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With the changing of the seasons comes the flavors of fall. Pumpkin pie, squash soup and even maple oatmeal come to mind when you think of fall foods, but apples and cinnamon are the cream of the crop. Put on your chunky-knit sweater and get ready to bake these apple cinnamon muffins.

Ingredients:

Muffins:

2 cups all-purpose flour, + 2 teaspoons for coating apples
1½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, + 1/2 teaspoon for coating apples
1½ cups finely chopped apples
½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ cup milk

Topping:

1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon

Recipe:

Start this fall recipe by preheating the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as either adding baking cups to a pan or applying butter or shortening to the sides of a muffin tin. Choosing butter is an especially delicious option because it can soak into the sides of the muffin.

Then, sift the flour into a medium-sized bowl and add in the other dry ingredients: baking powder, salt and two teaspoons of cinnamon for that spicy fall flavor.

For the most dedicated fall baker, go ahead and pick your own apples, any kind will be delicious in these muffins. Though, Golden Delicious and Gala apples, due to their crisp sweetness, work best. But, if you prefer a more tart apple, go right ahead and get one for your muffins.

To prep the apples, take two teaspoons of flour and half a teaspoon of cinnamon and mix them together. Then finely chop a cup and a half of the apples into small chunks and mix them in with the flour and cinnamon.

Apples are a classic seasonal flavor. As the air becomes crisp, so do the apples and by adding the cinnamon the muffins allow those amazing flavors to show.

For the wet ingredients, mix together butter and sugar for about three minutes to create a cream. Next, mix in one egg at a time, waiting until it’s fully incorporated before adding the next egg. Finally, mix in the vanilla.

Fold the dry ingredients into this cream, switching between adding the dry ingredients and milk until everything is combined. Lastly, fold in the apple mixture, and pour the muffin batter into the muffin tray or baking cups. Fill each cup until it is about ¾ full and cook for half an hour.

While adding the milk to the recipe makes for an airier treat, an alternative but equally delicious option would be to leave out the milk completely for a denser muffin.

While the muffins are baking, prepare the topping. Take ¼ a cup of granulated sugar and half a tablespoon of ground cinnamon to make the sugar topping. Then, take half a cup of butter and melt it in a bowl.

Relax until the muffins are completely baked. Maybe carve a pumpkin, go see some fall foliage or watch a cozy movie to get you in an autumnal mindset.

Once the muffins are ready, take a butter knife and stick it into one muffin. If it comes out with no batter, the muffins are ready! If they’re good to go, you can make a tiny hole with the knife in each muffin to be filled up with butter and sugar later.

Allow your sweet and spicy treats to cool down for 10 minutes. While you’re waiting, go ahead and do something fall themed, like watch Gilmore Girls or crack open a mystery novel.

If the muffins are in cups, take them out for this next step. Take your bowls of butter and cinnamon sugar and dip the top of each muffin first into the butter.

Take the time to pour a little melted butter into the opening at the top of the muffin, which allows for the inside to be extra moist and buttery.

After dipping the muffins in the butter, dip the tops into the cinnamon to create a sweet and crunchy finish. Feel free to repeat these steps until the preferred topping consistency.

Last but definitely not least, enjoy your delicious, apple-filled muffins. Eat these perfectly themed muffins alongside a warm fire and enjoy the season.

Published on October 4, 2023 at 10:27 pm