Description
Delight in these moist and flavorful Apple Cinnamon Streusel Muffins, perfect for breakfast or a cozy snack. Featuring tender chopped apples and a crunchy cinnamon streusel topping, these muffins combine the warmth of cinnamon with the sweetness of apples in a soft, fluffy texture baked to golden perfection.
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 ensure easy removal of muffins after baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the 1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt until evenly combined.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk the egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well mixed.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently just until moistened. Avoid overmixing; a few lumps in the batter are normal and will keep the muffins tender.
- Add Apples: Gently fold in the chopped apples with a spatula, distributing them evenly throughout the batter without crushing them.
- Prepare Streusel Topping: In a small bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Use a pastry blender or your fingertips to cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs to create the streusel topping.
- Fill Muffin Cups: Divide the muffin batter evenly among the 12 paper-lined muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters full for proper rise.
- Add Streusel Topping: Sprinkle a generous amount of the prepared streusel topping over each muffin to add delightful crunch and flavor.
- Bake Muffins: Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes until the muffins are golden on top and a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool Muffins: Let the muffins cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving to ensure the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Do not overmix the batter to avoid tough muffins; a few lumps are perfectly fine.
- Make sure the butter for the streusel topping is cold to achieve a crumbly texture.
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith for a nice balance of sweetness and tartness.
- Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute milk with almond or oat milk and use dairy-free butter alternatives.
