Easy Apple Muffins For Baby & Toddlers with Cinnamon Flavor

If you’re looking for a simple muffin without all the frills, then try these Apple muffins for babies and toddlers.

They’re great for baby-led weaning. 

Apple muffins are the perfect combination of all the fall flavors in a small portion.

You’ll get a hint of cinnamon, vanilla, and a mouthful of apples in every bite. 

Why I Love Apple Muffins for Babies and Toddlers

Apple muffins are my favorite muffins to make for my baby and toddler.

During the fall season, we get tons of apples on sale.

That’s when I break out my list of apple recipes to help me use up all the apples we acquire.

I’ve made apple pancakes, apple fritters, apple oatmeal, and apple cinnamon-baked oatmeal bars. 

You’ll never run out of things to make with apples on my blog. 

Important Recipe Notes on BLW Apple Muffins 

Grate the apples for younger babies 

If you’re making these apple muffins for babies between 6-9 months old, then I suggest grating them.

It’ll make it easier for babies to chew and swallow.

You can also get away with chopping the apples very small so that they get soft enough when cooked.

You can make them with NO SUGAR 

When it comes to adding sweeteners to muffins, parents have mixed opinions.

Some people like adding maple syrup to muffins for babies because they’re considered more natural.

Others prefer to add some brown sugar because it’s less processed.

You can make these apple muffins for babies and toddlers with no sugar added, or use any other option you prefer.

The apples have enough sweetness to make the whole muffin taste good.

Apple Muffins Visual Recipe

Allergy Considerations For Baby-led Weaning Apple Muffins 

These muffins contain eggs

I used eggs to make these apple muffins for my baby and toddler. 

Eggs are known to be a common allergen in children. So if this is your first time making these muffins for your kid, then make sure you know the signs of an allergic reaction.

You can also try the egg substitutes in the table below to make the muffins.

Egg Substitutes	Number of “eggs” Made
3 tbsp peanut butter	1 egg
1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water	1 egg (whisk until gelatinous)
1/2 mashed banana	1 egg
1 tbsp mashed sweet potato	1 egg
1/4 cup applesauce	1 egg
1 tbsp chia seed + 3 tbsp water	1 egg (stir & rest it for 15-30 min)
1 tbsp soy protein + 3 tbsp water	1 egg (mix & use immediately)

These muffins are dairy-free

I typically don’t use milk to make muffins because I like to keep them dairy-free.

These toddler-friendly apple muffins are no exception.

I use oil to replace the milk. This way, the muffins still retain their moisture. 

If your baby isn’t allergic or sensitive to milk, then you can add some to the muffins. 

Recipe Variations for Toddler-friendly Apple Muffins

Apple Nut Muffins 

Adding nuts to your muffins is a great way to increase the bulk and fat content.

I love making Apple walnut muffins for my kids. You could also use nuts like pistachios and almonds.

ABC muffins – Apple Banana Carrots

Another recipe variation is ABC muffins. They are naturally tasty and require no sugar. 

Make sure you check out my ABC muffins recipe here. 

Applesauce muffins for babies

Applesauce muffins are another variation that you can make for your baby or toddler. 

You may need to use about 4-5 applesauce pouches to replace the apples.

Check out my recipe for applesauce muffins here. 

Jump to Recipe

Ingredients For Baby-friendly Apple Muffins

Apples – any kind of apple will work. Make sure to peel them before grating or chopping them.

Flour – I use a combination of whole wheat and all-purpose flour. You can use any kind you want.

Oil – oil is used to replace milk. Since these muffins are dairy-free, this is an alternative to make them moist.

Eggs – eggs act like a binding agent to help the batter bind better together.

Maple syrup – this is my preferred sweetener for muffins because they’re more natural. You can use brown sugar or skip this ingredient altogether.

What To Serve With Apple Muffins For Babies & Toddlers

Serve with some fruits

Fruits like berries, bananas, and oranges go very well with apple muffins for kids. 

Serve with a topping 

I often add a topping of peanut butter to muffins for my kids. 

The extra fat helps them stay full for longer which then prevents them from snacking too much during the day.

You could also add some whipped cream topping or jam to the top of the apple muffins. 

How To Cut Apple Muffins For Baby-led Weaning

6-9 Months old

These apple muffins can be cut in half for babies this young. It will make it easier for them to eat. 

9-12 months old

You can either choose to cut the muffins in half or cut them into large chunks for them to pick up. 

12-24 months and older

Toddlers in this age group can have muffins served whole. They will be able to pick them up to eat at this age.

Cooking Directions For Apple Muffins For Baby

• Set the oven to 370 degrees Fahrenheit 
• in a bowl combine all the wet ingredients (apple, vanilla, egg, oil, and maple syrup)
• In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda and baking powder)
• Pour the wet into the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Don’t overmix the batter.
• Grease a muffin tin and pour the batter into each well. 
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
• Serve when cooled. 

Storage Tips for Baby-friendly Apple Muffins

Can I refrigerate baby-friendly Apple Muffins?

You can refrigerate these Apple Muffins for out to a week in the fridge. Make sure to store them in an airtight container.

Can I freeze these Apple muffins?

You can freeze these muffins for as long as you need. 

Place them in a Pyrex container or ziplock bag to freeze.

For best results, wrap them individually in parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together.

Reheating BLW Apple Muffins

In the oven

To reheat in the oven, set it to 350 degrees and cut the muffins in half. Heat them for 15-20 minutes or until the center is hot. 

In the microwave 

You can also reheat them in the microwave by heating them for 2-4 minutes or until the center is hot.

Make sure you heat them uncovered. 

This will prevent them from retaining moisture and becoming soggy. 

Tips for Picky Eaters

Don’t pressure

Give your baby or toddler a chance to say no. It’s okay if they don’t like what we serve them. Keep trying. 

It takes at least 30 exposures for a baby to begin liking a food, so don’t give up.

Make it into a game

Sometimes I create games around the food I serve to get my kids interested in eating. 

A game we’ve played in the past is called “Here comes the airplane… open the garage”. This encourages them to open their mouth as I bring the food in like an airplane.

Sometimes my kids will try new foods this way.

Related recipes 

• Carrot & Apple Muffin For Baby-led Weaning (dairy-free)
• Easy Apple Banana Carrot (ABC Muffins) For Baby + No Egg Option

Did you make this baby-led weaning lunch recipe? 

Let me know in the comments how it turned out!