Low Carb Keto Apple Muffins

Name: Keto Apple Muffins
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1.5 cup peeled and chopped apples (180g (2 small apples)); 2 tbsp granulated sweetener (for macerating); 1 tsp lemon juice; 1 cup almond flour (100g); 1/4 cup coconut flour (30g); 1/4 cup granulated sweetener (50g (use 1/3 cup / 67g for a sweeter muffin)); 2 tbsp ground flax (14g); 1.5 tsp baking powder; 2 tsp cinnamon; 1/2 cup cream cheese (120g); 3 eggs (large); 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 tbsp granulated sweetener; 1/2 tsp cinnamon

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You only need 5 minutes prep to make these keto apple muffins! This easy recipe contains real apple and no fake extracts, yet the net carb count is really low. A family favorite.

We love these low carb apple muffins for breakfast or as a snack. They are gluten free, gently sweet, packed with flavor and studded with juicy apple pieces. Yum, and all that at only 5.2g net carbs per muffin!

I've also added flaxseed to the muffin batter, which increases the fibre content. This recipe is filling, yet light.

The muffins taste (and smell) divine when they are warm. Of course, they are just as delicious cold. I pack them into lunchboxes or grab one when I need a quick treat on the go.

I also love this Keto Apple Cake.

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Ingredients
Instructions
Variations
Substitutions
Recipe FAQs
Storage
More Keto Muffin Recipes
Recipe

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you need for sugar free apple muffins:

Apples - Any dessert apple works well, from Braeburn to Golden Delicious to Granny Smith. Peel, core and chop them.
Almond flour and coconut flour - I love using these flours in combination, it makes keto muffins taste so good.
Ground flax - Adds fibre and a better crumb structure.
Sweetener - I used granulated Bocha Sweet. Any erythritol monk fruit blend will also work well, white or golden. As would allulose or xylitol.
Eggs - Large and room temperature for a better rise.
Cinnamon, vanilla extract and baking powder - The spices are essential, they really lift the apple taste.
Apple cider vinegar - My secret ingredient. Increases the apple flavor and makes the crumb super fluffy and light. Cannot be replaced with any other vinegar!
Cream cheese - You could use sour cream instead or a mix of yoghurt and butter.

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

Instructions

Let me show you how to make Keto Apple Muffins, step by step. It's easy!

Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed method with timings and nutrition info.

MACERATE APPLES

Put the chopped apples in a bowl with lemon juice and sweetener and let them sit.

beaten egg and cream cheese in a food processor bowl

BLEND WET INGREDIENTS

Blend the eggs and sweetener until frothy. Add the cream cheese, apple cider vinegar and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.

low carb flours stirred together with a fork

ADD DRY INGREDIENTS

Stir together the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Then add them to the egg mixture and blend until a smooth batter forms.

muffin batter and chopped apple in a food processor bowl with a spatula

FOLD IN APPLES

Drain excess liquid from the bowl with the chopped apples. Fold the apples into the muffin batter.

FILL MUFFIN CUPS & BAKE

Fill the batter into a muffin pan lined with paper cups. Sprinkle with sweetener and cinnamon.

Bake in the preheated oven until the tops lightly browned and a skewer inserted comes out clean.

Katrin's Top Tips

#1 Want fluffy muffins? Macerate the apples. This process draws out the liquid in the fruit (It was 2 tablespoons for me). It prevents the muffins from being soggy.

#2 Patience. The batter is quite liquid at first, but firms up as the flax and coconut flour soak up the moisture.

#3 Don't overfill. Leave a little space at the top of the muffin cups. The batter will rise and you don't want it to spill over.

#4 Enjoy warm or cold. Apple muffins taste wonderful when they are still warm. Just know that they will be a little fragile straight out of the oven. They firm up as they cool.

Variations

For a richer muffin - Replace half of the cream cheese with butter for a more cake-like experience.

Use apple pie spice - Make them taste like apple pie by adding ½ teaspoon nutmeg and ¼ teaspoon each allspice, ginger and cardamom.

Keto applesauce muffins - Use sugar free applesauce instead of the apple pieces! Increase the flaxseed to balance the additional moisture.

Add nuts - Chopped walnuts, pecans or my keto candied pecans.

Change the topping - Make the crumb topping from my keto raspberry muffins or add a simple vanilla glaze from this coconut flour cake.

Substitutions

Almond flour only - Replace the coconut flour with ¾ cup or 80g additional almond flour.
Dairy free -Use coconut cream instead of cream cheese.
Nut free - Sub in a 50/50 blend of sesame flour and sunflower seed flour for the almond flour.

an apple muffin sliced in half showing the inside

Recipe FAQs

Are apples keto?

Apples do contain a fair amount of carbs. However, as long as you eat them in moderation, they it can be part of a keto diet. These keto apple cinnamon muffins contain 22.5g or ¼ apple each - that's 5.2g net carbs per muffin.

Do you have to peel the apples?

It's not essential, but leaving the peel on makes the texture more rustic. Apple skins stay firm! I prefer the muffins with peeled apples.

Which apples are best for muffins?

This is a personal choice. All apples work. Cooking apples such as Bramley require more sweetener as they are sour.