Cottage Cheese Salted Caramel Apple Muffins

If you are looking for a soft, cozy treat to bake this weekend, these cottage cheese salted caramel apple muffins are a wonderful choice.

They are filled with tender pieces of fresh apple, gooey caramel, and a warm hint of cinnamon.

Blending cottage cheese right into the batter makes a huge difference here. It gives the muffins an incredibly moist and soft texture without leaving any cheese flavor behind.

You get rich, bakery-style tops that stay tender for days thanks to that extra moisture.

A quick drizzle of warm caramel sauce and a touch of sea salt on top makes every bite taste special.

Why I Love This Recipe

Incredible Moisture – Blending cottage cheese into the batter keeps these muffins delightfully soft and tender for days.

Bakery Style Crunch – A quick cinnamon sugar topping creates a sweet, crispy crust that bakes up beautifully golden.

Gooey Caramel Pockets – Caramel bits melt straight into the muffin crumb for rich, sweet surprises in every bite.

Perfect Sweet-Salty Balance – A warm caramel drizzle with flaky sea salt balances the spiced apple flavor like magic.

The Ingredients

For the Muffins

• 2 cups All Purpose Flour, Plus 1 tbsp
• 2 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg
• 2 Medium Apples (Honeycrisp Or Granny Smith), Peeled & Diced
• 1 cup Full Fat Cottage Cheese
• 2 Large Eggs
• 1/2 cup Light Brown Sugar
• 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
• 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter, Melted
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 cup Caramel Bits

For the Topping

• 2 tbsp Granulated Sugar
• 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1/3 cup Thick Caramel Sauce
• 1/2 tsp Flaky Sea Salt

How to Make This Recipe

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.

Step 2

Toss the diced apples with 1 tablespoon of flour so the pieces stay suspended in the batter instead of sinking. In a small bowl, mix the sugar and cinnamon for the topping.

Step 3

In a large bowl, whisk together the remaining 2 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Step 4

Blend the cottage cheese, eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, melted butter and vanilla until smooth, 30-45 seconds.

Step 5

Fold the wet mixture into the dry ingredients until almost combined, then fold in the apples and caramel bits.

Step 6

Divide the batter among the cups, filling them to the top, and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar.

Step 7

Bake for 22-25 minutes, until golden and a toothpick inserted into the cake part comes out clean.

Step 8

Cool for 15 minutes. Warm the caramel sauce slightly, drizzle over the muffins and finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt.

Quick Tips

Blend the Cottage Cheese Until Completely Smooth

Make sure you blend the wet mixture until there are no visible white curds left in the blender.

Taking the extra 15 seconds to get it completely smooth is what gives these muffins a tender, bakery-style crumb.

If you leave lumps behind, they will create wet pockets inside the muffins that keep the batter from rising evenly.

Dice the Apples Into Small Pieces

I recommend cutting the apples into neat, quarter-inch cubes rather than large chunks.

Small pieces distribute evenly throughout the batter and soften quickly while baking.

Large apple chunks release too much moisture in one spot, which can make the surrounding muffin crumb soggy.

Let the Melted Butter Cool Down

Before you add the melted butter to the blender with the eggs, let it sit on the counter for a few minutes.

If the butter is too hot, it can start cooking the raw eggs right inside the blender cup.

You’ll get the best results if the butter is completely liquid but just lukewarm to the touch.

More Favorites

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• Cottage Cheese Chocolate Chip Snack Muffins
• Cottage Cheese Protein Blueberry Crumble Muffins
• Cottage Cheese Protein Cinnamon Apple Crisp Parfaits
• Cottage Cheese Protein Salted Caramel Pretzel Pancakes

Quick Answers

Do I really have to blend the cottage cheese?

Yes, blending the cottage cheese turns it into a smooth liquid so your muffins do not end up with visible white curds.

It creates a wonderfully soft, tender crumb while ensuring there is zero cheesy flavor in the finished muffins.