These delicious Gluten-Free Apple Streusel Muffins are moist, sweet, and topped with a crunchy cinnamon crumble. Finished with the perfect drizzle of sweet icing, they make the ultimate morning treat.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why You'll Love This Apple Muffins Recipe
• 🛒 Ingredients for Apple Streusel Muffins
• 🔪 How to Make Gluten-Free Apple Streusel Muffins
• 💡 Tips for Making Gluten-Free Muffins
• ☑️ Storage Instructions
• 🍴 What to Serve with Apple Muffins
• 🔄 Substitutions and Additions
• Why Didn’t My Muffins Rise Properly?
• Why is My Streusel Topping Not Crumbly?
• How Do I Know When the Muffins are Done?
• Why Are My Muffins Sticking to the Paper Liners?
• Can I Make the Batter Ahead of Time?
• 🍽️ More Muffin Recipes

❤️ Why You'll Love This Apple Muffins Recipe

• Perfectly fluffy texture
• Apple Butter in the batter gives them incredible flavor
• Sweet streusel crumb topping
• Easy to make, using all healthy ingredients
• Gluten-free and kid friendly

Everyone has their own idea about what makes the perfect muffin. For me, it’s all about a tender, moist crumb, and of course, an irresistible streusel topping. These apple streusel muffins check all the boxes, with a deliciously spiced batter all made with gluten-free ingredients. Topped with a buttery cinnamon crumble, every bite has the perfect balance of cozy fall flavors.

But that’s not all! Once baked to golden perfection, these muffins are drizzled with a simple vanilla icing that takes them to the next level. The soft texture combined with the crunchy topping makes them an ideal choice for breakfast or a mid-day snack. Whether you’re gluten-free or just love a good muffin, these are sure to become your favorite.

If you love the warm apple spice flavors in these muffins, you have to check out my Gluten-Free Apple Cake.

🛒 Ingredients for Apple Streusel Muffins

• Super fine almond flour
• Oat fiber
• Apple butter
• Coconut sugar
• Monk fruit/allulose
• Sour cream
• Heavy Cream
• Eggs
• Butter
• Baking powder
• Vanilla extract
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground nutmeg
• Salt

*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

🥣 Recommended Tools

• Mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Hand mixer
• Muffin pan
• Muffin liners
• Ice cream scoop

🔪 How to Make Gluten-Free Apple Streusel Muffins

Preheat oven to 350°F

To Make the Streusel Topping

Add the almond flour, coconut sugar, ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg to a mixing bowl.

Pour in the melted butter, then mix until you have what resembles course crumbs, then set aside while you prepare the muffins.

To Make the Muffins

Add the almond flour, oat fiber, ground cinnamon, baking powder and salt to a mixing bowl.  Whisk to combine and remove any lumps, then set aside.

In a separate bowl, add in the coconut sugar, apple butter, sour cream, eggs and vanilla extract.

Mix using a hand mixer, until combined.

Add in the dry ingredients. Continue mixing, just until combined.

Using an ice cream scoop, scoop the batter into 10 muffin liners in a muffin pan.

Evenly distribute the crumb topping over the batter of each muffin.  Gently press down, to help them adhere to the muffins.

Bake for 23-25 minutes, then increase the temperature to 400°F and bake for another 5 minutes or until the crumb topping is slightly browned.  Then allow the muffins to cool before adding the icing.

To Make the Icing

Add the powdered sweetener, heavy cream and vanilla extract to a small bowl and whisk to combine.  Add in more heavy cream if needed, to get the right consistency.  It should be thick and not too runny.

Drizzle the icing over the cooled muffins and they are ready to serve!

💡 Tips for Making Gluten-Free Muffins

• Homemade apple butter: While store-bought apple butter may be easier, homemade is so much better. Store-bought can sometimes be too sweet or lack freshness.

• Press the streusel topping lightly: To keep the delicious crumble in place while baking, gently press the streusel topping into the batter. This helps it stick better and ensures a perfect crunchy topping in every bite!

• Room temp ingredients: To prevent the ingredients from separating when mixed, make sure your eggs, sour cream, and other wet ingredients are at room temperature.

• Don't overmix: Mix just until everything is combined. Overmixing causes the muffins to become dense and tough.

• Let it cool: It may be tempting to cut the cake when it’s warm. Cake made with gluten-free flour is more tender, so allowing it to cool before slicing will keep it from crumbling.

☑️ Storage Instructions

To store these muffins, first make sure they have cooled completely to prevent any moisture buildup. Once cooled, place them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.

If you'd like to keep them fresh for longer, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to a week. For even longer storage, these muffins freeze well! Simply wrap each muffin individually in plastic wrap, place them in a freezer-safe bag, and freeze for up to three months.

When you're ready to enjoy, thaw them at room temperature or warm them up in the microwave for a few seconds.

🍴 What to Serve with Apple Muffins

These gluten-free apple streusel muffins pair perfectly with a warm cup of coffee or tea for a quick and easy breakfast. For a more substantial breakfast, you can serve them alongside any of these breakfast main courses:

• Sausage Breakfast Sliders
• Eggs Benedict
• Roasted Cauliflower and Ham Casserole
• Bacon Egg and Pepper Pinwheels
• Jalapeno Popper Egg Cups
• Mexican Breakfast Casserole

🔄 Substitutions and Additions

• Apple butter: Swap the apple butter with some of this homemade Applesauce for a slightly milder flavor.

• Coconut sugar: You can replace the coconut sugar with brown sugar or maple syrup if you prefer a different sweetener.

• Sour cream: Substitute with Greek yogurt or dairy-free yogurt for a lighter or dairy-free option.

• Nuts: Fold in chopped walnuts or pecans for a bit of crunch and extra texture.

• Dried fruit: Add raisins or dried cranberries for a burst of sweetness.

• Vanilla extract: You can swap the vanilla for almond extract for a slightly different flavor that pairs well with apple and cinnamon.

• Shredded apple: Mix in some grated fresh apple to the batter for added moisture and texture.

• Chocolate chips: For a fun twist, fold in a handful of chocolate chips to the batter.

Why Didn’t My Muffins Rise Properly?

Muffins may not rise properly if your baking powder is old or expired. Make sure to use fresh baking powder, and make your oven is fully preheated to 350°F before baking. Overmixing the batter can also lead to denser muffins that don't rise as well.

Why is My Streusel Topping Not Crumbly?

This is usually because there’s too much butter. Be sure to measure the butter correctly, and mix the ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. If it's too soft, you can chill it in the refrigerator for a few minutes to firm up before adding it to the muffins.

How Do I Know When the Muffins are Done?

The muffins are done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, but no wet batter. You can also lightly press the top of a muffin, and it should spring back when done.  

Why Are My Muffins Sticking to the Paper Liners?

Muffins may stick to liners if they’re still too warm or if the liners aren't greased. Let them cool completely before attempting to remove them. You can also try using parchment paper muffin liners or lightly spray the liners with non-stick spray before adding the batter.

Can I Make the Batter Ahead of Time?

I don't recommend making muffin batter ahead of time, because the baking powder starts to activate once it's mixed with the wet ingredients. For the best rise and texture, bake the muffins right after mixing the batter.

🍽️ More Muffin Recipes

• Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
• Snickerdoodle Muffins
• Blueberry Muffins
• Mock Apple Muffins
• Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Filling
• Cranberry Sauce and Walnut Muffins