Sour Cherry Applesauce Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-29 · Updated 2026-05-29

Moist muffins bursting with tart sour cherry applesauce and topped with a crunchy cinnamon streusel, perfect for a breakfast treat or snack. This American-inspired recipe, ready in about 37 minutes, combines all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda into a breakfast that fuels the morning without the midday crash — make-ahead-friendly and balanced enough to anchor the first meal of the day. Each serving lands at about 210 calories and feeds 12, so it sits comfortably in a weekly breakfast rotation alongside fruit, yogurt, or coffee. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup sour cherry applesauce
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 3 tbsp cold unsalted butter
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (streusel)
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour (streusel)

The bakeware we’d bake this in → Best Bakeware Sets in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp salt until evenly combined.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter with 3/4 cup granulated sugar until smooth. Add 2 large eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in 1 cup sour cherry applesauce and 1 tsp vanilla extract.
3. Step 3: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients alternating with 1/4 cup milk, beginning and ending with the dry, mixing gently until just combined without overmixing.
4. Step 4: For the streusel, combine 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1/3 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, and 3 tbsp cold unsalted butter cut into small cubes. Use your fingers or a pastry cutter to blend until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
5. Step 5: Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups, filling them about 3/4 full. Sprinkle the cinnamon streusel evenly over the tops.
6. Step 6: Bake for 18-22 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the tops are golden. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.