With simple ingredients, natural sweetness, and a super easy stir-together method, these Cinnamon Muffins are a great breakfast for kids. You can make them ahead and serve them throughout the week, or even stash half of the batch into the freezer for later!
Cinnamon Muffins
Sweet, tender muffins with just enough cinnamon-sugar topping to turn them into a donut-like treat? We’re so in! And these muffins, while tasting delish, are a nutritious breakfast for kids that us parents will love too.
Bonus: You can easily make this muffin recipe egg-free and dairy-free for kids with allergies or families who eat vegan. The sweetness in these apple cinnamon muffins comes from a combination of applesauce and maple syrup. The result is a naturally sweet flavor that also lends a lot of moisture to the muffins.
I like using this mix because it cuts down on the overall amount of added sweetener needed, all while adding fiber, vitamin C, and delicious flavor. The apple flavor is pretty subtle (similarly to how it just provides sweetness in my Birthday Cake Muffins) and the muffins taste a little bit like a snickerdoodle cookie.
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Ingredients You Need
To make these easy muffins for kids you’ll need the following ingredients so you know what to have on hand and ready to go.
- Flour: We use a mix of all-purpose and whole wheat flour to yield fluffy muffins with some fiber and whole grains.
- Baking powder and baking soda: This mix ensures that the batter rises properly.
- Flaxseed: This is optional, but is a nice way to add beneficial fatty acids.
- Egg: You can use egg or my recommended egg replacer in this recipe. See the Notes at the end of the recipe for the full info.
- Milk: Dairy or nondairy milk works the same in this recipe, so you can use the one that works best for your family.
- Applesauce: I usually use smooth unsweetened applesauce, either homemade or store bought.
- Butter or oil: I usually use melted butter (unsalted), but this recipe also works with a neutral oil such as vegetable oil or avocado oil.
- Vanilla extract: This adds nice flavor so be sure to add it.
- Cinnamon and sugar: Optionally, you can top the muffins with a little bit of cinnamon and sugar for extra yumminess.
TIP: Find the allergy-friendly variations in the Notes at the bottom of the recipe.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a look at the simple process in making these healthy muffins. Scroll down to the bottom of the recipe for the full scoop.
- Stir the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients for the batter together in a large bowl. Whisk or stir gently to combine.
- Divide the batter among a 24-cup mini muffin cups. You’ll fill each cup about to the edge. (I grease with cooking spray to ensure they don’t stick.)
- Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture on top of each. Just a little adds flavor and nice texture.
- Bake until just golden brown around the edges and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out cleanly.
TIP: You can bake these as full muffins if you prefer, though this little size is perfect for toddlers. See the Notes section at the bottom of the recipe for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use non-dairy milk, oil instead of butter, and omit the egg if needed to adjust these for food allergies or to make vegan. See the Notes section of the recipe for full details. You can also use gluten-free flour to make these gluten-free. They’re super versatile!
In this recipe, it’s just enough baking soda to ensure that they rise really well. They’re super fluffy and moist from that and also the applesauce.
Sure, just skip it if you don’t want to add it. (It’s yummy though!)
How to Store
To store, place in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days, warming briefly if desired before serving. Or, freeze in a zip top freezer bag with as much air removed as possible for up to 3 months.
Best Tips for Success
- Gluten-free: Use gluten-free 1:1 style flour for the regular flours.
- Dairy-free: Use plain, unsweetened non-dairy milk and oil instead of butter.
- Egg-free: Omit the large eggs and increase the milk to ¾ cup. Add 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed to the batter.
- To make these as full size muffins, bake for 20-22 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out cleanly.
- To make these less sweet for younger toddlers or babies, you can cut the maple syrup down to 1-2 tablespoons and skip the cinnamon sugar on top.
- Any applesauce will work, though I use unsweetened smooth style.
- This works best in a nonstick muffin pan coated with nonstick cooking spray. Paper liners or cupcake liners are likely to stick to the baked muffins.
- You may also like my Apple Cinnamon Muffins recipe.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe so please comment below to share!
Mini Cinnamon Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted and slightly cooled; or neutral oil like canola)
- 1/2 cup milk (dairy or unsweetened nondairy)
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 egg (lightly beaten)
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Cinnamon and sugar for sprinkling (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and grease a 24 cup mini muffin tin.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the applesauce, butter, milk, maple syrup, vanilla, and egg.
- Add the flours, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt and gently fold together.
- Fill prepared muffin tin to the edge of each cup using about 2 tablespoons of batter.
- Sprinkle each muffin with cinnamon and granulated sugar.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a cake tester comes out cleanly.
- Remove from oven, run a paring knife around the edges, if needed to loosen, and transfer to cool on a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Video
Notes
- To store: Place in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days, warming briefly if desired before serving. Or freezer in a zip top freezer bag with as much air removed as possible for up to 3 months.
- Gluten-free: You can use gluten-free flour for the regular flours.
- Dairy-free: Use plain, unsweetened nondairy milk and oil instead of butter to make these dairy free.
- Egg-free: Omit the egg and increase the milk to ¾ cup. Add 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed to the batter.
- Any applesauce will work, though I use unsweetened smooth style.
- To make these as full size muffins, bake for 20-22 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out cleanly.
- To make these less sweet for younger toddlers or babies, you can cut the maple syrup down to 1-2 tablespoons skip the cinnamon sugar on top.
Nutrition
This post was first published August 2018.
Love these muffins. I used only whole wheat flour and instead of half a cup I used 1 cup of whole wheat flour which was the perfect amount. They are delicious and super easy to make. And my three year old daughter loved them!
How much flaxseed would you recommend?
If the question is about using flaxseed for an egg replacer, here’s the option I’ve used: Omit the egg and increase the milk to ¾ cup. Add 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed to the batter.
These are delicious!
I used coconut sugar instead of maple syrup and only used all purpose flour. I made 6 big muffins out of this batter (baked additional time)
They come out soo fluffy and yummy, my 22 month old loves them! Greetings from Vegas!
I’m so glad to hear it!
Delicious little bite-sized cinnamon treats! Easy to make, so fluffy, and great flavor. I even used cinnamon applesauce for good measure 😉
I love you lower sugar recipes and this one sounds like another great one. But real maple syrup is very expensive where I live. Can I sub brown or white sugar for it?
Sure, I would use 1/4 cup granulated sugar and add 2 tablespoons additional milk
So perfectly and lightly sweet. Used pink lady apples for the applesauce (used Amy’s instant pot recipe), and made 24 mini muffins and 2 reg size. Sprinkled cinnamon sugar on half the mini muffins so baby can have some without. Moist and fluffy. Will definitely make again!
Hi! This recipe look delicious and but I was wondering if it would be possible to add in things like blueberries or chocolate chips? Would I need to change the recipe if I were to do this?
No, just stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips or 1 cup berries. You may have an extra muffin or two.
Do we have to use whole wheat flour? Does that just make it healthier?
Thanks so much!
You can use all purpose but they will be much moister so maybe add an extra tablespoon
what can i use instead of apple sauce? thank you!
Usually mashed banana is a good sub for applesauce.
These are super easy and so delicious! My 4 year old (and us!) ate them right up. It makes the kitchen smell yummy too! 🙂
Wow my kids loved these! I used honey instead of maple syrup because that’s all I had, and I used canola oil instead of butter because I didn’t feel like melting haha. they turned out perfect! Thanks
Super easy to make and turned out great. I added blueberries and skipped the cinnamon sugar (truth: I forgot it!) but they still tasted awesome. My 18 Month old love it! Thanks!
Would love to make this but have no applesauce. Could I substitute it with something else?
If you have ripe bananas or mashed sweet potato that would likely work the same (though the flavor would be a little different!)
Can you make these with all whole wheat flour instead of using all purpose?
Sure, just check for doneness 2 minutes soooner.
I used all gluten free flour and they are not cooking…. I’m sure what I’ve done wrong… any suggestions? They’ve been cooking for going on 35 minutes and still aren’t done in the middle…
Did you use a gf flour blend or a single flour? Is the baking powder and soda fresh and not expired? You can try turning down the heat and covering with foil to see if that helps.
These are so good. My 4 year old and 16 month old loved them. These will definitely be made again!