This Rhubarb Muffins recipe is quick and easy to make. With both whole wheat and all-purpose flour, these rhubarb-applesauce muffins are perfect for breakfast or brunch with a cup of coffee. The kids can help mix together the batter and gobble these muffins up with a big glass of milk.

Rhubarb Muffins with applesauce are easy to make and a perfect way to use that tart rhubarb so plentiful in the spring.

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Rhubarb Muffin Recipe

It’s no secret that most of our family are rhubarb fans. This year, Barbara has made Grandma’s Rhubarb Streusel Dessert and Rhubarb Bread, and still has a plethora of rhubarb growing out in the yard.

She woke up one Sunday morning and decided to find a new rhubarb recipe. It must have been divine intervention from our Grandma or Great Aunt Gertie, because Barbara’s favorite cookbook – Pot O’Gold (a gift from Aunt Gertie to our Grandma) – was open to a page with these Rhubarb-Applesauce Muffins.

Brown Sugar Rhubarb Muffin Ingredients

Rhubarb, diced (frozen or fresh)
Whole Wheat Flour
All Purpose Flour
Baking Soda
Baking Powder
Salt
Ground Cinnamon
Applesauce, Unsweetened
Vegetable Oil
Large Eggs
Brown Sugar
Sugar

This Rhubarb Muffins recipe is quick and easy to make. With both whole wheat and all-purpose flour, these rhubarb-applesauce muffins are perfect for breakfast or brunch with a cup of coffee. The kids can help mix together the batter and gobble these muffins up with a big glass of milk.

What’s the purpose of using applesauce in baking?

These delicious rhubarb muffins have a secret ingredient. It’s applesauce.

Using applesauce is a naturally low-fat ingredient that can be used as a replacement for oils. This makes for a healthier baked good. In addition, muffins and breads made with applesauce tend to have a great moist texture, like this Cake Mix Applesauce Cake!

Barbara always has applesauce on hand for her three kids. She enlisted the help of her 7-year-old daughter to help make these rhubarb muffins.

They had so much fun. Her daughter cracked the eggs, and they worked on fractions while measuring the wet ingredients, and she learned the importance of folding in ingredients gently for an airy muffin. It is safe to say that they will be making these again.

How to Make Applesauce Rhubarb Muffins

Step By Step Instructions

In one large bowl, combine whole wheat flour and all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and ground cinnamon.
In a separate bowl, whisk the wet ingredients—applesauce, eggs, oil and brown sugar.
Combine the wet and dry ingredients and mix until just combined; stir in the rhubarb.
Fill muffin tins 2/3 full with batter. Sprinkle the top of each muffin with cinnamon sugar mixture.
Bake in a preheated oven until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on wire racks.
Serve slathered in butter with a big glass of milk or coffee.

For the full ingredient amounts and detailed instructions for rhubarb muffins with brown sugar, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Recipe Variations

Use 100% all purpose flour for whole wheat flour, if desired.
Substitute Greek yogurt for applesauce.
Stir in a half a packet of strawberry Jell-O mix for a strawberry rhubarb muffin recipe.
Add chopped nuts such as walnuts or pecans.
Before baking, top with a streusel topping for extra decadence.

Rhubarb Muffins using Frozen Rhubarb

These applesauce rhubarb muffins are very versatile. We make them using fresh rhubarb during the summer months, and then make them the rest of the year using frozen rhubarb. When using frozen rhubarb in this recipe, do NOT thaw it before using.

How do you freeze rhubarb?

We prefer to use the flash freeze method to freeze rhubarb. Wash and dry the rhubarb thoroughly. Cut into individual pieces, and lay flat on a large sheet pan. Place in the freezer until the individual rhubarb pieces are frozen. Once frozen, pour into a large freezer bag and keep in the freezer until ready to use.

For more detailed instructions and for freezing instructions using the blanching method, check out this post.

Recipe FAQs

Use fresh or frozen rhubarb in these easy rhubarb muffins. If using frozen rhubarb, do not thaw.
These brown sugar rhubarb muffins are sweet enough as is. We recommend using unsweetened applesauce.
Use cupcake liners for easy removal from the muffin tin or spray each individual muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray before filling with batter.
Fill each muffin cup approximately 2/3 full of rhubarb muffin batter.
We recommend eating these warm or cold spread with butter. YUM!
Check out our Amazon store for our favorite pantry essentials and kitchen items.

Old Fashioned Rhubarb Recipes

Rhubarb Spoon Cake

Strawberry Rhubarb Fool

Sour Cream Rhubarb Cake

Old Fashioned Rhubarb cake can be made with fresh or frozen rhubarb. This rhubarb recipe with sour cream has a cinnamon sugar topping.

Rhubarb Coffee Cake

Is rhubarb a sweet or bitter food?

Neither! Rhubarb is a extremely tart vegetable that needs quite a bit of sweetness to balance out the tartness. This is why rhubarb is most often used in desserts.

Does rhubarb get sweet when cooked?

No, it does not. Rhubarb only gets sweet when sugar is added to it. If the rhubarb is cooked with copious amounts of sugar, then it will get sweet.

Kitchen Utensils

I love these silicone muffin liners. They are reusable so you have to worry about running out of these. There’s 12 to a package, so it’s best to get 2 sets. Most recipes make more than 12 muffins or cupcakes.

Print Recipe

Rhubarb Muffins

Prep Time15

Cook Time20

Total Time35

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: applesauce rhubarb muffins, rhubarb muffins, rhubarb muffins with brown sugar

Servings:

Calories: 158kcal

Author: Barbara

Ingredients

2 cups flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups brown sugar
1 1/3 cups applesauce
1/2 cup oil
1 1/2 cups chopped rhubarb

Topping

1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 teaspoons sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Mix together both flours, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; set aside.
Beat together eggs, brown sugar, applesauce, and oil until smooth.
Pour wet mixture into the dry mixture; stir until just moistened.
Fold in rhubarb.
Prepare muffin tins with liners or spray well with nonstick spray.
Fill muffin tins two-thirds (2/3) full of batter.
Mix together the cinnamon and sugar for the topping. Sprinkle each muffin with the topping mix.
Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Notes

Use fresh or frozen rhubarb in these easy rhubarb muffins. If using frozen rhubarb, do not thaw.
These brown sugar rhubarb muffins are sweet enough as is. We recommend using unsweetened applesauce.
Use cupcake liners for easy removal from the muffin tin or spray each individual muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray before filling with batter.
Fill each muffin cup approximately 2/3 full of rhubarb muffin batter.
We recommend eating these warm or cold spread with butter. YUM!
If you love these muffins, try our Rhubarb Quick Bread recipe.
The nutritional information below is auto-calculated and can vary depending on the products you use. It should NOT be used for specific dietary needs.
The nutrition information below is auto-calculated and can vary depending on the products used. It should not be used for specific dietary needs.