One-bowl muffins just like Grandma made them with applesauce, oatmeal, walnuts, and raisins. Extra moist and flavorful...make up a batch of these delicious muffins for a quick breakfast!
Love muffins? Try my Pistachio Muffins...they are Levi's favorite!
I hesitated to put out this recipe because it isn't flashy or world-changing, it isn't AH-MAZING…it's just a good and yummy homemade muffin recipe that feeds your family a healthy breakfast. Make them into mini muffins for extra fun.
But I've been making them for years. This delicious recipe comes from an old church cookbook marked up with somebody's notes and stains. And they are tasty, easy, and hearty...always a favorite.

Applesauce takes the place of a majority of the oil in these muffins helping the muffins be a bit healthier and reducing the fat content.
I usually use homemade applesauce that has already been sweetened. If using unsweetened applesauce you may want to increase the sugar by a tablespoon or two.
Ingredient List:
- Sugar. I usually use white sugar for this recipe but sometime take a bit of extra time to use half white sugar and half brown sugar to deepen the caramel flavor. You can sub some of the granulated sugar for maple syrup, with good results.
- Applesauce. These healthy muffins are a great use for your own homemade applesauce, if you have it. The jar of applesauce you get at the grocery store works just fine, too.
- Oil. You can sub vegetable oil for traditional veggie or canola oil, if you like.
- Yogurt. Sour cream can be swapped for similar texture and flavor, if you prefer. I like the tang from using yogurt.
- Flour. Swap out Baking 1 for 1 Gluten Free Flour for the all purpose flour for yummy gluten-free muffins. Another option is to use half white and half whole grain flour.
- Oats. I like the added nutrients of oatmeal and although the muffins are a bit dense, they are chock full of flavor and moisture.
- Golden raisins. If you have time, add them to a small bowl with some water to plump up while you mix up your ingredients. I prefer golden raisins then traditional because they are sweeter and my entire family likes them. Go ahead and sub out your favorite dried fruit in place of the raisins.
- Optional: diced apples. Sometimes it's fun to add a handful of diced apples into the batter to give fresh apples a moment to shine, especially in the fall.

This recipe I found years ago in an old church cookbook and have used it for years in various versions. This recipe brings simple flavor in an easy recipe with easy ingredients. I appreciate that!
My son cleans up 3 of these before I even turn around. In my book, that's a winner!
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix the egg and sugar together in a large bowl.
- Add the remaining wet ingredients.
- Add the dry ingredients and raisins. Stir gently just until mixed
- Add to muffin cups with muffin liners.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown on top.
These muffins will take a good 30 minutes to bake up. If you decide to forgo the oats in favor of more flour you will want to decrease that cooking time to about 20-25 minutes.

My muffins are a bit heavy?
These muffins are a bit on the heavy side and always have been because of the high amount of applesauce to flour ratio. If you like yours lighter and more cakey remove the oats and increase the flour to 2 cups.
Can I skip the raisins and nuts?
Of course! Those are included to add nutrition to these. You could sub out other dried fruits, chocolate chips, or nuts...if you prefer.
Store
Absolutely. In fact, I often make up a double batch simply to freeze them in an airtight container. You can even take them out of the freezer one at a time and set them on the counter. They will thaw to room temperature in a couple of hours. Perfect for packing in lunches or using for afternoon snacks!

Oatmeal Applesauce Muffins
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup oil any oil will do.
- ¾ cup applesauce
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- ½ cup golden raisins
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix together egg and sugar. Beat well.
- Add applesauce, yogurt, oil, and vanilla. Beat well.
- Add flour, baking powder, spices, oatmeal, and raisins. Stir gently just until mixed
- Divide batter amongst 12 lined muffin tins.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown on top.
Glad to hear those tweaks worked for you...I'll have to give the a try, too!
I omitted the yogurt and added more applesauce. I think next time I will try adding a little apple juice.
I use old-fashioned oats most often but quick oats work fine, as well. I use either, depending on what I have on hand. I should get those nuts in the recipe! Usually I use about 1/4-1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans but it is totally up to you as to how many you like in yours!
These look yummy! I don't see the nuts listed in the recipe.
Did you use quick oats or old fashioned oats?
Thanks, Marisa! And maybe we'll have to start putting random objects in all our photos...just to see who notices.
You don't need all the steps in pictures -- you know TMI -- and usually I like the pretty pictures. I even like the tomatoes in the photo, makes a person wonder? Hmmmmm! What are they going to do with that? Is it a snack? Could it be for a fantastic salad? The possibilities are endless. I wish I had a helper in my kitchen -- oh wait! I do! My Honey! But he doesn't giggle -- I guess I just have to take what I've got :-) And I am lucky and so are you two. Love the blog.
Ha! That would never happen around here! We aren't organized enough either. But they do freeze well!
Yum! Those sound really yummy! If I was more organized I'd make those the night before for my kids' breakfast. ;)