Potpourri apple cinnamon muffins

Happy Apple Season! I cannot believe that it is already December! Despite living during these very trying times, I am excited for the holidays. I am committed to embrace the spirit of Christmas, be in a festive mood and enjoy simple joys.

Although I cannot keep many of my holiday traditions this year, I am slightly ahead in my game. So far I was able to deliver Advent Calendars, Elf mugs and holiday treats to my nephews before December 1st as well as Christmas decorations for my sister’s new house.

I also already watched 4 holidays movies! Whaaat?! LOL! I used to take a day off from work in December just to dedicate a day to decorating the tree, watching sappy holiday movies on Netflix, bake, drink hot cocoa and do all things holiday in one day.

Delicious nooks and cranies filled with cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar and chunks of apples.

Speaking of, although I have not finished trimming my tree yet, it is up and lit up! I also already finished reading four holiday books and it is only the 3rd of December! I am also comfortably ahead in my Christmas (online) shopping.

I hope to enjoy every single day in December by finding little joys in the delicious scents of spices, freshly baked muffins, a mug of hot chocolate, the cozy feel of fluffy blankets, warmth of fire in the fireplace on a very cold quiet December afternoon perfect for reading a good book.

These are just items of my holiday list for now because life is busy despite the pandemic. I can at least say that I can check “freshly-baked muffins” off the list. I read a novella that included a recipe for Apple Cinnamon Muffins. I am such a sucker for books with recipes. I tried the recipe and my team mates at work raved about the muffins. I was not so impressed though. I told them I can do better. I baked another batch using my Bomb Diggity Blueberry Muffins recipe but I substituted chopped apples tossed in cinnamon and nutmeg for blueberries. These muffins were super-moist and delicious! And the house smelled amazing of cinnamon, brown sugar and nutmeg! They were like baked potpourri which inspired me to give my muffins a fun name.

POTPOURRI CINNAMON APPLE MUFFINS

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 cup neutral oil such as canola, vegetable or sunflower oil
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups peeled and coarsely chopped apples (about 2-3 apples)
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• For toppings: 1/4 cup brown sugar mixed with 1 tsp cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Line muffin pan with cupcake liners.
3. Peel, core and coarsely chop 2-3 apples (about 2 cups).
4. Toss chopped apples in 2 teaspoons cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg. Set aside.
5. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder and sugar.
6. In another bowl, mix together oil, egg, vanilla extract and buttermilk.
7. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Do not overmix. Batter will be thick.
8. Add the chopped apples tossed in spices. 
9. Using an ice cream scooper or tablespoon, fill muffin tin about 3/4 each cup.
10. Mix 1/4 cup brown sugar mixed and 1 tsp cinnamon for toppings.
11. Sprinkle brown sugar-cinnamon on top of the muffins.
12. Bake muffins 18 -20 minutes or toothpick inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out clean.
13. Transfer to cooling rack

These muffins are not photogenic but they are scrumptious!

HELPFUL TIPS

1. This recipe makes a dozen regular size muffins.
2. Use a fine mesh colander when sprinkling brown sugar/cinnamon mixture to distribute the topping evenly. (The first time I baked the muffins, I ended up with muffins with tops that appeared burnt because of the cinnamon and sugar when I just used my fingers to sprinkle the spices instead of colander. They were really not. They just looked ugly but really tasted delicious. Ha! Ha!)

Did you make these APPLE CINNAMON MUFFINS? What is on your Holiday To Do List? Please let me know by leaving a comment on the blog. Enjoy!