Phenomenal Phoods

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Ingredients:

For the muffins

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 Tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup salted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 1/2 cups peeled and chopped apples*

For the streusel topping

• 1/4 cup cold butter, cubed
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• Optional: thin slices of apple for topping

Instructions:

1. Make the muffin batter. Whisk together 2 1/4 cups of the flour with the baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt in a small bowl and set aside.
2. In another small bowl, toss together the remaining 1/4 cup of flour with the apples.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, melted butter, oil, vanilla, applesauce and buttermilk.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring with a wooden spoon or spatula just a few times until combined. It’s fine if there are some streaks of flour left. Do not over mix!
5. Gently fold in the flour coated apples.
6. Let the batter rest for 10-15 minutes while you preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. and make the topping.
7. Make the streusel. Use a fork to whisk together the flour and brown sugar. Add the cold butter and use the fork or just your fingers to mix with the flour and sugar until crumbly.
8. Assemble and bake. Line a muffin tray with papers and fill each muffin cup all the way to the top with batter. Spoon the streusel on top of each so that the whole thing is covered. If you want the apple garnish on top, add a few very thin slices of apple on the top of each muffin.
9. Bake at 375 degrees F. for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick or knife comes out with just a few crumbs clinging to it. Check a couple of places to make sure they are baked through. Moisture from the apples can make these take a little longer in different ovens so you may need closer to 30 minutes.