Description
Delightful caramel apple muffins with walnuts blend autumn’s warmest flavors into a single, irresistible bite. Comforting spices and sweet caramel create a perfect harmony that welcomes you to savor each delectable morsel.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups diced apples (peeled & cored)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
Flour and Sweeteners:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
Additional Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Caramel sauce (for drizzling)
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by preheating to 350F (175C) and line a muffin tin with paper liners.
- Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together in a medium mixing bowl, then set aside.
- Cream softened butter with both sugars in a large bowl until the mixture becomes fluffy and light in color.
- Add eggs individually, mixing thoroughly after each addition, then incorporate vanilla extract.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, alternating with buttermilk. Mix until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
- Gently fold diced apples and chopped walnuts into the batter, distributing evenly throughout.
- Distribute the batter into muffin cups, filling each approximately two-thirds full to allow room for rising.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-23 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should emerge clean.
- Remove from oven and let muffins cool completely on a wire rack before drizzling with caramel sauce.
Notes
- Select apples that are firm and slightly tart like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp to provide balanced sweetness and maintain texture during baking.
- Toast walnuts briefly before adding to the batter to enhance their nutty flavor and create a more complex taste profile.
- Prevent apple chunks from sinking by tossing them in a light dusting of flour before folding into the batter, ensuring even distribution throughout the muffins.
- Adjust sugar levels for dietary needs by substituting with coconut sugar or using half the recommended amount for a less sweet version.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 23 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg