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    Home

    Healthy Applesauce Cinnamon Muffins for Toddlers (No Added-Sugar)

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    These Healthy Applesauce Cinnamon Muffins for Toddlers are soft, moist, and have the perfect texture for kids. Naturally sweetened with applesauce and filled with soft apple chunks, they’re lightly spiced with cinnamon and perfect for little ones. They make a simple breakfast or snack and are great for baking ahead for busy weeks when you want something nourishing and kid-friendly on hand.

    applesauce muffins on polka dot toddler plate with bunny pick.

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    Table of Contents
    • Why You'll Love These Applesauce Cinnamon Muffins for Toddlers
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • FAQ
    • Recipe
    • Related

    Why You'll Love These Applesauce Cinnamon Muffins for Toddlers

    • Classic apple cinnamon flavour: These muffins have that warm, classic apple-cinnamony flavour that your kids will love.
    • Perfect for batch prepping: These are great for batch prepping at the start of the week so you have an easy breakfast or snack ready to go.
    • No added sugar: These muffins are naturally sweetened with the applesauce and apples!

    Ingredients

    Here is what you will need for these soft and yummy applesauce muffins.

    ingredients for healthy applesauce muffins for toddlers on counter.
    • all purpose flour
    • baking powder
    • baking soda
    • cinnamon
    • unsweetened applesauce
    • eggs
    • coconut oil
    • milk of choice
    • vanilla
    • apples

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    Here is an overview of how to make these muffins or you can scroll down to the recipe card.

    Dry ingredients for applesauce cinnamon muffins whisked together in a mixing bowl.

    In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon, until well combined.

    Applesauce, eggs, oil, and vanilla mixed together in a bowl for muffin batter.

    In a separate large bowl, whisk together the applesauce, eggs, oil, and vanilla until smooth.

    Muffin batter being gently mixed together in a bowl. Chopped apples folded into applesauce cinnamon muffin batter.

    Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and gently stir until just combined. Fold in the chopped apple pieces evenly throughout the batter.

    Applesauce cinnamon muffin batter scooped into a lined muffin tin.

    Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup about three-quarters full.
    Bake for 5 minutes at 400 degrees F, then reduce heat to 350 and bake for 15-18 more minutes, until golden brown on top and cooked through.

    Hint: Peel and dice the apples into small pieces so they soften fully as the muffins bake. This helps create an even texture throughout the muffins and makes them easier for kids to eat.

    Substitutions

    • Flour: You can use white whole wheat flour in place of all-purpose flour for a bit more fibre. The muffins will be slightly denser but still soft.
    • Apple chunks: Chopped pear is also a great option and works well in place of apple.

    Looking for other muffins for toddlers? Check out here for over 14 Healthy Toddler Muffins featuring other no added-sugar options like these ABC Muffins or my most popular Prune & Apple Baby Muffins.

    Equipment

    • Large bowl
    • Medium bowl
    • Muffin pan

    Storage

    Store muffins in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. These muffins are also a great option to freeze and can be stored in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature or gently warm before serving.

    Toddler Tip


    For younger toddlers or for baby-led weaning, you can use shredded apple instead of chopped apple. It blends into the muffin as it bakes, making the texture a bit softer and easier for little ones to manage.

    These muffins go great in lunchboxes like this muffin bento box found in my ultimate lunches for toddlers! In this bento box, I've served the muffins with plain yogurt with hemp hearts, slightly steamed apple slices, thinly sliced cheddar cheese, and steamed carrot sticks.

    applesauce muffins in toddler bento box with apple slices, yogurt, cheese and carrots

    FAQ

    Are these muffins suitable for baby-led weaning?

    These muffins can work great for baby-led weaning when prepared with shredded apple instead of chopped apple and served in an age-appropriate size (such as a quarter or half muffin). They are a great option as they have no added sugar and are nice and fluffy. Always ensure the texture is soft and your baby is developmentally ready, and supervise closely while eating.

    Can I make these muffins mini-sized?

    Yes! Toddlers love mini muffins! Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes.

    Can I add anything else to boost nutrition?

    A tablespoon of ground flax or chia seeds are great options to add in to boost nutrition without changing the texture.

    Recipe

    applesauce muffins on polka dot toddler plate with bunny pick.

    Healthy Applesauce Cinnamon Muffins For Toddlers

    Soft and fluffy applesauce cinnamon muffins made with apple chunks and naturally sweetened with applesauce. An easy, no–added sugar option that works well for breakfast, snacks, and baking ahead for busy weeks.
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin
    Course: Snack
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 muffins
    Calories: 162kcal
    Author: Ali Ellis, MSc., RD
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    Equipment

    • 1 Large bowl
    • 1 muffin pan

    Ingredients

    Dry Ingredients

    • 1½ cup all purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

    Wet Ingredients

    • 2 eggs
    • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
    • ½ cup coconut oil melted
    • ½ cup milk milk of choice
    • 2 tsps vanilla
    • 2 cups apples, chopped about 2 medium apples, option to peel

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a muffin tin with liners or lightly grease it.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon until well combined.
    • In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the applesauce, eggs, oil, and vanilla until smooth. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and gently stir until just combined, stopping as soon as no dry spots remain.
    • Fold in the chopped apple pieces evenly throughout the batter. The apples will soften during baking, but you can also grate the apple if you prefer.
    • Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup about three-quarters full.
    • Bake for 5 minutes at 400℉, then reduce heat to 350℉ and bake for 15-18 more minutes, until the muffins are set in the centre and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
    • Let the muffins cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

    Notes

    For mini muffins, bake at 350 degrees F for 15-18 minutes.
    If offering muffins for baby led weaning, use shredded apple instead of chunks.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 162kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 151mg | Potassium: 58mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 54IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg

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    Related

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

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      Peanut Butter & Banana Chickpea Muffins (no added sugar!)
    • Banana Spinach Toddler Muffins in a bowl on the counter.
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    • Banana Chia Seed Muffins for Toddlers in white bowl with toddler baking spoon and banana to the side on the counter.
      Banana Chia Muffins for Toddlers (No Added Sugar!)
    • Pumpkin oat Mini Muffins in a white bowl, with a few muffins on a cooling rack in the background on wooden counter.
      Pumpkin Oat Mini Muffins

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      Banana Blackberry Muffins
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      Lemon Blueberry Muffins (gluten free!)

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    Hi! I'm Ali.

    Welcome to The Toddler Kitchen, I am so glad you are here! I am a registered dietitian with a master’s of science in health promotion, passionate recipe developer and mama. Feeding kids is hard. It can be stressful.

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