If fall had a flavor, I think it would taste just like these Sourdough Apple Fritter Muffins. They are the most tender muffins swirled with spiced apples, topped with a wonderful crumble topping and a light glaze. I have already made them several times this fall and my husband has proclaimed them his favorite muffins ever! In the South I keep hoping my fall baking will bring on the cooler temps and colorful fall leaves but unfortunately is hasn’t worked yet! It’s still pretty warm.
Thankfully, we have been out west to see our cute grandbabies and it is definitely fall weather there! We loved the beautiful autumn leaves and can’t wait for the fall show to start in Tennessee!
There’s something about chilly fall days that make me want to bake — and these Sourdough Apple Fritter Muffins are the perfect recipe to make. Trust me! You will LOVE them and your family and friends will that you share them with will thank you!
They’ve got all the flavor of a classic apple fritter—just in a muffin form that’s easier to make and better for you than a deep fried donut.
The sourdough discard adds a little depth of flavor and makes these muffins extra soft and moist. With every bite, you’ll get juicy apple bits, swirls of cinnamon sugar, and that irresistible bakery-style muffin texture. Best of all? They come together quickly and make your kitchen smell like apple cider donuts while they bake.
Why You’ll Love These Sourdough Apple Fritter Muffins
- A cozy fall bake – Perfect for using fresh-picked apples.
- Uses sourdough discard – Adds flavor and reduces waste.
- Apple fritter inspired – Sweet, cinnamony, and topped with glaze for that bakery-style finish.
- Freezer-friendly – Bake a batch now and save some for later.
I love to start these muffins the night before and let the batter sit in my fridge overnight. I chop the apples and make the crumble topping in the morning and pop them im the oven. There are a lot of steps, so it is nice to divide it up. Makes it feel a lot less time intensive. I can truly say these muffins are worth the effort. They really are so good!!
Other fall favorite recipes:
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Sourdough Apple Fritter Muffins
Description
Tender muffins swirled with spiced apples, topped with a wonderful crumble topping and a light glaze.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients:
- ½ cup sourdough discard 100% hydration
- ⅔ cup buttermilk or milk
- ⅓ cup granulated white sugar
- 3 Tbsp packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 4 Tbsp butter melted and cooled
- 4 Tbsp coconut oil (melted) or avocado oil
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
Apple Mixture:
- 2 Granny Smith apples peeled and diced small
- 1 ½ Tbsp lemon juice
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp cardamom
- 1 Tablespoon flour
Crumble Topping:
- 4 Tbsp butter melted
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
Vanilla Glaze (optional):
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 Tbsp milk or cream
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Step 1: Mix the Batter
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Melt your butter in a microwave safe bowl and allow to cool gently.
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In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sourdough discard, buttermilk or milk, white sugar, brown sugar, eggs, melted butter, oil, sour cream and vanilla.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
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Add dry ingredients to wet. Mix wet ingredients with a whisk or a hand mixer until everything is well combined. Do not overmix or your muffins will become tough.
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Overnight Fermentation: Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8–12 hours for added fermentation benefits. If baking same day, skip this step.
Step 2: Prepare the Apples
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Continued Overnight Fermentation: If you fermented batter overnight, remove from the refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature for an hour to soften the batter.
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Wash and peel your apples. Cut and dice into small 1/8 inch cubes. You don’t want your apples too large, or they won’t cook through.2 Granny Smith apples
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Toss the apples into a bowl and coat with the lemon juice. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon cardamom, and flour to the bowl. Toss the apples to coat well, then allow to rest 10 minutes so the lemon juice starts to break down the apples.
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Once apples have rested, add to your muffin batter and fold into the dough until apples are well incorporated.
Step 3: Make the Crumble
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In a small bowl, melt butter needed for the crumble. Add the flour, white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom and salt to the melted butter. Using a spoon or your fingers, combine ingredients until butter has been incorporated and you have a crumbly mixture. Set aside for later.
Step 4: Assemble and Bake
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Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with parchment liners, and gently spray with cooking spray to avoid sticking.
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Scoop 1/4 cup muffin batter into each muffin cup.
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Top each muffin with 1 Tablespoon of crumble, and gently press down with your fingers to help crumble stick to the muffin tops.
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Place the muffins in the oven and bake at 400°F for 6 minutes, then without opening the oven, reduce the temperature to 350°F (175°C) and bake for another 18-20 minutes, until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
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Let muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Step 5: Make Drizzle and Glaze
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Sift powdered sugar into a mixing bowl. Add vanilla and 1 Tablespoon of milk. Using a whisk, combine ingredients. If glaze is too thick, add 1 teaspoon of milk at a time until glaze is thick but pourable.
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Drizzle fresh glaze over the tops of cooled muffins. Allow the glaze to rest 15 minutes to set before serving.
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Enjoy your Sourdough Apple Fritter Muffins!
Recipe Source: slightly adapted from Friend in Knead
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