Apple Cinnamon Muffins

 It is apple season and I am lucky enough to have a neighbour with an apple tree and a generous nature!  I thought that this week I would make some kind of Apple Muffin.  These don't look particularly inspiring, but they are very tasty, not too sweet and if you heat one for 20 seconds in the microwave it definitely improves the eating.

Apple & Cinnamon Muffins

I was quite surprised when I checked my 500 Best Muffin Recipes book  (Esther Brody) to find that this recipe doesn't use melted butter or oil, but the butter is rubbed in.

2 cups (500ml) all-purpose (plain) flour

1/2 cup (125ml) granulated sugar

3tsp (15ml) baking powder

1/2 tsp (2ml)cinnamon

1/2 tsp (2ml) salt

1/2 cup (125ml) butter or margarine

1 large apple, peeled and diced

1/4 cup (50ml) finely chopped walnuts

1 egg

1tsp (5ml) cinnamon

1tbsp (15ml) brown sugar

Preheat the oven to 435F/220C

12 cup muffin tin

1. In a bowl sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.  With a pastry blender or 2 knives cut in butter.  Measure out 1/4 cup (50ml) mixture; reserve for topping.  Add apple and walnuts to remaining flour mixture.

2. In a bowl beat egg.  Add milk, blend well.  Add to flour mixture, stir just until blended (batter should be lumpy).

3. Spoon batter into prepared muffin tin,filling two-thirds full.  Add cinnamon and brown sugar to reserved topping mixture; sprinkle over batter.  bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until  toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Still plenty of apples left, so I might try another apple muffin recipe next week.