Description
Soft, tender muffins packed with diced apples and warm cinnamon, finished with a buttery cinnamon-sugar top.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup milk
- 2 medium apples, peeled and diced (about 2 cups)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, for the topping
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375°F and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
- In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt and 2 teaspoons of the cinnamon.
- In a second bowl, whisk the 1/2 cup melted butter with the brown sugar until smooth, then whisk in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract and milk.
- Take 1 tablespoon of the flour mixture and toss it with the diced apples so the pieces stay spread through the batter.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and fold with a spatula just until no streaks of dry flour remain. Fold in the coated apples.
- Divide the batter among the cups, filling each about three-quarters full.
- Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, until the tops spring back when pressed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool the muffins in the tin for 10 minutes, then lift them out.
- Stir the granulated sugar with the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon in a shallow bowl. Brush each muffin top with the topping butter, dip it in the cinnamon sugar, and set the muffins on a rack until cool enough to eat.
Notes
Equipment: 12-cup muffin tin, paper liners, 2 mixing bowls, whisk, rubber spatula, pastry brush
- Firm apples such as Gala, Honeycrisp or Granny Smith keep their shape best in the oven.
- Store cooled muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze them for up to 3 months.
- Mix the batter gently: overmixing makes muffins tough and dense.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cool Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American