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This single serving apple muffin is soft, flavorful, and filled with warm cinnamon, chopped apples, and pecans. It’s an easy, satisfying treat perfect for breakfast or a snack.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: Simple steps using basic ingredients.
- Quick Prep: Ready to bake in just a few minutes.
- Single Serving: Perfectly portioned for one.
- No Extras: Makes just one muffin—nothing goes to waste.
I love this apple muffin because it’s warm, comforting, and filled with the flavors of fall in every bite. It’s the kind of recipe that feels special, even though it’s so simple to make. If you’re looking for a sweet treat that’s just for you, this little muffin is it.
Looking for more single serving muffin recipes? Try our Blueberry Muffin, Maple Muffin, Chocolate Chip Muffin, or Banana Bread.
Need a slightly bigger batch? Our Banana Muffins, Corn Muffins, and Morning Glory Muffins make just a few—perfect when you want more than one but not too many.
Featured Comment
“This really is perfection! We made muffins for two in cupcake liners. Delicious even without the crumb / streusel topping.”
– DANA
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this single apple muffin recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Flour: Use all-purpose flour for a soft, balanced texture. A 1:1 gluten-free flour blend can be used if needed.
- Baking Powder: Helps the muffins rise and form a classic dome shape.
- Cinnamon, Vanilla & Salt: These bring warm, well-rounded flavor to the muffins.
- Brown Sugar: Light or dark brown sugar adds moisture and is also used in the streusel topping. If you’re out, try our homemade brown sugar recipe.
- Butter: Adds richness and keeps the muffins moist. Also used in the streusel topping.
- Egg Yolk: Provides structure. Save the egg white for recipes like Meringues, mini Texas Sheet Cake, or Coconut Macaroons.
- Milk: 1% milk is used, but skim, whole, 2%, or dairy-free options work too.
- Apple: Use 1 small apple, any variety you like. Got extras? Try them in Apple Cake, Apple Pie Oatmeal, or Apple Cobbler.
- Pecans: Chopped pecans add crunch. You can use walnuts or leave the nuts out. Extra nuts can go in Pecan Pie, Ambrosia, or Carrot Cake Cupcakes.
Recipe Variations
Here are a few easy ways to customize this muffin recipe:
- Nut-Free: Skip the pecans if you prefer. For crunch, sprinkle oats on top instead.
- Different Fruit: Replace the apple with the same amount of diced pears or mixed berries.
- Extra Spice: Add a pinch of ground cloves or cardamom for a more spiced flavor.
How To Make One Apple Muffin
These photos and instructions help you visualize how to make a single serve apple muffin. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and brown sugar.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, egg yolk, milk, and vanilla.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until just combined.
- Fold in the diced apple and chopped pecans.
- Spoon the batter into a lightly buttered 10-ounce ramekin.
- In a small bowl, mix the streusel ingredients—flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, pecans, and softened butter—until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over the batter.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Expert Tips
- Read Through the Recipe: Review the full recipe and Ingredient Notes before starting. Everything you need is in the post, including helpful photos.
- Use the Right Dish: A 10-ounce ramekin (4 inches wide, 1¾ inches tall) works best. A larger dish may bake too quickly; a smaller one may take longer.
- Bake on a Rimmed Sheet: Place the ramekin on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any spills.
- Don’t Overmix: Mix the batter just until combined to keep the muffin tender.
- Measure Flour Correctly: Spoon flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife for accuracy.
RELATED: 20 Breakfast Recipes For One
Frequently Asked Questions
For best texture, use only the yolk. The whole egg may make the muffin too wet.
If you don’t finish it, cover and store at room temperature for up to a day. Reheat in the microwave for a few seconds.
Yes, double the ingredients and use two 10-ounce ramekins or one 5×5-inch baking dish.
RELATED: Single Serving Comfort Food Recipes
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
RELATED: Apple Recipes For One
If you’ve tried this individual apple muffin recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating it and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Apple Muffin For One
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Muffin
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter -melted
- 1 large egg yolk
- 3 tablespoons milk
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup diced apples
- 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
For the Topping
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ tablespoon chopped pecans
- 1 tablespoon butter , softened
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and brown sugar.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, egg yolk, milk, and vanilla.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until just combined.
- Fold in the diced apple and chopped pecans.
- Spoon the batter into a lightly buttered 10-ounce ramekin.
Make the Topping
- In a small bowl, mix the streusel ingredients—flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, pecans, and softened butter—until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over the batter.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Read Through the Recipe: Review the full recipe and Ingredient Notes before starting. Everything you need is in the post, including helpful photos.
- Use the Right Dish: A 10-ounce ramekin (4 inches wide, 1¾ inches tall) works best. A larger dish may bake too quickly; a smaller one may take longer.
- Bake on a Rimmed Sheet: Place the ramekin on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any spills.
- Don’t Overmix: Mix the batter just until combined to keep the muffin tender.
- Measure Flour Correctly: Spoon flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife for accuracy.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I continue to be amazed by how simple the ingredients and techniques are in these ODK recipes, while the results are fantastic! This is an amazing apple muffin. The serving is fairly large so I will portion it into two smaller ramekins the next time to limit the temptation to devour muffin in one sitting 😁
Thank you, Lisa.
I have been using your recipes for several years. Living alone they have been so helpful. This recipe is great.
This recipe calls for one egg yolk. What happens if I use the whole egg instead?
Using the whole egg will definitely alter the texture of the muffin. The recipe has been precisely tested to yield the best results with the ingredients listed. Deviating from them risks compromising the quality of the dish.
Perfect fall treat for two.
Love this recipe! I used gluten free flour and it was delicious. The crumble topping is really tasty, but I probably should have pressed it into the muffin more.
My routine recipe when I want a warm muffin but only 2. Great recipe.
Great recipe.
This really is perfection! We made muffins for two in cupcake liners. Delicious even without the crumb / streusel topping.
Thank you! I was just wondering if this could be baked in two individual muffin cups without topping! I’m a diabetic and have to really count my carbohydrates!