Description
Delight in these moist and flavorful Apple Muffins, bursting with juicy diced apples and warm apple pie spice. With a perfect balance of whole wheat and all-purpose flours, these muffins offer a tender crumb and subtle sweetness, making them an ideal breakfast treat or afternoon snack.
Ingredients
Fruit
- 2 ½ cups diced apples (peeled and cut into ½-inch pieces)
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup whole wheat flour (or additional all-purpose flour)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice (or cinnamon)
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 egg (room temperature)
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Sweeteners
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare muffin tin: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a muffin tin with paper liners to prevent sticking.
- Prepare apples: Peel the apples and dice them into ½-inch pieces to ensure even distribution throughout the muffins.
- Mix dry ingredients with apples: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, apple pie spice, and salt. Add the diced apples and gently toss them to coat with the flour mixture, which helps prevent the apples from sinking during baking. Set this mixture aside.
- Combine wet ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, melted butter, fresh lemon juice, vanilla extract, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is smooth and the sugars have started to dissolve.
- Mix wet and dry components: Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients with apples. Stir gently using a spoon just until all ingredients are combined; avoid overmixing to keep the muffins tender.
- Fill muffin cups: Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin wells, filling each about two-thirds full to allow room for rising.
- Bake muffins: Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached.
- Cool and serve: Remove the muffins from the oven and let them cool in the tins for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Using fresh lemon juice helps prevent the apples from browning and adds a subtle tang.
- For a spicier flavor, add a pinch of nutmeg along with the apple pie spice.
- You can substitute the whole wheat flour with all-purpose flour for a lighter texture.
- Muffins can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
- Letting the batter rest for 5 minutes before baking can improve texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
