Apple Cinnamon Muffins

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I was at the doctor the other day and he spent 45 minutes trying to convince me to go vegan. To ward off inflammation. Do you think this is what he had in mind?

These apple cinnamon muffins are so easy + delicious, it breaks down like this… Whip up your wet ingredients (think buttermilk, sour cream, eggs + oil) and then fluff together your dry (the usual suspects: all-purpose flour, white whole wheat flour, baking powder, salt + hella spices) and then marry them together. Next we fold in chopped apples glistening with citrus, brown sugar + cinnamon. Easy. This muffin is loaded with apples and has an interior light as air.. Heaven. We finish them off with a sprinkle of sugar + cinnamon and a drizzle of fresh squeezed lemon that gives the top the slightest crunch that’s positively toe curling. This is good.

Quick Notes:

  • Peeling Apples. Don’t bother here unless it’s something you’re partial to. We didn’t feel it was needed.
  • Room Temperature. Make sure all of your wet ingredients (eggs, sour cream, buttermilk, etc.) are at room temperature…they’ll mix better, more completely and will give your muffins more rise. DO IT.
  • White Whole Wheat Flour. I love this flour and use it all the time…in my cookies, in waffles, in pancakes… I like to use it for a percentage of the flour in lots of these recipes not because it’s healthy (don’t be silly), but because it lends this really wonderful taste + texture + fluffiness to whatever it touches. I highly recommend you get yourself some. I have not tested this with 100% all-purpose flour nor have I tested it with regular whole wheat flour. When you swap out flours it will change the texture + density of your muffin. *IF* you do any swaps, would you let us know in the notes below how they go? Thanks!!
  • Freezing Muffins. Did you know that you could get your muffins ready all the way to the point of just prior to baking (and in the muffin tin), shove them in the freezer and then once frozen solid put the muffins in a resealable freezer-safe plastic bag? You can have apple cinnamon muffins on demand, anytime you want? Pass me some champagne, this is how I want to live. You would need to use muffin liners, if you choose to do this. When it’s time to bake, they will go straight from the freezer to the oven. Be sure to tack on extra bake time so they cook through completely.

That’s it! So easy. Have fun!! xoxo

Apple Cinnamon Muffins | Recipe via DisplacedHousewife | apples + spices @displacedhousewife

Apple Cinnamon Muffins | Recipe via DisplacedHousewife | apples + spices @displacedhousewife

Apple Cinnamon Muffins | Recipe via DisplacedHousewife | apples + spices @displacedhousewife

Apple Cinnamon Muffins | Recipe via DisplacedHousewife | apples + spices @displacedhousewife

Apple Cinnamon Muffins | Recipe via DisplacedHousewife | apples + spices @displacedhousewife

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Makes 18 apple cinnamon muffins total

INSTRUCTIONS

For the Apple Mixture

  • 2 small apples, cored + small dice (skin on or off, your call)
  • 1 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice + 1 teaspoon of zest
  • 1 teaspoon fresh orange juice + 1 teaspoon of zest
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the Muffins

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk, shaken, room temperature
  • 4 tablespoons water
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup white whole-wheat flour
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 3 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground all spice
  • 3/4 cup toasted walnuts, chopped, optional

For the Top

  • 1 apple cut into thin, half-moon slices
  • ½ lemon squeezed over the tops of the apple slices
  • ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place a rack in the top third of the oven. Line a muffin tin with muffin liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  • In a small bowl, toss your diced apples with the lemon juice + zest, orange juice + zest, brown sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl whisk together your brown sugar, granulated sugar, vegetable oil, sour cream, buttermilk, water, eggs and vanilla until well blended.
  • In a medium bowl whisk together the all-purpose flour, white whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, all spice and cardamom.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until barely blended. Add the diced apples (and walnuts, if using) and gently fold into the muffin batter in as few strokes as possible. *A note from Stella: Make sure that while you don’t over mix the batter, you get the apples evenly distributed throughout so that each bite is an apple party.
  • Scoop the batter into the muffin liners and filling until just barely ¾ full.
  • Place 1-3 half-moon apple slices on top of each muffin. Squeeze some lemon over the top and sprinkle with sugar + cinnamon. (You could also toss the apple slices with the lemon and cinnamon in a bowl to make it a little more even…but I would still sprinkle the sugar directly on top of the muffins to get that crunch I love.)
  • Bake for 20 minutes in the top third of the oven or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Let cool in the muffin tin for about 10ish minutes, then use a butter knife to help get them out to finish cooling on a rack. Store airtight…they’ll keep for a couple of days.
  • Be sure to tag me @displacedhousewife #displacedhousewife so I can see your apple cinnamon muffins!!

On My Mind

–Rebecca x

Apple Cinnamon Muffins | Recipe via DisplacedHousewife | apples + spices @displacedhousewife

 

 

Comments

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18 Comments

  • Courtney January 31, 2017 at 4:59 AM

    Made these as mini muffins for my son’s kindergarten class for his snack day. Big hit! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Rebecca Firth January 31, 2017 at 4:09 PM

      Hi Courtney! I’m so happy to hear this…I absolutely love these muffins and I’m so glad you all did too. Cheers!! xoxo

      Reply
  • Laura | Tutti Dolci October 24, 2016 at 12:06 AM

    I’m sure these muffins are exactly what he had in mind! ;) Try hyaluronic acid or turmeric, and then keep on keeping on with the muffins!

    Reply
  • Katrina October 20, 2016 at 2:05 PM

    These muffins are gorgeous! Love the buttermilk and sour cream in there!

    Reply
    • DisplacedHousewife October 21, 2016 at 2:11 AM

      Katrina — Buttermilk + sour cream makes everything better!!! xoxo

      Reply
  • Bethany @ athletic avocado October 20, 2016 at 11:19 AM

    These muffins look so yummy! I would love to pair one with a chai latte for an afternoon snack!

    Reply
    • DisplacedHousewife October 21, 2016 at 2:11 AM

      Bethany — I love that idea!! When should I come over?!? ;)

      Reply
  • Alida | Simply Delicious October 20, 2016 at 9:56 AM

    Yum! And if this is what Vegan looks like, I might just consider converting. ;)

    Reply
    • DisplacedHousewife October 21, 2016 at 2:10 AM

      Alida — They’re actually not even close…maybe vegetarian? They can eat dairy, right?!? I have no idea. The vegan thing isn’t happening and these muffins are delicious. End of story!! xoxo

      Reply
  • heather (delicious not gorgeous) October 19, 2016 at 4:11 PM

    these look amazing! 99% of recipes are like, YOU MUST PEEL YOUR APPLES, and i usually don’t, so it’s refreshing to see someone who doesn’t either (;

    Reply
    • DisplacedHousewife October 19, 2016 at 4:36 PM

      Heather — Thank you so much!!! My dad would call us heretics, but I 100% believe in the unpeeled apple. And unpeeled potatoes in my mashies. I’m taking a stand. Let’s burn our peelers. xoxo

      Reply
  • Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen October 19, 2016 at 3:07 PM

    Wish I could have smelled these cooking!! You’d have to kick me out of your kitchen cause I’d never want to leave!! How lucky are you that you’ve got apples trees right in your yard. Thanks for sharing and Happy Hump Day!

    Reply
    • DisplacedHousewife October 19, 2016 at 4:35 PM

      Mary Ann — Happy Hump Day my friend!!! I would have loved to share…we’ve had apple muffins coming out of our ears!!! xoxo

      Reply
  • DisplacedHousewife October 19, 2016 at 3:06 PM

    Karen — He said that was the way to fix my back. I’m not buying it. I had a ruptured disc. Not to say that being vegan doesn’t have its benefits and I’m sure it cuts back on inflammation… But I think my back is something more than that. Anywho, heavy topic. Let’s just talk about delicious apple muffins!! ;) And I loved the apples on top!! Stella kept saying, ‘more apples!’ So they are loaded with apples!! xoxo

    Reply
  • Karen @ Seasonal Cravings October 19, 2016 at 2:43 PM

    Why was he trying to get you to go vegan!? These babies are beautiful. Love the way you put the apple slices on top!

    Reply
  • Cathy | whatshouldimakefor.com October 19, 2016 at 1:38 PM

    simply the perfect fall bite. i want to grab one right out of the oven and wash it down with some mulled cider. i’m sure the buttermilk/sour cream combo makes these divine.

    Reply
    • DisplacedHousewife October 19, 2016 at 1:43 PM

      Cathy — Yes…love the sour cream/buttermilk combo!! I am totally in love with all of the fall flavors…I just can’t get enough this year!! xo

      Reply