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Magic Stay-Fresh Apple Muffins

By Nagi Maehashi
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If you’ve ever been disappointed by dry day-after muffins, these Apple Muffins are going to blow your mind. They stay 100% fresh for 4 to 5 days! Made with fresh apples, this muffin recipe is quick and you’ve probably already got everything you need to make them (you’ve got apples, right?!)

Stay-Fresh Apple Muffins

Stay-fresh Apple Muffins!

If you’ve ever been disappointed / annoyed at stale, dry muffins the day after making them, these Apple Muffins are going to blow your mind!! They’re super moist on the day and they stay moist for 4 to 5 days!!

Here’s the secret to keep muffins moist…

The secret to these stay-moist Apple Muffins are:

  • Brown sugar instead of white – brown sugar retains moisture far better in baked goods; and

  • Only 1 egg – Eggs dry out baked goods. Well, the egg white part does. That’s why you’ll find some baking recipes only call for egg yolks – because it binds without drying out the batter.

  • Moisture in the apples which keeps the muffin crumb fresh for days and days!

And that’s the only difference between the batter for these muffins and the usual muffin mixes. Yet the shelf life difference is amazing!

These Brown Sugar Apple Muffins are magical - made with pantry staples (no buttermilk or yoghurt), they stay moist for 4 - 5 days! recipetineats.com

Miracle stay-fresh muffin recipe

This magic stay-fresh muffin recipe is a great master muffin mix because it’s made with pantry staples:

  • flour – wholewheat OR white

  • butter

  • egg

  • milk

  • brown sugar

  • baking soda

  • vinegar*

  • cinnamon (or other spice mix)

No buttermilk, no yoghurt, no sour cream.

I know there are muffin recipes out there that swear by them for moist muffins. But they aren’t required for this recipe. I promise you, these Apple Muffins are going to be super moist straight out of the oven – and they will stay moist for 4 to 5 days. No need to even warm them up!

Wondering what the vinegar is for?

Just a touch of vinegar gives baking soda a kick start, the same effect that buttermilk and yoghurt has when used in batters. Useful for muffins to give that dome a boost.

These Brown Sugar Apple Muffins are magical - made with pantry staples (no buttermilk or yoghurt), they stay moist for 4 - 5 days! recipetineats.com

Customise to your hearts’ content

I’ve made Apple Muffins here, but this miracle muffin batter is just waiting for your own add ins! Just add 2 to 2.5 cups of diced fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate or other chips – go wild!

For the fresh fruit, just be sure it’s fruit that won’t bleed too much and become mushy when baked. Some fruits I’ve used that work very well include:

  • Pears

  • Mango (though, if like me, you love coconut with mango, give these Coconut Mango Muffins a go!)

  • Berries – blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, mulberries

  • Strawberries (use small ones)

These Brown Sugar Apple Muffins are magical - made with pantry staples (no buttermilk or yoghurt), they stay moist for 4 - 5 days! recipetineats.com
These Brown Sugar Apple Muffins are magical - made with pantry staples (no buttermilk or yoghurt), they stay moist for 4 - 5 days! recipetineats.com

With the super long shelf life of these Apple Muffins, they are ideal for grab and go snacks, popping into lunch boxes, afternoon teas and just generally devouring on an as-needed basis.

With the sweet little dome, a sparkling sugar crust (if you so choose), tender pieces of apple and a hint of cinnamon fragrance, they look and smell as great as they taste. Enjoy! – Nagi x

Watch how to make it

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Freshly baked apple muffins

Stay-Fresh Apple Muffins!

Author: Nagi
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Baking
Western
4.95 from 233 votes
Servings11 – 12 muffins
Tap or hover to scale
Print
Recipe VIDEO above. These muffins are a miracle – they stay fresh for 4 to 5 days!! KEY TIP: Do not over mix batter (causes dry muffin), stir until flour is just incorporated, few lumps is fine. This recipe will work with cup measures regardless of which country you are in, with the exception of Japan – please use weights provided. 

Ingredients

  • 2 level cups apple pieces (peeled) , 0.7 cm / 1/3" cubes (2 large apples, I use red)
  • 1 tbsp melted butter , for muffin tim (or use paper liners)

Wet:

  • 115g / 0.5 cup unsalted butter , melted (1 stick)
  • 1 cup (200g) brown sugar , packed
  • 2/3 cup (165 ml) milk (low fat, full fat, non dairy also fine)
  • 1 large egg (approx 60g / 2 oz)
  • 1 tsp white vinegar (or any other clear vinegar)

Dry:

  • 2 cups (300g) wholemeal flour (wholewheat flour)(white also ok, Note 1)
  • 1 tsp baking soda (bi carb) (NOT baking powder)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon powder
  • Pinch salt

Topping (optional):

  • 2 tbsp raw sugar (demerara sugar – large granules)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 200C/390F.
  • Brush a 12 hole, standard muffin tin with melted butter, or line with paper cases. (Note 3)
  • Place butter and brown sugar in a bowl, whisk to combine.
  • Add milk, then egg and vinegar. Whisk to combine.
  • Scatter flour across batter surface, followed by baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Whisk 10 times until the flour is incorporated – some lumps is fine.
  • Stir through apple -minimum stirs just to disperse.
  • Scoop batter into muffin tin – I use an ice cream scoop – filling it all the way to the top. If using a scooper, leave it the slight ball shape (see video) – don’t smooth the top.  You should get 12 (see Note 3).
  • Sprinkle with sugar (if using – makes surface slightly crispy), place muffins in the oven.
  • Immediately turn down to 180C/350F.
  • Bake for 20 minutes (standard) or 18 minutes (fan / convection) , or until a skewer comes out clean.
  • Rest in the muffin tin for 5 minutes then transfer to a rack to cool.
  • Once fully cooled, store in an airtight container – it will stay moist for up to 5 days. These also freeze very well.

Recipe Notes:

1. Flour – I like using wholewheat flour for these, but it works perfectly with plain / all purpose white flour as well. The muffins will be a bit paler and they are even softer. (They are soft with the wholewheat too, it’s just they are even softer with white flour).
2. TIP: Chop the apple up into small pieces, otherwise it has a tendency to make the muffin seem too crumbly, noting that this muffin batter only uses 1 egg (which is a reason why it’s so moist but also means the crumb is not as tightly bound as muffin mixes that use 2 eggs, so you need to ensure the apple pieces are chopped fairly small).
3. MUFFIN TIN SIZES: There are mini, standard and jumbo muffin tins. This recipe is for standard muffin tins. Standard muffin tin sizes do differ slightly here in Australia – there are 1/3 and 1/2 cup muffin tins. You should get 12 out of this recipe either way because with the 1/3 cup, the batter mounds slightly over the top of the muffin tin hole plus there is a bit left over. With the 1/2 cup, it fills 12 holes pretty much to the top, scraping every bit of batter out of the bowl. 
4. CAKE/LOAF: Don’t use this recipe for a cake or loaf, the crumb is too delicate. Use this recipe (YES it is moist too!) -> https://www.recipetineats.com/easy-apple-cake-recipe/
5. STORING: These keep so great in an airtight container for 4 to 5 days, they stay really nice and moist but it’s it’s really hot and/or humid where you are, keep them in the fridge.
The crunchy top does soften overnight, as it does with anything with a sugar topping. These are also terrific FROZEN – then just defrost before consuming, and yes they are moist even without reheating. 🙂
HUMIDITY warning! If it’s super humid and hot where you are (eg Sydney in summer!) these are prone to becoming mouldy because they are so moist! So store them in the fridge.
6. Recipe adapted from these Brown Sugar Muffins by Taste and Tell.
7. Different measures in different countries – This recipe is fine to use as written irrespective of what country you are in. The exception is Japan – use weights and ml, not Japanese measuring cups.
8. Nutrition assuming 12 muffins.
different-measur…ferent-countries/

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 103gCalories: 253cal (13%)
Keywords: apple muffins, moist muffins
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

Muffin Mania

Life of Dozer

Couldn’t decide which one to share. Both are classic Life-Of-Dozer moments.

Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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562 Comments

  1. Dorothy Dunton says

    Hi Nagi ! These are similar to muffins I make around the holidays; muffins on hand mean I’m not making breakfast 🙂 You knew I’d like these! I would gladly buy 6 pounds of shrimp if someone else will peel them! That second photo of Dozer is classic!!

    Reply

    • Nagi says

      You know, I tried to use your apple cake recipe for these muffins, I’m not food sciencey enough to understand why but these are more moist, I couldn’t understand because your batter in CAKE form is so moist!!! 😇

      Reply

  2. Regina says

    Awe Nagi, I just adore you, your website and awesome recipes. I don’t have instagram but LOVE the pictures of Dozer,..could you put some of them on here your website from the BBQ tonight. I can’t wait to see them. I live in Michigan no beach BBQ here!! It is 50 degrees with night time lows in the 30’s. Thanks again for all of you talent and delicious recipes.

    Reply

    • Nagi says

      I FORGOT TO TAKE PHOTOS!!!! I was so preoccupied trying to keep Dozer under control, he was going nuts with all the kids there, stealing entire hot dogs (YES HE DID), chasing birds, wanting to dive into the surf…. it was insane. I’m exhausted.

      Reply

  3. Patricia Gail Galley says

    Going to try your muffin recipe on Saturday for church on Sunday…….think the kids and the bigger and older kids!!! will love them. And they won’t be DRY! I take your word for it!

    And Dozer – what a gem…….and ‘that’ look is familiar (with his chin on the chair/couch) Mmmmm….we have two dogs, and they get that same look – like – “…..I’m looking – but – I’m trying not too – but – I really am hoping’ what would we do without our pets – they really are part of our family, as it appears they are in yours?

    Thanks for your recipes Nagi……have a number of them that I want to make, and will likely get a chance to do so this winter (soon) when the snow begins to fly. The forecast is for a heavier then average snowfall so that means…..we will definitely get snowed in periodically which will curtail all the running around I’m usually assigned to do. Which will be quite nice indeed! ……I’ll have some extra time to try those recipes I’ve been saving.

    Reply

    • Nagi says

      That heavy chin on leg thing is the one that gets me every time – and HE KNOWS IT!!! 😂

      Reply

  4. Regina Vieyra says

    Dear Nagi,

    These muffings sound awesome. Can you mix all purpose flour with whole wheat flour? I have a little bit of both.
    I love Doxer’s pictures, he is sooo cute!
    Thank you for all your recipes, I’ve tried a few and I love them.

    Best wishes!

    Reply

    • Nagi says

      Absolutely! Won’t affect the recipe, I’ve made this with both white and wholemeal so mixing them will be fine 🙂 N xx

      Reply

  5. Ellen says

    This recipe is just what I need because, I have apples from apple picking and this sounds very easy! I would like to ask one question: do you think that a gluten-free flour could be used in this recipe? My youngest daughter has Celiac’s and I try to find recipes where a 1:1 substitute flour will work too. She is a grown Mother herself, but I still try to help finding suitable recipes for her. I am making this recipe as posted for my household today. Thank-you!

    Reply

    • Nagi says

      Hi Ellen! I haven’t tried this with GF flour but I will add it to my recipe testing list and let you know!

      Reply

      • Ellen says

        5 stars
        I appreciate this and I hope that you will be successful. Thank-you so much! P.S. These muffins are yumalicious, made them per your recipe and they are just perfect. Freezing some for later. I just hope that the recipe will work with the 1:1 substitute flour so my daughter can have them too.

        Reply

  6. Cynthia says

    Love your recipes, thanks for the awesome baking tips you mentioned. Dozer is adorable!

    Reply

    • Nagi says

      You’re most welcome Cynthia!! 🙂 N xx

      Reply