If you’re looking for a perfect cozy fall treat, these Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Muffins are sure to deliver! They have a soft, tender crumb, sweet apples, and a buttery streusel top. They come together quickly using some pretty basic pantry ingredients, including a boxed cake mix. These make a fantastic addition to breakfast, an after school snack, or an evening treat.
Ingredients Needed
This is just a preview of ingredients and method, keep scrolling for full printable recipe.
Muffins
- Boxed cake mix – Yellow or white cake; I recommend Duncan Hines.
- Canola oil – Or other neutral oil.
- Pumpkin spice – You could also just use cinnamon.
- Eggs
- Sour cream – Full fat is best for a moist, tender crumb. You could also use plain Greek yogurt here.
- Vanilla extract
- Granny Smith apples – Really any apple will work, but tart baking apples are ideal.
- Lemon juice
- All-purpose flour
Streusel Topping
- Granulated sugar
- All-purpose flour
- Cinnamon
- Butter – Real butter please!
How to Make Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Muffins
- Line two 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake liners and set aside.
- Peel and chop the apples and then toss them in about a tablespoon of lemon juice. Then sprinkle the apples with 2 tablespoons of flour and toss them well to combine. Set the apples aside.
- In a large bowl, combine a cake mix, oil, pumpkin pie spice, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Fold in the apple mixture and then divide the batter evenly among the lined muffin tins.
- In a small bowl, whisk together a little cinnamon, all-purpose flour, and granulated sugar. Add a little softened butter and cut it in with two knives or a pastry blender until crumbly. Sprinkle the streusel topping over the cupcake batter.
- Place the pans in the preheated oven and bake until golden brown on top and a pick inserted into the center of one of the cupcake comes out clean. Allow to cool in pans. Makes 24 muffins.
Storing and Other Tips
- Store cooled muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days or in the refrigerator for 5-6 days for best results.
- Wrap individual muffins in plastic before storing for an easy grab-and-go snack or lunch box treat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes! These muffins are perhaps even better after a day! Bake ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the fridge. You can wrap muffins individually and use throughout the week as needed as well.
Can I freeze these muffins?
Yep. Freeze muffins on a baking sheet for 1-2 hours, then transfer to a zip-top freezer bag or airtight container for freezer storage for 2-3 months. For optimal freshness, you could wrap the muffins individually in plastic before the initial freeze as well. Use within 2-3 months.
Can I add nuts?
Sure! Chopped walnuts or pecans would be a great addition to the streusel topping.
Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Muffins
A tender blend of cake mix, sour cream, and tart apples, topped with a buttery cinnamon streusel—perfect for breakfast or brunch bites.
Servings muffins
Equipment
Ingredients
Muffins
- 1 yellow cake mix I recommend Duncan Hines
- ½ cup avocado oil or vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream I recommend full fat
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 12 oz peeled and finely chopped Granny Smith apples 2-3 apples, buy 1lb to be safe
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Streusel Topping
- ½ cup white sugar
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons butter cut into small squares
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Lin 2 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake liners and set aside.
Streusel
- Whisk together sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Add the butter and use clean hands to gently toss and then smash the butter pieces into the mixture, crumbling until the mixture looks like sand. It's okay to have some larger bits of butter as well. Set aside.
Muffins
- In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, oil, cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Using an electric mixer, beat on low for 30 seconds to incorporate the ingredients and then beat on high for 3 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, toss the chopped apples in the lemon juice and then add the flour and toss to coat evenly. Fold the apples into the cake batter and then Fill muffin tins about 3/4 full. It should make 24 muffins, with possibly just a bit leftover for a solo muffin depending on the size of your tins.
- Sprinkle streusel on top of muffins (about 2 teaspoons each.)
- Place the pans in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. This really depends on your oven and the moisture content of your apples so use a skewer to check for doneness. Mine take about 18-20 minutes!
- Let cool slightly before enjoying, or serve at room temperature.
Notes
- Store cooled muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days or in the refrigerator for 5-6 days for best results.
- Wrap individual muffins in plastic before storing for an easy grab-and-go snack or lunch box treat.
Nutrition
Serving: 1muffin, Calories: 196kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 30mg, Sodium: 179mg, Potassium: 58mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 16g, Vitamin A: 146IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 61mg, Iron: 1mg
Calories: 196kcal
Cost: $7
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Questions & Reviews
Maybe there is something in the air too…I forgot how old I was and I’m definitely not so old that should be happening…
Love the cupcake/muffin wrappers!
Feel for you with the pregnancy thing. I’m done in just under 3 weeks now, but I missed out on so much food-wise in the fall. This looks great!
I agree with only using Duncan Hines cake mix. Those with pudding in the mix end up with slimy texture which isn’t good to eat. I was at a party over a year ago and I got complements about my yummy cupcakes. I was even asked what my secret was. My answer, Duncan Hines. I can’t wait to try this recipe. Apples and cinnamon were made for each other.
I can totally relate to being off with the dates. I find it hard to believe that it’s the end of April as well! (probably because I had morning sickness at the end of November through January – and we’d moved at the end of September… So it all seems like a blur!) However I think the thing that keeps me most on track is looking forward to the ever approaching due date!
These look delicious and I so want to go make them, but I have to buy a cake mix first…
That’s interesting, Kate. About a week ago, a saw a commercial for baseball and I thought “Oh, is it the World Series coming up?” Uh, NO! Baseball is just getting started. It’s not October, it’s April! I was very confused for a minute. So I completely understand your feeling of losing your mind.
I made some muffins similar to these and the fun part was using ground-up cinnamon graham crackers in the streusel! It was great!
Help with liners? Every time I use cupcake liners the food ends up sticking to the liners really bad. I’ve been spraying them with Pam, but they end up so greasy and messy. Any help?
I’m not sure–have you tried a different brand of liners? I’ve never had that problem before.
For problems with muffins or cupcakes sticking……Use foil lined ones. They are fabulous and have really cute designs available now a days.
These muffins sound delightful. Yum!
mmm..cinnamon coffee cake is one of my all time favorites…I dont know why I never though to turn them into muffins! you’re a genius! I cant wait to make these soon!
i just said to a colleague at work ‘do these muffins sound OK?’ She said ‘NO THEY SOUND AMAZING!’ So I guess I know what I’m making for the next staff meeting hahaha!
It’s really interesting what the same products are called in different places. Yellow cake mix is always called sponge in the UK, even though the ingredients, branding, picture etc’ are the same, he he it will work whatever the box is called I guess. And pie spice is just plain ‘mixed spice’, as all-purpose flour is just ‘plain flour’. Sigh, much less glamour over here in the baking aisle of Tescos hahaha!
Thanks for that Perdita! I’m a kiwi in London, just googled Duncan Hines yellow cake mix £17 on Amazon 🙁 so what relief can buy at Tesco 🙂
Love this site and the amazing recipes and tips etc Thanks so much best bites x
These look so good!! I want to make them now but I don’t have a cake mix handy, do you think these will still work with a basic muffin recipe?? Thanks
I’ve never tried it, so I can’t say! Sorry! 🙁