Christmas Morning Muffins Recipe: Spiced Apple & Cinnamon Joy

Christmas Morning Muffins Recipe: Spiced Apple & Cinnamon Joy My Christmas Morning Muffins Story

My Christmas Morning Muffins Story

If you’d told me years ago that Christmas Morning Muffins would become my favorite holiday tradition, I would’ve laughed. Back then, Christmas mornings were all chaos—wrapping paper flying, coffee brewing, and me frantically trying to pull together breakfast while keeping the kids from eating candy canes for fuel.

But one snowy Christmas Eve, something magical happened. I found myself in the quiet kitchen after everyone had gone to bed. I spotted a few apples that had seen better days, some cinnamon on the counter, and Grandma’s old muffin tin gleaming in the corner. I remembered her voice: “If the house smells like cinnamon when they wake up, they’ll know it’s Christmas.”

So I whisked, stirred, and waited. When the timer dinged, the air filled with warm spice, apples, and butter—the kind of smell that wraps around you like a blanket. I woke up early the next morning, reheated them for breakfast, and my husband said, “Diana, these taste like Christmas.”

And just like that, a new family tradition was born.

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What Makes These Christmas Morning Muffins So Special

These Spiced Apple & Cinnamon Muffins are soft, buttery, and bursting with apple chunks and a crunchy cinnamon-sugar topping. They’re the perfect mix of nostalgia and warmth—easy to bake ahead and heavenly with a mug of cocoa.

The Foundation:

• 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp ground cloves

The Cozy Mix:

• ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, melted
• ¾ cup (180 ml) buttermilk (or milk + 1 tsp vinegar)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups finely chopped apples (about 2 medium, peeled)

The Topping:

• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp melted butter

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Time Investment That’s Actually Worth It

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Bake Time: 20 minutes
• Cool Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes

They’re quick enough to bake before breakfast or the night before.

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Step 1 – Mix the Dry Ingredients

Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices in a large bowl.

Diana’s Tip: The more air you whisk in, the fluffier your muffins. Grandma never skipped this step.

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Step 2 – Combine the Wet Ingredients

In another bowl, whisk melted butter, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla.

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Step 3 – Bring the Batter Together

Pour the wet mix into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Fold in the chopped apples.

What to Watch For: Overmixing will make them dense. Stop as soon as no dry flour remains.

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Step 4 – Fill & Top

Divide batter among 12 muffin cups, filling each about ¾ full. Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter; sprinkle on top.

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Step 5 – Bake the Magic

Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 18–20 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.

Let cool for 10 minutes before serving—or, if you’re like me, sneak one warm right out of the pan.

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Why I Feel Good About Serving These

They’re made with real fruit, warm spices, and just enough sweetness to feel festive without guilt.

Per Muffin: ~210 calories | Fat 8 g | Carbs 31 g | Protein 3 g

They freeze beautifully and reheat in seconds—perfect for those sleepy holiday mornings.

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Making These Even Better

• Add Crunch: Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts on top.
• Add Glow: Mix in orange zest for a bright holiday twist.
• Add Joy: Drizzle with simple icing (½ cup powdered sugar + 1 tbsp milk).

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How I Serve Them

On Christmas morning, I plate these Christmas Morning Muffins on Grandma’s old tray, dust them with powdered sugar, and serve them with cocoa while the tree lights twinkle.

When I host brunch, I pair them with my King’s Hawaiian Cheesecake Danish – Sweet & Fluffy in 30 Minutes. It’s a perfect sweet duo for the holidays.

And of course, I always share my festive breakfast spread on Pinterest (@DianaCookinge).

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Learn from My Kitchen Disasters

Mistake #1: Using too much apple—makes them soggy.
Fix: Stick to about 1½ cups chopped.

Mistake #2: Skipping room temperature eggs.
Fix: Cold eggs can seize the butter—set them out early.

Mistake #3: Overbaking.
Fix: Pull them out when the tops spring back lightly.

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Meal Prep Magic

Make Ahead: Bake a day before; warm in the oven at 300°F for 5 minutes.
Store: Airtight container 3 days at room temp or 5 days in fridge.
Freeze: Up to 2 months; thaw overnight.