Applesauce Sour Cream Muffins (Easy Recipe)

Have you ever had a hot, steaming muffin fresh out of the oven?

The aroma alone is enough to make your mouth water.

These Applesauce Sour Cream Muffins are a perfect treat for breakfast or an afternoon snack.

They are fluffy, moist, and bursting with flavor, thanks to the addition of unsweetened applesauce, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg.

In this recipe, I’ll show you how to make these delicious muffins step by step, and I guarantee that once you try them, you’ll be hooked!

5 Reasons You’ll Love These Applesauce Sour Cream Muffins

1. They are incredibly moist: The combination of the sour cream, applesauce, and oil gives these muffins a lovely moist texture that keeps them fresh for days.
2. They are easy to make: With just a few simple ingredients, these muffins come together with minimal prep time and hassle.
3. They are perfect for breakfast or as a snack: Enjoy these muffins in the morning with a cup of coffee or tea, or pack them as a snack for a delicious and satisfying treat.
4. They are customizable: You can add your favorite toppings such as nuts or chocolate chips to make these muffins even more indulgent.
5. They are suitable for vegetarians: This recipe does not include any animal products, so it’s perfect for vegetarians or those who want to limit their meat intake.

Essential Equipment

• Muffin pan: To bake perfectly-sized muffins, you’ll need a muffin pan. Choose a non-stick pan with 12 muffin cups.
• Muffin liners: These are essential to prevent the muffins from sticking to the pan and making it easy to remove them.
• Large mixing bowl: You’ll need a large mixing bowl to combine all the ingredients.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• White and brown sugar: The mixture of both sugars will give you a nice balance of sweetness and help to keep the muffins moist.
• Baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg: These ingredients give the muffins their signature flavor and fluffy texture.
• Full-fat sour cream: Sour cream adds richness and moisture to the muffins.
• Eggs and vanilla extract: These ingredients help bind the muffins together and give them a rich, aromatic flavor.
• Unsweetened applesauce: Applesauce replaces some of the oil, adding moisture and sweetness to the muffins.
• Vegetable oil: This ingredient helps the muffins maintain its moisture and gives it a buttery flavor.
• All-purpose flour: The flour is the backbone of the muffins, providing structure to the moist ingredients.

How To Make Applesauce Sour Cream Muffins

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line your muffin cups with liners.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine both sugars, the baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices.
3. Add the sour cream to the bowl, mixing well until everything is combined.
4. Beat the eggs and vanilla extract together in a small bowl and then add it to the mixing bowl with the sour cream mixture.
5. Stir in the applesauce and vegetable oil until evenly mixed throughout the batter.
6. Add the flour to the mix and gently fold in until combined, being careful not to overmix.
7. Use a scoop or tablespoon to fill each muffin cup with the batter, filling each cup to the top.
8. Bake for 24-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean or with some crumbly bits.
9. Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then remove them to a wire rack to cool completely.

5 Expert Tips and Tricks for The BEST Muffins

• Use room temperature ingredients: Make sure the sour cream, eggs, and applesauce are at room temperature before mixing. This will help to combine the ingredients smoothly, creating a uniform batter.
• Do not overmix the batter: Overmixing the batter can lead to tough muffins. Use a gentle hand and mix the ingredients just until they are well combined.
• Use full-fat sour cream: Low-fat sour cream can alter the texture of the muffins, making them less moist and tender.
• Add some mix-ins: Add some chopped nuts, raisins, chocolate chips, or dried cranberries to the batter for a delicious variation.
• Grease the muffin cups: Even if you use muffin liners, be sure to grease the muffin cups lightly with some cooking spray. This will help the muffins to come out cleanly.

Uses For Applesauce Sour Cream Muffins

• Breakfast: These muffins are perfect for breakfast on the go or as a filling snack. They pair well with a cup of hot tea or coffee.
• Brunch: Serve these muffins as part of a brunch spread with some eggs, bacon, and fresh fruit.
• Dessert: Top the muffins with a dollop of whipped cream and some caramel sauce or chocolate syrup for an indulgent dessert.
• Party food: Bake mini-muffins instead and serve them as finger food for your next party.
• Lunchbox: Pack these muffins in your child’s lunchbox for a tasty and filling snack.

Recipe Variations

• Apple Cinnamon Muffins: Add 1 cup diced fresh apples to the batter and increase cinnamon to 1 tablespoon for extra apple flavor.
• Cranberry Orange Muffins: Add ½ cup dried cranberries and 1 tablespoon orange zest to the batter.
• Chocolate Chip Muffins: Fold in 1 cup of chocolate chips into the batter for a decadent treat.
• Streusel Topped Muffins: Add a crunchy topping consisting of ½ cup flour, ¼ cup granulated sugar, and 2 tablespoons butter mixed until crumbly. Sprinkle it over the muffin batter before baking.
• Blueberry Muffins: Gently stir in 1 cup of fresh or frozen blueberries to the batter for a classic flavor combination.

Substitutions

• Brown sugar: substitute with coconut sugar or muscovado sugar.
• All-purpose flour: substitute with white or whole wheat pastry flour, or gluten-free flour blend.
• Vegetable oil: substitute with coconut oil or melted butter.

Storing, Freezing, and Reheating

• Storing: Store the muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
• Freezing: Wrap the muffins individually in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months.
• Reheating: Thaw the muffins overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat in the microwave on medium power for 20-30 seconds or until warmed through.

More Muffin Recipes You’ll Love

• Sour Cream Blueberry Muffins
• Strawberry Sour Cream Muffins
• Pineapple Sour Cream Muffins
• Peach Sour Cream Muffins
• Oatmeal Sour Cream Muffins
• Orange Sour Cream Muffins
• Gluten Free Sour Cream Muffins
• Blueberry Lemon Sour Cream Muffins
• Bisquick Sour Cream Muffins
• Apricot Sour Cream Muffins
• Banana Blueberry Sour Cream Muffins
• Zucchini Sour Cream Muffins