425°F. Grease or line the wells of a normal 12-cup muffin tin and set it apart.
-
In a big bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, salt, floor cinnamon, and granulated sugar, and whisk to mix nicely.
-
Create a nicely within the middle of the dry components within the giant bowl and add the melted butter, applesauce, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla, and blend to till simply mixed. The batter shall be very smooth.
-
Divide the batter among the many ready wells of the muffin tin. Shake the pan forwards and backwards to distribute the batter evenly in every nicely of the muffin tin.
-
Sprinkle the tops of the batter within the muffin wells with a light-weight dusting of the elective cinnamon sugar combination. I take advantage of about 3/4 teaspoon of cinnamon sugar on every muffin.
-
Place the muffins within the middle of the preheated oven, and allow them to bake for five minutes.
-
Cut back the oven temperature to 350°F and proceed to bake till a toothpick inserted within the middle of a muffin comes out with no various moist crumbs connected (about one other quarter-hour). Don’t overbake.
-
Take away the pan from the oven. Permit the muffins to chill within the tin for five minutes earlier than transferring to a wire rack to chill utterly.
Notes
To make a cinnamon sugar combination for sprinkling on high of the uncooked muffins, you may nearly use as little or as a lot as you want. The ratio of floor cinnamon to granulated sugar ought to be about 1 teaspoon cinnamon to 1/4 cup granulated sugar (or 4 teaspoons floor cinnamon per full cup of granulated sugar).
Dietary info is approximate, and is calculated with out the added cinnamon sugar combination on the highest of the muffins.
Diet
Energy: 221kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 2g | Fats: 7g | Saturated Fats: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fats: 2g | Trans Fats: 0.2g | Ldl cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 239mg | Potassium: 34mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 230IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 0.2mg