Apple, Date, and Walnut Muffins

A sliced Apple, Date and Walnut muffin on a plate with 2 muffins in the background.

4.75 from 54 votes

Moist, flavorful, and full of tasty fruit and nuts, these Apple, Dates, and Walnut Muffins are terrific! Loaded with flavor and easy to make, they are perfect as a grab-and-go breakfast or light lunch.

Prep Time15

Cook Time20

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple muffin, apple, date, and walnut muffins, apples, dates, muffins, walnuts

Servings: jumbo muffins

Calories: 447kcal

Author: Chef Jenn

Equipment

Food processor

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter salted
1 cup diced apples about 1 large apple
1/2 cup diced dates pits removed
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 egg
2/3 cup milk

For the topping:

1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 425-F and prepare a 6 or 12-cup muffin tin by spraying it with cooking spray or lining it with muffin liners.
Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and butter to the bowl of a food processor and pulse until it looks sandy and crumbly. You can also use a pastry blender but trust me, a food processor is faster and easier. Set aside 1/4 cup of this flour mixture for the topping.
Transfer the flour mixture to a large bowl and add the dates, diced apple, and walnuts. Mix well.
Whisk the egg and milk in a separate small bowl, then add it to the flour mixture, stirring until combined. The batter will be lumpy from the apples, nuts, and dates.
Fill the muffin cups about 3/4 full.
Combine the reserved flour mixture with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. Sprinkle this evenly over the tops of the unbaked muffins.
Bake the muffins at 425-F for about 15-20 minutes for 6 jumbo muffins, or about 10 minutes for 12 regular sized muffins.

Notes

Chef Jenn's Tips

Did you know baking powder can expire? It can, and it won't have the same leavening (rising) power if it is fresh.
Fresh spices make all the difference. Grind your own cinnamon if you're flexing your inner chef.
Don't like walnuts? Try this apple muffin recipe with pecans, instead.
Don't dice the apple too small or it'll melt into the muffins while cooking. I like about 1/4-inch dice for this recipe, or use the largest side of your alligator chopper to make quick work of those apples.

Nutrition