3 Ingredient Apple Muffins (with Cake Mix!)

Good Things Are Meant to be Shared!

Indulge in the warm and comforting flavors of fall with these delightful 3-Ingredient Apple Spice Muffins. Bursting with the essence of apples and fragrant spices, these muffins are a true treat for your taste buds.

Two 3 ingredient apple spice muffins are on a square plate with apples in the back.

We all have cake mix in our pantry to make cakes, but I actually love making muffins with them. You can make 2 ingredient pumpkin muffins made with pumpkin puree or 2 ingredient banana muffins too!

When it is the time of year for all things pumpkin and apple, these healthy apple muffins are always in my kitchen. They are great for the kids to eat for breakfast, or they area great sweet treat in the afternoon!

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • It is an easy recipe to make! These cinnamon apple muffins only have a few simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry!
  • There are only 3 ingredients. The box of spice cake mix has a lot of spices in it like brown sugar and a spice mixture similar to pumpkin pie spice. That will cut down on the ingredients we will need!
  • There is no oil or eggs in this recipe. If you are on a medically restrictive diet or cannot eat eggs, this is the perfect recipe for you!

Ingredients To Gather

The ingredients for the 3 ingredient apple muffins are labeled.
  • A box of cake mix. You will need spice cake mix which can easily be found in your local grocery store.
  • Unsweetened Applesauce. You can use homemade applesauce or store bought applesauce.
  • One large apple. I like gala apples, but Granny smith apples will work too since they are a little more tart and will offset the sweetness of the cake mix.

See printable recipe card for full recipe information on ingredients and quantities.

Step By Step Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a muffin tin with muffin cups. You can use paper liners or silicone liners.

The shredded apple is in the large mixing bowl.
Step 1: Add the shredded apple or small apple pieces in a large mixing bowl.
The apple and applesauce are mixed together.
Step 2: Add the applesauce to the large bowl. Mix well.
The spice cake mix is added to the mixing bowl.
Step 3: Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in the large mixing bowl and mix well until a muffin batter forms.
The batter is in the muffin tin.
Step 4: Spoon batter into the prepared muffin tin with an ice cream scoop. Place the muffin pan in the preheated oven and cook for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick is inserted into the center of a muffin and comes out clean.

Variations

  • Add chocolate chips! Chocolate chips make everything a little better! 1 cup of chips into the batter will make these even more delicious!
  • Add a cream cheese frosting! Just like on these Instant Pot Cinnamon Rolls, a cream cheese frosting will add some tangy and sweetness to the muffins. Drizzle a small amount of frosting on the tops of the muffins once they have cooled. Add a teaspoon of apple pie spice for an even warmer taste!
  • Make them mini! If you have a mini muffin tin, add the batter to the muffins pan and make them mini for the kids.

Storage Tips

Once the 3-ingredient apple spice muffins have cooled to room temperature on a wire rack, place them in an airtight container and keep them on the counter for up to 5 days.

You can also freeze the muffins by wrapping them in plastic wrap and place them in a Ziploc bag in the freezer. Take out a muffin as you would like and enjoy them throughout the month.

A muffin is unwrapped with apples in the background.

Tips and Tricks

  • You do not have to peel the apple.  The peel will soften and add some fiber into the muffins.
  • When you first mix the batter, it will look thick.  Keep mixing and a smoother batter will form.
  • These muffins will not rise too much.  If you want a higher rise, beat an egg into the batter and that will help make the muffins rise more.

3-Ingredient Apple Spice Muffins FAQs

Can I use yellow cake mix instead of spice mix?

Yes! You will want to add some apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice to get that warm cinnamon flavor.

Can I make this recipe into an apple loaf cake?

Sure! Grease a loaf pan with cooking spray and pour the batter into the loaf pan. Cook for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick is inserted into the center and comes out clean. The top of the loaf pan will be slightly golden brown.

More Cake Mix Recipes

Did you make this recipe and love it?

If you did, don't forget to leave a 5-star review and comment below! Show me your creation on Instagram or Facebook. Just mention @Lynn'sWayofLife or use this hashtag #lynnswayoflife.

📖 Recipe

Two 3 ingredient apple spice muffins are on a square plate with apples in the back.

3 Ingredient Apple Spice Muffins

Indulge in the warm and comforting flavors of fall with these delightful 3-Ingredient Apple Spice Muffins. Bursting with the essence of apples and fragrant spices, these muffins are a true treat for your taste buds.
5 from 38 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 12 Muffins
Calories: 215kcal
Author: Lynn Polito

Ingredients

  • 1 large Apple
  • 2 cups Applesauce
  • 1 box Spice Cake Mix

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin tin with muffin cups. You can use paper liners or silicone liners.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, shred the apple. You can also cut the apple into pieces.
  3. Add the apple sauce to the large bowl. Open the apple spice cake mix into the bowl and mix well until a muffin batter forms.
  4. Scoop the muffin batter into the prepared muffin tin with an ice cream scoop. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean.

Notes

  • You do not have to peel the apple.  The peel will soften and add some fiber into the muffins.
  • When you first mix the batter, it will look thick.  Keep mixing and a smoother batter will form.
  • These muffins will not rise too much.  If you want a higher rise, beat an egg into the batter and that will help make the muffins rise more.
Calories: 215kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 284mg | Potassium: 197mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 23IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 2mg

The provided nutrition information is an estimate. The accuracy is not guaranteed.

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11 Comments

    1. If you would like them sweeter you can use Gala or Fuji, but if you would like them a little less sweet, Granny smith is a great choice