Apple Jack Recipe in Muffin Form

These apple cinnamon muffins are sure to get your kids attention, especially if they are fans of Apple Jacks. They are made with cinnamon, brown sugar, and fresh apple, which are folded into a buttermilk batter and give the muffins a taste that is really comparable to the cereal. The muffins even have a crumbly brown sugar topping which makes them even better! When my son was two and a half he used to call them “apple yacks”. He was spot on.

This recipe is easy. It does not have many ingredients and does not require any special techniques. You also don’t need a stand mixer, and the entire recipe, baking included, takes about 40 minutes. You can have these for breakfast, or as a snack or dessert. You can also make these with children and enjoy the process, especially the part where you prepare the apples, if you have a crank-type apple peeler.

Helpful Tips

• Use a scoop for even muffins. If some cups are fuller than others, those muffins will take longer to bake and you’ll end up with uneven results. A measuring cup or scoop takes 30 extra seconds and fixes this.
• Don’t skip greasing even if you use liners. Muffin liners can stick at the base, especially with fruit-heavy batters. A light spray of cooking spray inside the liner prevents tearing when you peel them off.
• Taste your apple first. If it’s very sweet (like a Fuji), your muffins may lean sweeter. If you want more contrast, go with Granny Smith. This isn’t a critical choice, but it’s worth knowing going in.
• The crumble topping sets as it cools. Don’t panic if it looks loose when the muffins come out of the oven. It firms up within 10 minutes.
• A hand mixer on the lowest setting works for the crumble. I originally tried to do this with a pastry blender, found it out of commission, grabbed the hand mixer, and it worked just fine. Use what you have.

Recommended Tool: Crank Apple Peeler

If you bake with apples, or if you have children who eat apples and won’t eat the skin, a crank-style apple peeler is worth getting. You just have to watch out with this Victorio one because it can peel, core, and slice an apple with one turn of the crank, and it is counter mounted with a suction base. For this recipe, it saves me 5 to 10 minutes of work. It is also able to peel potatoes, so it is a bit more versatile than it looks sitting on the shelf.

Storage and Make-Ahead

Room temp: at room temperature cooled muffins can be stored in an unopened container for up to 3 days. To keep the toppings from becoming sticky and to absorb excess moisture, place a paper towel over the muffins, and place another one under them.

Refrigerator: You can keep them in the fridge for 5 days. When they chill, they get a bit denser in consistency, so allow them to return to room temp or microwave for about 15-20 seconds before you eat.

*Freezer*: These freeze really well. Once completely cooled, wrap each one in plastic wrap and place in a zip-top freezer bag. They can be stored in the freezer for 3 months. To thaw, leave at room temperature for a couple hours or microwave directly from frozen for 45-60 seconds.

Make ahead: You can prepare the dry ingredients and the crumble base the night before and keep them in the fridge separately. Just remember to add the wet ingredients and apples right before you bake — the batter doesn’t hold up well once the apples are incorporated.

Variations

For additional texture and heartiness, stir in 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans into the batter. Incorporate them into the batter with the apples in Step 4.

Add raisins: If you’re keen to try something a little different, throw in a handful of raisins. They add a wonderful sweetness, that contrast well with the tartness of some apples. Not everyone loves this combo, but give it a go before you decide.

Mini muffins: Fill each cup in the mini muffin pan ⅔ full, and bake for 12 to 14 minutes at 400°F. This mini muffin recipe makes about 36 mini muffins and they disappear quickly at parties and in school lunchboxes.

Apple butter version: Before putting on the crumble topping, add 1 tablespoon of apple butter to each muffin cup. It gives a strong apple flavor, improving the taste a lot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use butter instead of margarine?

Yes, cold unsalted butter works exactly like cold margarine does in both the batter and the crumble topping. The taste will be a touch more complex. If you use salted butter, decrease the added salt to ¼ teaspoon.

What kind of apples work best?

Any firm apple works. Granny Smith adds tartness that plays well against the brown sugar. Honeycrisp and Gala are sweeter and mild. Avoid very soft apples like McIntosh — they break down too much during baking and disappear into the batter instead of giving you little apple pieces.

Can I make these without buttermilk?

Yes! Regular whole milk will work. If you would like a closer substitution, take ⅔ cup of milk and mix in 2 teaspoons of white vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit for 5 minutes before use. The acid will react with the baking soda the same way buttermilk would, and give you the same lift and texture.

Why did my muffins come out dense?

Your batter is likely to get overmixed. The dry and wet ingredients will develop gluten at a pretty quick rate, and the more you mix the tougher the batter will get. Don’t worry about the lumps, and try not to spread, just combine the ingredients.

Can I make this as a loaf instead of muffins?

Yes. First, you need to pour the batter into a 9×5-inch loaf pan that you have greased. Then add the crumble topping. After that, you can place the pan to bake in the oven set at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (which is a lower temp than for the muffins) for 55 to 65 minutes. You’ll know it is done when a toothpick comes out clean. The reason for the lower temperature is so the center has time to set before the outside overbrowns.

Do these taste like actual Apple Jacks cereal?

Honestly, it’s closer than you’d think. The box does not taste like cereal, but with the combination of cinnamon and brown sugar, and the description given, a kid who loves Apple Jacks would believe you. It’s the cinnamon-apple-sweet trifecta that does it.

Related Recipes

• Banana Bread Recipe
• Blueberry Muffins Recipe
• Easy Apple Crisp
• Apple Butter Recipe

Apple Jack Muffins Recipe