Simple Sourdough Apple Muffins With Applesauce

This simple sourdough apple muffins recipe is the only one you’ll ever need! The muffins are soft, moist, and the perfect treat for apple lovers. The best part is how easy this sourdough recipe is to make.

Some sourdough apple muffin recipes have so many steps and take a long time to make! However, this delicious recipe is simple!

All you need is some apple sauce, muffin tins, and a few basic ingredients that you already have in your kitchen pantry. 

Why You’ll Love This Sourdough Apple Muffins Recipe:

• Easy to make
• Uses sourdough discard. No need for an active starter.
• Packed with flavor
• Incredibly moist and soft
• Perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack
• No mixer required
• Jam-packed with apple flavor
• Can add any mixin your heart desires!

If you LOVE applesauce, you definitely need to try these muffins. 

Unsweetened Applesauce vs Sweetened Applesauce

Sweetened applesauce usually has added sugar and/or high fructose corn syrup. Although it is sweet, there a distinct flavor profile in corn syrup.

Instead, this recipe calls for unsweetened applesauce. The sweetness comes from the maple syrup. In addition, maple syrup has a lovely flavor! You can really taste the maple syrup in these sourdough muffins. I highly suggest using unsweetened applesauce to keep the maple syrup. 

However, if you have only sweetened applesauce, you can use that instead. I recommend lowering the amount of maple syrup from ⅓ cup to ¼ cup. 

Can I Add Crisp Apples To The Muffin Batter?

Absolutely! Adding fresh apples is a great way to give the muffins a nice crunch.

I recommend using Honeycrisp apples or granny smith apples.

If you wanted to add diced apples, you would need to sprinkle flour on the apples before adding them to the muffin batter. The extra flour will help absorb the extra moisture from the apples.

The apple cinnamon filling on my Sourdough Apple Fritters recipe would be the perfect add-in to these muffins. 

Tips To Make The Perfect Sourdough Applesauce Muffins

Do Not Over-mix The Batter

Over-mixing the batter will develop the gluten in the flour, leading to a tougher muffin. For best results, stop folding the ingredients together once you see no more dry flour in the batter. 

Lower The Oven Temperature After Five Minutes

After the muffins bake in the oven for five minutes at 425°F, it is important to lower the temperature and bake at 350°F. 

The initial high temperature will help the muffins rise. Afterwards, baking at a lower temperature will help keep the muffins moist.

Use The Toothpick Test to Know When These Muffins Are Done.

During the baking process, poke the inside of one muffin with a toothpick. The muffins are done baking when the toothpick comes out clean.

Use a Kitchen Scale

It is more accurate than measuring cups. Too much flour will leave you with a dense muffin. On the other hand, too little flour will transform your batter into a liquid mess. 

Can I Make These Sourdough Discard Apple Muffins The Night Before And Bake Tomorrow?

You can let the batter rest overnight and bake the next day. If you want fresh muffins in the morning, you can make he batter the night before and let rest overnight in the fridge.

In the morning, scoop the batter into your muffin tin and bake as instructed.

Key Ingredients:

• Applesauce: This recipe uses unsweetened applesauce since it gets its sweetness from the maple syrup. If all you have is sweetened applesauce, that is fine. 
• Maple Syrup: The source of sweetness for this recipe. Pairs well with the apple sauce and the cinnamon. 
• Sourdough Starter or Sourdough Discard: Doesn’t have to be an active sourdough starter. Discard always works for these muffins. It wouldn’t be considered a sourdough recipe without this ingredient! Since the sourdough has been fermented, it will add more depth of flavor to the muffins. It will also aid in making the muffins moist.
• Whole Wheat Flour: If you would like, you can switch the whole wheat flour for all purpose flour. 
• Oatmeal: Old fashioned rolled oatmeal is best for this recipe. You can use quick oats as well. 
• Melted Butter: The BEST fat to use for almost every baked good on the planet. 
• Add-Ins: Any add-in your heart desires will pair well with the muffin batter. I used raisins, but you can use other dried fruits, fresh fruits, and even nuts. To take these muffins to the next level, try adding the cinnamon apple filling used in apple fritters.

Can I Substitute Ingredients?

Yes, you can absolutely substitute ingredients. You’ll still end up with moist muffins.

Maple Syrup

You Can replace the maple syrup with honey, pancake syrup, or ⅓ cup of brown sugar. 

Sourdough Starter or Sourdough Discard

For this recipe, you will need a sourdough or sourdough discard. You can learn how to make your own sourdough starter in this Foolproof sourdough starter from scratch guide. 

Whole-Wheat Flour

Although whole wheat gives the muffins a great flavor, you it isn’t the only type of flour you can use for this recipe. Replace the whole wheat flour with white all-purpose flour or bread flour.

Melted Butter

Instead of butter, you can use an oil of your choice. Vegetable oil and avocado oil are good substitution choices. 

Unsweetened Applesauce

You can use sweetened applesauce. You can even make your own applesauce at home.

Oatmeal

If you don’t have old-fashioned oatmeal, you can use quick one-minute oatmeal. If you don’t have any oatmeal at all, you can leave it out of this recipe. 

Step By Step Apple Sourdough Muffins Recipe Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425°F

In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients (whole wheat flour, oatmeal, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt). Set this flour mixture aside.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients (applesauce, eggs, melted butter (ghee or oil), maple syrup, and vanilla extract).

Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of the dry ingredients. If you are using raisins, also add the raisins into the bowl of dry ingredients. With a silicone spatula, fold the ingredients together until combined. 

Place muffin cups into a 12-count muffin pan. Spray with cooking spray or nonstick spray. 

Scoop the muffin batter into the muffin liners. Make sure to fill the liners with the batter all the way to the top! For a prettier muffin, sprinkle rolled oatmeal on top. 

Bake the muffins at 425°F for five minutes. Lower the temperature to 350°F and bake for an additional 18 minutes.

You will know when the muffins are ready when you insert a toothpick in the center of a muffin and it comes out clean. They will be golden brown.

Let the sourdough apple cinnamon muffins cool on a wire rack until ready to eat.

How To Store The Sourdough Muffins:

Let the apple muffins cool completely then place in an airtight container. They will last at room temperature for up to five days. 

If you need to store them for longer, you can wrap the muffins plastic wrap and freeze them for up to three months.

To defrost, simply leave them in your refrigerator overnight. Afterwards, you can microwave or toast them in your oven at 300°F for five minutes when you are ready to eat them.

Other Sourdough Discard Recipes You May Like

Best Sourdough Apple Fritters

Flakey Sourdough Discard Scones With Chocolate Chips

Quick Sourdough Crepes With Nutella

How To Make A Sourdough Starter From Scratch

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