Gluten-Free Apple Crumb Muffins (Vegan)

Gluten-Free Apple Crumb Muffins are made with whole grain gluten-free oat flour, almond flour, applesauce, and coconut sugar topped with a cinnamon sugar crumble. Dairy-free, vegan.

Fresh apples, pumpkins, and all the warming spices make it hard to resist all the great recipes out there in the fall months.

Apple recipes, in general, this time of year are definitely top of the list.

​If you want moist muffins but with healthier ingredients, this gluten-free apple muffin recipe is for you. 

With healthy ingredient swaps and whole grain flours, this is the perfect for a quick breakfast or afternoon snack.

Jump to:

• Why you'll love this recipe
• Ingredients and substitutions
• Step-by-step instructions
• Tips
• Equipment
• Storage
• FAQs
• More apple recipes
• 📖 Recipe

Why you'll love this recipe

• Whole food ingredients
• Gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free
• Perfect fall breakfast

Ingredients and substitutions

Here are a few quick notes about the ingredients in this recipe. You can see a complete list of ingredients and instructions in the recipe card below.

Oat flour - If you are Celiac or gluten-intolerant, ensure that you use certified gluten-free oat flour or certified gluten-free rolled oats to make your own oat flour.

Do note that store-bought oat flour is more of a fine flour texture than homemade. The best way to measure is by weight with is kitchen scale.

Almond flour -  Finely blanched is recommended. I recommend Bob's Red Mill brand.

Arrowroot starch - Also known as arrowroot powder, this helps bind as well as create a lighter texture. 

If in need of a substitute, tapioca starch or corn starch would be your best bet.

Chia seeds - Tiny black seeds similar in appearance to poppy seeds, they are little nutritional powerhouses. They also act as a binder in this recipe.

(They are also delicious in chia pudding!)

Applesauce - In place of eggs, applesauce not only gives us extra apple, but it acts as an egg replacer. 

Fresh apples - These muffins are filled with sweet apple chunks. Use any kind of apples you wish. 

I would recommend a variety of sweet apples like pink lady or honeycrisp apples. Even gala apples that are a little more mild work great. 

Coconut sugar - Instead of brown sugar or light brown sugar, this unrefined sweetener adds depth of flavor.

Coconut oil - Use refined coconut oil to avoid an additional "hint of coconut." 

Melted vegan butter, avocado oil, or olive oil are all excellent neutral dairy-free option.

Vanilla extract and cinnamon - Pure vanilla extract gives that signature cookie flavor and adds natural sweetness. Cinnamon brings warmth as well as a natural sweetness of its own. 

Step-by-step instructions

Before you start: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 12-tin muffin tin with paper liners.

Step 1: In a small bowl, combine crumb topping ingredients with your fingers so that the coconut oil breaks down into pea-sized or smaller pieces. 

Step 2: In a blender, add chia seeds, hot water, lemon juice, applesauce, and melted coconut oil. 

Step 3: In a large bowl, add the dry ingredients—almond flour, oat flour, arrowroot starch, baking soda, baking powder, ground cinnamon, salt, and coconut sugar. Whisk to combine.

Step 4: Add vanilla extract to the mixture in the blender, and blend on high until smooth. Fold liquid mixture into the dry mixture.

Once evenly combined, fold in diced apples. 

Step 5: Evenly divide muffin batter amongst the muffin cups. Sprinkle crumb topping on top of each. Bake for 25-28 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. 

Step 6: Remove gluten-free apple crumb muffins from oven and place tray on a wire cooling rack. Allow to cool. 

Tips

• I've used coconut sugar to sweeten the muffin batter and organic cane sugar for the crumble topping. You can use coconut sugar for both, but I prefer the cane sugar for the crunch it gives the crumble.

Equipment

For this easy recipe, you will need the following main pieces of equipment:

• Small and large mixing bowls
• High-speed blender
• Paper liners
• Muffin pan
• Wire rack

Storage

Store leftover muffins in an airtight container. Keep them at room temperature for 3-5 days. 

Have extra apple slices? Dip them in this easy homemade date caramel!

FAQs

Looking for some more gluten-free breakfast inspiration? Meg's gluten-free strawberry and cream scones have brunch written all over them.

And Megan's vegan peanut butter hot chocolate is just the thing for cozy, fall mornings.

More apple recipes

​​Love this recipe? Please consider leaving a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating on the recipe card below and let me know what you think in the comments!

📖 Recipe