Ingredients
Muffin Batter
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped apples (about 1 medium apple)
Streusel Topping
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal after baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt until evenly combined to create a uniform base for the batter.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk the egg, milk, melted unsalted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth and well blended, ensuring the batter will be moist and flavorful.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir gently just until the mixture is moistened. Avoid overmixing to keep the muffins tender; some lumps are perfectly fine.
- Fold in Apples: Gently fold the chopped apples into the batter, distributing them evenly while maintaining the batter’s light texture.
- Make Streusel Topping: In a small bowl, combine the flour, packed brown sugar, and ground cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter pieces using a pastry blender or fingertips until the mixture has a coarse crumb texture, perfect for a crunchy topping.
- Fill Muffin Cups: Divide the muffin batter evenly among the 12 lined muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters full to allow room for rising.
- Add Streusel: Generously sprinkle the prepared streusel topping over each muffin to add a sweet and crunchy contrast.
- Bake Muffins: Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, indicating doneness.
- Cool and Serve: Let the muffins cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy these warm or at room temperature as a delicious homemade treat.
Notes
- Do not overmix the batter to avoid tough muffins; a few lumps are ideal.
- Use cold butter for the streusel to achieve a crumbly topping texture.
- Customize by substituting apples with other fruits like pears or berries if desired.
- Muffins can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
- Ensure apples are chopped into uniform small pieces for even distribution and cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snack, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian