Delicious maple carrot muffins with a sweet streusel topping. These muffins are lightly sweetened with maple syrup and are perfectly moist thanks to carrots and applesauce. They also happen to be vegan!

My favorite muffin recipe, topped with a sweet streusel topping. Because every muffin is better with a streusel topping. These maple carrot muffins are vegan and can be made with whole wheat or white flour. I haven’t tried any gluten-free options yet, but if you try it, let me know in the comments!

And if you want a loaf version of these muffins, check out my Vegan Carrot Cake Loaf with Streusel Topping. It’s just as delicious!

How to Make Maple Carrot Muffins

These muffins are very basic as far as muffins go. All you need to do is combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and the wet ingredients in a different bowl. Fold the wet mixture into the dry mixture and you have your muffin batter!

You can also top these muffins with a 4-ingredient streusel topping. This is optional, but recommended. It adds a little more sweetness and flavor to the recipe. It’s good, I promise. The streusel takes less than 2 minutes to prepare. Just combine the dry ingredients, then cut the butter into the mixture until you get a slightly wet crumble. You can use a fork or your hands. Sprinkle it on top of your muffins before baking.

Bake the muffins for 20 minutes and you’re done.

Notes on the Recipe

• It’s important to measure the flour using a spoon and level method. If you scoop the flour using the measuring cup, you will end up using more flour than needed. I added more notes on this in the recipe.
• I used maple syrup and applesauce that were stored in the refrigerator. If using these ingredients at room temperature, it may or may not affect the final result.
• You can try adding raisins, chopped dates or walnuts in the batter if desired.
• Not all brown sugar is vegan. If you want this recipe to be vegan, make sure to use vegan brown sugar.
• This recipe makes 9 muffins. I just used my 12 muffins pan and left 3 tins empty.

Watch How to Make the Recipe

Looking for more muffin recipes? Try these blueberry cardamom muffins, banana bran muffins, almond flour muffins, Vegan Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins, or PB and J muffins. You can also try my fruit-sweetened carrot cake loaf or Vegan Carrot Cake Loaf with Streusel Topping.

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5 from 3 votes

Maple Carrot Muffins with Streusel Topping

Delicious maple carrot muffins with a sweet streusel topping. These muffins are lightly sweetened with maple syrup and are perfectly moist thanks to carrots and applesauce. They also happen to be vegan!

Course Dessert

Cuisine vegan

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 9

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (white or whole wheat), spoon and level
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
• 1/8 teaspoon (pinch) nutmeg, ground

Wet Ingredients

• 1 cup carrots, peeled and finely shredded (about 1 large)
• 1/2 cup applesauce, unsweetened
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup olive oil or light tasting oil
• 1/4 cup plant-based milk (I tried soy and oat)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Streusel Topping (Optional)

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (white or whole wheat)
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon vegan butter
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, ground

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a muffin pan (this recipe makes 9 muffins, but you can use a 12 muffin pan). Set aside.
• Combine all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
• Add all the wet ingredients in a different medium mixing bowl. Whisk together until combined.
• Transfer the wet mixture to the dry mixture. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until combined. Don't overmix. Mix until there is no big pockets of flour remaining. The mixture will be thick.
• Spoon the batter into the prepared muffins tins. Set aside.
• Prepare the streusel (if using): In a small bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar and cinnamon together. Add the cold vegan butter and using a fork, cut the butter into the dry mixture until you get a slightly wet, small crumble.
• Sprinkle the streusel on top of the unbaked muffins. You don't need to use all the streusel.
• Bake the muffins for 20 minutes at 350F.
• Let cool for at least 5 minutes (this avoids crumbling). Once completely cooled, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4-5 days. They're best served fresh.

Notes

It’s important to use the spoon and level method to measure flour. To do this, take a spoon to scoop the flour and add it to a measuring cup. Take the back of a knife to scrape and level the top. If scooping the flour directly with the measuring cup, you will end up using more flour than the recipe requires.

Not all brown sugar is vegan. To make this recipe vegan, be sure to use vegan brown sugar. Coconut sugar may work as well, but I have not tested it.

Use cold butter that was stored in the refrigerator. It’s also important to note that I used maple syrup and applesauce that were stored in the refrigerator. The result may be different if using these ingredients at room temperature.

You can add more cinnamon to taste if desired. A pinch of ground clove may be good as well.

You can also try adding chopped walnuts, dates and/or raisins in the batter if you’d like, though I haven’t tried it.

If you make these maple carrot muffins, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love to hear from you guys. And of course, if you try this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram!