Applesauce Muffins in a muffin tray.

Applesauce Muffins with Chia Seeds

I call my Applesauce Muffins “weekday muffins” because they’re a good way to start a work/school day! Packed with protein from Greek yogurt and chia seeds, these deliciously apple-spiced muffins provide the breakfast nutrients you need to start a successful day!

Applesauce Muffins in a muffin tray.
Applesauce Muffins with Chia Seeds

Applesauce Muffins – a better way to start your day! These deliciously apple-spiced muffins are packed with protein from Greek yogurt and chia seeds.

Applesauce Chia Muffin on a plate with apples in the background.

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First Bites

I still remember the first time my daughter tried solid food. Rice cereal. The timing coincided with my husband’s family’s visit, and we had just returned from a road trip to Yosemite. My father-in-law held my daughter as I spooned little bits of rice cereal into her teeny mouth, her little tongue pushing most of it out. But with each offering, she caught a taste, and even a little swallow, and we couldn’t give her the food fast enough.

My father-in-law was tickled pink and chuckled with delight, and we captured this moment on tape. We rewatched her baby video not too long ago, and to hear his voice and laugh was so comforting — I’m so glad he was there for that first in her life!

From that moment on, there were more foods to explore. Mashed avocado was next, which she loved. And applesauce. But it’s so interesting how their tastes can change over time. Avocados and applesauce, which she once devoured with gusto are now not in favor. My son, on the other hand, still adores mashed avocado, especially in avocado milk.

Applesauce: Yes/No

But for both of them, applesauce gets the thumbs down, so when I have some in the house, it’s strictly for baking.

They do agree on some things, after all!

There’s one more thing the kids agree on: muffins. And I have to admit, I’m with them on this one. Come weekend time, if I’m not making buttermilk pancakes, chances are I’m making some muffins.

Applesauce Muffins with Chia Seeds

These Applesauce Muffins are what I call weekday muffins. Why? Well, weekend muffins tend to be a little more indulgent, a little heavier, and even a little sweeter. But on weekdays, my kids can’t tolerate anything too sweet in the morning – their stomachs will actually protest, not a good thing when you’re headed for school.

A hand picking up an applesauce muffin from a cooling rack.

So I made these muffins with Mondays in mind. They are packed with protein from Greek yogurt and chia seeds, and the apple sauce lends its natural sweetness – I purposely cut down on the sugar but of course, you can change it to suit your tastes, if you wish!

How to Make Applesauce Muffins

1) Whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cloves.

A glass bowl filled with dry ingredients and a metal whisk.

2) In another small bowl, whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, melted coconut oil, applesauce, and vanilla until smooth.

3) Mix in the Greek yogurt and chia seeds until blended.

4) Stir the egg mixture into the flour mixture and whisk until just combined. Do not overmix the batter – you want it to be lumpy.

Ingredients for the recipe sitting on the counter.

5) Distribute the batter into the prepared muffin pan and sprinkle with the demerara sugar and cinnamon.

6) Place in the oven and bake for about 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and place the muffins on a wire rack to cool before enjoying.

A tray of freshly baked applesauce muffins sitting on a cooling rack.

Tasting Applesauce Muffins

As for the applesauce, well, yes, I did hear some moans and groans when they discovered it was in the muffins. “But I hate applesauce!” they whined. Until they took a bite. And then another. And then asked for more.

An Applesauce Chia Muffin sliced in half.

More Muffin Recipes to Start Your Day

Apple Oat Muffins
Blueberry Almond Butter Muffins (Vegan)
Carrot Oat Muffins
Chocolate Banana Quinoa Muffins

Applesauce Muffins with Chia Seeds

Applesauce Muffins – a better way to start your day! They're deliciously apple-spiced and packed with protein from Greek yogurt and chia seeds. These muffins are not too sweet but can be adapted to your sweet tooth as necessary.
Applesauce Muffins in a muffin tray.
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5 from 3 votes
Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine American
Prep Time 12 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Calories 214kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • pinch of ground cloves
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar to taste (see notes)
  • 1/2 cup melted coconut oil ( or olive oil or unsalted butter)
  • 1 cup applesauce see notes
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons chia seeds
  • 2 tablespoons demerara sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°. Line a muffin pan with liners, parchment paper, or lightly grease with coconut oil, olive oil, or flour.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cloves.
  • In another small bowl, whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, melted coconut oil, applesauce, and vanilla until smooth.
  • Mix in the Greek yogurt and chia seeds until blended.
  • Stir in the egg mixture into the flour mixture and whisk until just combined. Do not overmix the batter – you want it to be lumpy.
  • Distribute the batter into the prepared muffin pan and sprinkle with the demerara sugar and cinnamon.
  • Place in the oven and bake for about 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Remove from oven and place the muffins on a wire rack to cool before enjoying.

Notes

I used sweetened applesauce in this recipe and used less brown sugar than I normally would use in a muffin, but found the muffins sweet enough for our liking. If you use unsweetened applesauce, be sure to adjust your sugar accordingly. And if you prefer a sweeter muffin overall, then you may want to add an extra 1/4 cup of brown sugar to what I list here.
Adapted heavily from Applesauce Spice Muffins, Gourmet (November, 2003) via Epicurious.

Nutrition

Calories: 214kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 112mg | Potassium: 124mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 45IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see! Tag @kitchconfidante on Instagram and hashtag it #kitchenconfidante

Comments

Recipe Rating




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  1. Catherine Maxey

    5 stars
    Really good. Cut sugar to less than 1/2 cup, 75 grams by weight. . Cut oil to 3T and used 2oz banana. Added 1/4 cup sunflower seeds because someone gave them to me. Used 1/2 cup cottage cheese that I pureed because I didn’t have yogurt. Great flavor. Great moist texture. Good way to use chia seeds.

    Reply
  2. Lulu

    5 stars
    These are terrific and I’ve made them at least 4 times in the past month using my own apple sauce and a couple of different GF flour brands. Very forgiving recipe.

    Reply
    • Liren Baker

      Thank you, Lulu! It must be amazing with your own applesauce, and I’m so glad it works well with the GF flours you have tried!

      Reply
  3. cynthia kokitus

    These muffins sound wonderful. I want to lose weight but not crazy bout the pudding. I will try these today! Thank you

    Reply
  4. D. Boda

    These look so delicious. I used unsweetened applesauce and the half cup sugar and they are the perfect not overly sweet sweets! The chia gives them a great sponginess.

    Reply
  5. Haicam Yan

    I have made these 3 times and they always come out perfect. I used unsweetened applesauce and the half cup sugar and they are the perfect not overly sweet sweets! The chia gives them a great sponginess. Love all the healthy ingredients. Thanks!

    Reply
  6. lenny face

    I made this last night and it’s delicious! I baked it in a cast iron pan and cooked it for 25minutes and I think it was about 5 minutes too long – but still delicious. Next time I think I will check on it in 20 minutes. Thanks so much for the recipe! The family loves it!!

    Reply
  7. Karina

    I just made these and they were amazing! So moist and tasty. I ended up chopping extra Macoun apples in it and putting it in, and they were great! Thank you for making me baking star of my office ;)

    Reply
  8. sarah

    just made these. they taste great but i think something went wrong with my baking because they are great and crisp on top but the inside is kind of gooey and oily. maybe because my coconut oil hardened as i was trying to mix it because the kids kept getting up!
    will have to try again. tasty though.

    Reply
  9. Victor Wiginton

    Exactly I was searching this item. I watched a cartoon show with my niece. Then I saw this
    Applesauce Chia Muffins. That time I loved it. After that, I was searching so much. From here, I got and I am very happy. Thank you so much for sharing this fantastic recipe!

    Reply
    • Liren Baker

      It has been cold, hasn’t it, Laura! I’m almost ready to move on to spring, but muffins in the morning do make it easier :)

      Reply
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