We have been stockpiling Honeycrisp apples this fall, or, we would be, if I could stop eating all the stock. This morning was cold and grey so I decided to warm up the house with some fall baking.
I spent a lot of time searching for the perfect recipe and couldn't find one, so I improvised with the King Arthur's Apple Muffin recipe. Baking + improvisation can lead to disaster, but I pushed my OCD aside and went for it. I added cardamom and nutmeg, so they are wonderfully fragrant and I added a splash of apple cider and Greek yogurt to keep them moist.
Apple Cider Whole Wheat Muffins
(adapted from King Arthur)
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup unbleached all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp cardamom
grated fresh nutmeg - between 1/8 and 1/4 tsp if you want to measure
1/2 cup butter (one stick) at room temperature
3/4 cup brown sugar (divided)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 6 ounce container Chobani Apple Cinnamon Greek Yogurt (or 1 cup plain Greek yogurt)
1/4 cup apple cider
1 huge or 2 large apples peeled and chopped (about 1 1/2 - 2 cups)
Preheat oven to 375. Grease a 12 cup muffin tin (or line with paper, but I love browned edges on muffins).
Mix together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg. In another bowl, cream the butter, granulated sugar and 1/4 cup brown sugar until fluffy. Add the egg and mix well. Add the Greek yogurt, but mix slowly. Add the apple cider and mix. Scrape down the sides, then add dry ingredients in batches, but don't over mix. Add apple chunks.
Scoop batter into muffin tin, they will be pretty full. Sprinkle the remaining brown sugar on top - next time I'm doing to do a streusel topping - recipe to follow!
Bake 25-30 minutes, but check after 25 - if a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, they are done. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then move to a rack. Enjoy them warm! Or have some restraint and save some for the week, microwaving for ten seconds to recreate that fresh from the oven taste.
