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Home » Recipes » Breakfast » Breads + Muffins » Apple Protein Muffins

Jan 21, 2013(updated August 23, 2022)

Apple Protein Muffins

4.54 from 128 votes
By Dani Spies
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apple protein muffins on a marble counter
apple protein muffin served with almond butter

These apple protein muffins are quick and easy to make in one bowl! Filled with sweet apples and plenty of cinnamon spice, these apple muffins are hearty, healthy, and satisfying. A delicious snack or breakfast option that’s freezable too!

2 muffins with chunks of apple stacked on top of each other

Muffins are always a hit in my house! They’re freezer-friendly, portable, and perfect for make-ahead breakfasts and snacks. Some of our favorite muffins include pumpkin muffins and banana oatmeal muffin cups. And during the fall months, I make a ton of these apple protein muffins. They’re the perfect blend of sweet and tart flavors!

This is the kind of muffin that I would refer to as fuel food – it’s like a muffin on a mission. Its purpose is to deliver protein and some carbs after a workout or first thing in the morning to get your day started off right! They just so happen to taste REALLY good too.

apple muffin topped with apple chunks

How Do You Make Muffins Healthier?

When I’m creating a healthy muffin recipe, there are three ingredients that I replace or reduce with more nutritious options: white flour, fat/oil, and sugar. For these apple protein muffins:

  • Use old-fashioned rolled oats instead of all-purpose flour. Oats work great in these muffins because the oats give them a nice hearty texture. If you use certified gluten-free oats, these muffins will naturally be gluten-free.
  • Replace butter/oil with Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt in this recipe makes your muffins soft and moist, not dry.
  • The apple in this recipe acts as a natural sweetener, so you will only need to use a small amount of sugar.

How Do You Make Apple Protein Muffins?

This is a simple one-bowl muffin batter made with oats, protein powder, egg whites, Greek yogurt, a small amount of sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. A generous amount of chopped apple is stirred into the batter too!

Start this recipe by preheating your oven to 350ºF. Prepare a muffin pan by either brushing each cup with a little coconut oil or spraying with some cooking spray. Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Once everything is combined, divide evenly amongst 12 muffins. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Let it cool and enjoy!

Variations:

  • Try using chopped pear in place of the apple for a different flavor.
  • Add 1/2 teaspoon maple extract for maple flavor.
  • Throw in some raisins and/or chocolate chips for extra deliciousness!

What To Serve With Muffins:

One of my favorite ways to eat these healthy apple muffins is to crumble one on top of some Greek yogurt or cottage cheese. I highly recommend giving it a try. So good! Another delicious option is to serve these apple protein muffins with almond butter or peanut butter spread over the top. For a complete breakfast, add a piece of fruit and yogurt or scrambled eggs.

Can You Freeze Apple Muffins?

Muffins are one of my favorite foods to freeze. It is so great to have a healthy muffin treat ready to go for busy mornings or straight after a workout. Some tips for freezing and thawing muffins:

To Freeze:

  • Allow muffins to completely cool to room temperature.
  • Place muffins on a plate or tray in your freezer for about an hour until they are mostly frozen before packing them in an airtight container. This will keep them from getting smashed or from sticking together.
  • Place your muffins in an airtight container like a sealable baggie to keep air out.
  • Frozen muffins will stay good for up to 3 months.

To Thaw:

  • You can let your muffins thaw at room temperature and this will take about 30 minutes.
  • Or you can microwave your muffin for about 30 seconds.
  • Another option is to wrap your muffin in foil and heat it in the oven at 350°F for 10 minutes.
apple protein muffins baked and in a muffin pan

You’re going to love these wholesome, fruit- and protein-packed muffins. They’re absolutely delicious, perfectly sweet, and satisfying!

Keep these muffins on hand for a quick, on-the-go breakfast or snack. I love having a batch of these on hand instead of having to buy super sugary and processed alternatives.

These muffins are high in protein and are perfect for a post-workout snack. What are some of your favorite post-workout meals? Do you try to get some protein in after a workout? I would love to hear all about it down below. 😉

More Apple Recipes To Enjoy:

  • Grain-Free Apple Crisp
  • Homemade Applesauce
  • Roasted Butternut Squash + Apple Soup

I’d love to know if you make this (or any) recipe! Tag @clean_and_delicious on Instagram and be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy, delicious recipes straight to your inbox.

apple muffin with a schemer of almond butter spread
apple muffin with a schemer of almond butter spread
Print Recipe
4.54 from 128 votes

Apple Protein Muffins

Course: BREAKFAST
Cuisine: American
Author: Dani Spies
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time30 mins
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 76kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 1 apple, diced
  • 2 scoops vanilla protein powder (I used whey)
  • 4 egg whites
  • 1 cup non-fat Greek yogurt
  • 2 tbsp. turbinado sugar
  • 2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • Pinch kosher salt
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Pre-heat oven to 350ºF.
  • Prepare a muffin pan by either brushing each cup with a little coconut oil or spraying with some cooking spray.
  • Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Once everything is combined, divide evenly amongst 12-muffins.
  • Bake for 18-20 minutes. Let cool and enjoy!
  • Makes 12 muffins.

Nutrition

Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 76kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 18mg | Potassium: 106mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 0.7mg

Breads + Muffins, Breakfast, Gluten Free, Low Carb + Keto, Popular, Recipes, Vegetarian

About Dani Spies

Dani Spies is the founder and host of Clean & Delicious; a weekly cooking show on YouTube and a healthy eating blog that celebrates real, whole foods! She takes a holistic approach to health and wellness and is loved for her approachable, down to earth style both in and out of the kitchen.

Learn MoreWork With Me

Reader Interactions

apple protein muffins on a marble counter
apple protein muffin served with almond butter

Yum! I love this recipe.

    Leave a review Cancel reply

    If you loved this recipe please leave a comment and star rating below. Questions are also welcome. Cheers!

    Recipe Rating




    Comments

  1. Ella says

    January 21, 2013 at 6:29 am

    5 stars
    These sound wonderful for that extra bit of protein each day and I’ll definately be trying them out soon. Thanks Dani!

    Reply
  2. AmyV says

    January 21, 2013 at 8:58 am

    5 stars
    I’m excited to give these a try! A snack that I’m totally addicted to right now, is mixing plain greek yogurt with a serving of Kashi Go Lean cereal, then topping with some goji berries and cocoa nibs…full of protein and the yogurt gets a sweet kick from the berries and nibs!

    Reply
    • Kim says

      January 22, 2013 at 10:14 am

      5 stars
      Just tried that, since I had all of those things kicking around and was in the mood for an easy snack…SO good! Thanks for posting.

      Reply
      • Dani says

        January 22, 2013 at 6:19 pm

        5 stars
        You are very welcome!!

        Reply
  3. Nancy says

    January 21, 2013 at 1:40 pm

    5 stars
    Have you tried it with chocolate protein? I don’t want to buy more protein as I have a giant tub of chocolate flavored protein. Can you also just use organic coconut sugar or sugar in the raw instead of sucanat?
    I can’t wait to try this!
    Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Dani says

      January 21, 2013 at 7:07 pm

      5 stars
      I haven’t but I’m sure it would be fine. As for the sugar…. yes! regular organic sugar would be fine.

      Reply
  4. Rashida says

    January 21, 2013 at 2:42 pm

    5 stars
    Can whey or protein powder be substitute for something more available ? With thanks

    Reply
    • Dani says

      January 21, 2013 at 7:06 pm

      5 stars
      Honestly, off the top of my head I’ve got no ideas. I wonder if anyone else reading does… hey guys, any ideas out there?!! If I come up with a good substitute, I’ll be sure to let you know!

      Reply
      • Sara says

        October 11, 2019 at 7:39 pm

        I can’t say it’s more available but I make these with collagen powder.

        Reply
    • C. says

      April 27, 2019 at 10:26 am

      5 stars
      I’ve just baked them using 2 tbsp of corn starch instead of protein powder. Also, I’ve substituted the Greek yoghurt with vanilla soy yoghurt. Don’t know if my version still counts as high protein cupcake – but worked perfectly fine. My house smells fantastic, and the taste test has been delicious ;-). Hope this helps!

      Greetings from Germany :-)…

      Reply
      • Dani says

        May 2, 2019 at 12:07 pm

        5 stars
        Thanks so much for sharing! Love had you adjusted the recipe to make it your own.

        Reply
  5. Melissa says

    January 22, 2013 at 6:29 am

    5 stars
    I baked these this morning for I was tired of eating cereal and it was DELICIOUS!! Thank you for sharing these simple yet tasty & clean recipes. Looking forward to the Super Bowl recipes!!!

    Reply
    • Dani says

      January 22, 2013 at 6:15 pm

      5 stars
      You are very welcome;) So glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply
  6. Linda says

    January 22, 2013 at 7:11 am

    5 stars
    How much is a “scoop” of whey?

    Reply
  7. Hannah says

    January 23, 2013 at 7:19 pm

    5 stars
    Could I uses the whole egg instead of the whites? And if so, how many? I can’t wait to try this recipe!!

    Reply
    • Dani says

      January 28, 2013 at 10:04 am

      5 stars
      Yes you definitely can! Figure 1 egg to every two egg whites… this way you always know how to make the substitution.

      Reply
  8. Deborah says

    January 29, 2013 at 1:47 pm

    5 stars
    I have been hooked on your protein pancake recipe for years and have changed it up a bit, adding cottage cheese ect. and this inspired me to use that recipe and bake muffins.. I just added a small amount of baking powder and they turned out delish!!! Thanks again you have the best ideas to work from..

    Reply
  9. Thelma says

    January 29, 2013 at 4:29 pm

    5 stars
    I made these this afternoon. Because my apples are really small, I added 1/2 cup of organic raisin. They are delicious! Thank you.

    Reply
  10. Julia says

    February 14, 2013 at 7:53 am

    5 stars
    Great recipe! Instead of vanilla protein powder I chose On’s Gold Whey Banana Cream. Very delicious 🙂

    Reply
  11. Nanna says

    February 24, 2013 at 8:59 am

    5 stars
    Thanks for great recepis – i love your blog! I eat primarily vegan and glutenfree – do you have an idea on what to replace the greek yoghurt with?

    Thanks 🙂

    Reply
    • Kaitie B says

      September 9, 2018 at 11:18 am

      5 stars
      I used applesauce! Came out awesome!

      Reply
      • Dani says

        September 18, 2018 at 10:47 am

        5 stars
        Good to know! Thanks for sharing.

        Reply
  12. Laura Jo Walsh says

    May 19, 2013 at 10:32 am

    5 stars
    I’m soooo trying these! I’ve been looking for some more easy “protein bar” type recipes that are pretty portable. I’ve been making some carrot cake ones of Jamie Eason’s but I’m looking for something new.

    Curious question…would these freeze well!!? There’s no way I could eat 12 in about a weeks time. Either way, I’m still trying these! 🙂 Thanks a ton Dani!!

    Reply
  13. Sarah says

    July 14, 2013 at 9:54 am

    5 stars
    Does anyone know if these need to be stored in the refrigerator? Or can these be left out? Thanks!

    Reply
  14. Liz says

    September 24, 2013 at 6:54 pm

    5 stars
    In my search for some clean and easy recipes for my family…I found you! Thanks so much for all your recipes and some videos! I have to admit, I made these…and, YUM!!! I did add one shredded carrot for some veg and it gave it some nice color too 🙂 My hubby and 2 1/2 yr old boy LOVE them…and so do I! Definitely a keeper!

    Reply
  15. KARIN says

    October 12, 2013 at 11:46 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks for this recipe – sooooo good 🙂

    Reply
  16. Catherine says

    November 13, 2013 at 12:22 pm

    5 stars
    I cannot believe how delicious and satisfying these muffins are! Oh my gosh! My kids love them too! It’s a freeeeeezing cold day today, and these were the perfect treat. Dani, you are AWESOME, so inspiring and so talented! Thank you, thank you, thank you! <3 <3 <3

    Reply
  17. tracey says

    February 18, 2014 at 4:33 pm

    5 stars
    could i use coconut sugar instead of turbinado sugar?

    Reply
  18. Abby says

    March 23, 2014 at 8:22 pm

    5 stars
    These are are amazing! I was expecting them to come out more like cakey muffins, but the baked oatmeal feel they have is great! So much easier than making a whole pan of baked oatmeal and a super quick and easy breakfast. It’s amazing there’s no flour, sugar or butter!

    Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  19. Katie says

    August 18, 2014 at 7:04 am

    5 stars
    These look amazing!! I wondered if you could recommend some great pre work out snacks?x

    Reply
  20. megan says

    December 8, 2014 at 1:48 pm

    5 stars
    I know this is way late but I just stumbled on this recipe and noticed the question about protein powder substitutes. It will alter the taste somewhat but besan (aka chickpea flour, aka yellow pea/gram flour) is very cheap, available in most international, indian, and healthfood stores and it will work here too. It is unsweetened so stevia and vanilla would need to be added as well and it has a slightly earthy taste when uncooked so you’d want to make sure it is thoroughly cooked before serving. It is often used in vegan/GF baking recipes for cookies, etc.
    Hope this helps!
    Also looking forward to trying this recipe as-is 🙂

    Reply
  21. Kellie says

    January 7, 2015 at 1:16 am

    5 stars
    I made these this afternoon.
    I had a fridge full of cherries so I used those instead of apple, and put a slither of banana on the top !! YUM !!
    Kitchen smells divine.

    Reply
    • Dani says

      January 8, 2015 at 8:26 pm

      5 stars
      sounds good! enjoy:)

      Reply
  22. Jillian says

    March 21, 2015 at 5:42 pm

    5 stars
    making these now! but mini!

    Reply
  23. Jillian says

    March 21, 2015 at 5:42 pm

    5 stars
    Kitchen smells amazing i used vega protein and greens lil extra protein and 2 servings of greens hopefully they are amazin!

    Reply
  24. Nicholas says

    April 22, 2015 at 6:53 pm

    5 stars
    Made these yesterday, I wasn’t totally disappointed(my own recipes pale in comparison), but they came out a tad dry, and a tad chewy and left me with the impression that more flavor could be infused in them. The only substitutions I made were regular salt for kosher salt, and 1 tablespoon of a stevia baking blend instead of turbinado sugar.
    https://picoolio.net/images/2015/04/22/00164c3d.jpg
    https://picoolio.net/images/2015/04/22/002a1b58.jpg
    https://picoolio.net/images/2015/04/22/003b1a44.jpg

    You can see the texture is a bit rubbery in the last picture there. Was this due to a technical error on my part or are they supposed to be like that?

    Any idea how I could make these a bit fluffier?
    Perhaps whole eggs instead of eggwhites? maybe add a bit of applesauce to the batter?

    I’d love to get your input.

    Oh. I made your “protein pancakes” and shredded salsa chicken today. Both were great!
    I used raisin bran crunch instead of fiber one, and added two tablespoons of raisins to match, but I was extremely happy with the recipe regardless!
    https://picoolio.net/images/2015/04/22/001ab25b.jpg
    https://picoolio.net/images/2015/04/22/00214e0b.jpg

    Reply
    • Dani says

      April 29, 2015 at 2:55 pm

      5 stars
      By nature, these muffins are bit dry and rubbery b/c of the protein content. I so think whole eggs would make a difference – so that may be worth a try. PS – thanks for the photos. So fun to see them.

      Reply
  25. Shayne says

    July 1, 2016 at 5:40 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you for these 🙂 I made them twice already and thought they were awesome. I did modify it a little by using 1/2 an apple and 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce as I didn’t have a full cup of yogurt – used the single serving 5.3 – 6 oz containers that were in the fridge. Then I made it again with 1/2 a pear as I was out of apples at that point – either way, they were perfect

    Reply
    • Dani says

      July 2, 2016 at 12:17 am

      5 stars
      Perfect! I’m glad your substitutions worked and you enjoyed them 🙂

      Reply
  26. Genie says

    November 27, 2016 at 5:22 pm

    5 stars
    Has anyone tried freezing the muffins before baking? Can they be frozen after baking and cooling? I cook only for myself but would love to have a freezer friendly alternative. Thanks to all for the comments and hoping everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving!

    Reply
    • Dani says

      November 27, 2016 at 11:28 pm

      5 stars
      Hi Genie, hope you had a happy Thanksgiving, too! I haven’t tried freezing before baking, but they can definitely be frozen after baking and cooling. Enjoy!

      Reply
  27. Lenore says

    March 16, 2017 at 5:22 pm

    5 stars
    Dani, you are so right about accepting your body for what it is ! Not to say we can’t still aim at losing or gaining a bit of extra weight, a few stronger muscles or whatever. But the idea of appreciating what we have, is so much better than being critical! Thank you, very well articulated.

    Reply
    • Dani says

      March 20, 2017 at 11:34 am

      5 stars
      Thanks Lenore, I’m so glad the message resonated. xo

      Reply
  28. Jess says

    August 3, 2017 at 8:20 am

    5 stars
    Can i Just omit the yogurt? I am trying to cut out dairy, so I was wondering if I can leave it out or maybe substitute? 🙁

    Reply
    • Dani says

      August 10, 2017 at 8:02 am

      5 stars
      I don’t think omitting it would work. You may be able to sub in some applesauce… but I havent actually tried this myself so I’m not positive. Let me know if you decide to give it a try!!

      Reply
  29. Linda says

    February 18, 2018 at 2:49 am

    5 stars
    I am wondering how long would these last stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator? Anyone?
    Thanks in advance!

    Reply
    • Dani says

      February 21, 2018 at 11:53 am

      5 stars
      They will happily last up to 5 days!

      Reply
  30. Aimee says

    August 13, 2018 at 8:05 pm

    5 stars
    I only have quick oats — will those suffice? I’ve been experimenting with protein-snack-baking, so thanks so much for publishing this!

    Reply
    • Dani says

      August 16, 2018 at 11:27 am

      5 stars
      I think that would work just fine 😉

      Reply
  31. Sarah says

    December 1, 2019 at 1:52 pm

    5 stars
    These are delicious little bite size breakfast snacks! I did add some nutmeg and cloves, because I’m a little crazy about spices. I also think that they turned out a little bit better as breakfast cookies rather than breakfast muffins. The texture lended itself better to the cookie form. I made the first batch as muffins, and then the second batch as cookies.

    Reply
    • Dani says

      December 11, 2019 at 5:09 am

      This is a great tip Sarah!! I want to try them as a cookie. thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  32. Christiana says

    February 4, 2020 at 8:01 pm

    Hi Dani,

    what can I use instead of vanilla protein powder?

    Can I use almond flour or coconut flour? If so, what quantity?

    Reply
    • Dani says

      March 17, 2020 at 1:05 pm

      Hi Christiana, this is meant to be a protein muffin, so swapping in flour for the protein powder may not work very well. I wish I could be of more help, but I would need to experiment with that one.

      Reply

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