After I mentioned we were going apple picking last week, I didn’t get a chance to follow-up and tell you guys about the trip. Despite the 80 degree weather, which doesn’t exactly scream “fall,” the outing was a huge success.
It was the end of a long, busy weekend at the orchard, but there were still plenty of apples to be picked. The best ones were really high up in the trees, though, so Shane did just about all of the heavy lifting that day.
Before leaving we grabbed an apple cider donut – I resisted the temptation on the way in, but succumbed on the way out. It was worth the splurge! We came home with well over 10 pounds of apples, which was about all we could justify in a house where only 1 person eats apples π
For the first few days I was content to slice the apples and dunk them in caramel, but eventually the urge to get baking struck. These apple fritter muffins were first up, and they did not disappoint. They pack a hefty dose of apple-cinnamon goodness in a light and fluffy muffin with a sugary glaze on top. I brought them to Shane’s marathon yesterday morning and they were a great breakfast treat to enjoy with his parents as we cheered for the racers.
The original recipe called for granny smith apples, but I didn’t come home from the orchard with any of those, so I substituted 2 red-skinned apples. The trees weren’t as well labeled as I’d have liked, so I’m not entirely sure what they were, but they were much sweeter than a granny smith. I reduced the sugar, and that’s reflected in the recipe below, but if you use granny smith apples (or something else similarly tart) you might want to add a few extra tablespoons. If you want to keep the muffins a bit lighter for breakfast, you could also skip the glaze, but what fun would that be? π The muffins were still light and tender days after I made them, but the glaze didn’t hold up as well so if you’re going to make these ahead of time I might wait to glaze them.
Apple Fritter Muffins
adapted from Chasing Some Blue Sky
Apples
2 large apples (use your favorite!), cut into 1/4 inch dice
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons water
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
Muffins
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup canola oil
1 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
Glaze
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon hot water
Preheat oven to 400 F. Line two muffin pans with paper liners.
Add the diced apples, butter, sugar, cinnamon and water to a skillet and set over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender, about 8-10 minutes. Let the apples cool slightly then toss them with the flour to coat.
Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, whisk the applesauce, oil and both sugars until smooth and well combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Alternately add the dry ingredients with the buttermilk, starting and finishing with the dry ingredients, and stirring gently just until the ingredients are combined. Fold in the apples.
Divide the batter among the prepared liners, filling each almost to the top. Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until the muffins are golden and spring back when gently pressed on the top. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes before removing them to the rack. Let cool slightly while you make the glaze.
To make the glaze: Whisk the melted butter, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and water in a small bowl until smooth.
When muffins have cooled slightly, hold the muffin upside down and dip the top into the glaze. Allow to set, then dip a second time and let harden again before serving.
Makes about 18-20 muffins
Not only do those muffins look delicious and sound intriguing (fritters in muffin form?), but those are absolutely gorgeous apple pictures. Really stunning.
Going to apple orchards is one of my favorite fall activities! It’s so much fun! I’ve been making lots of apple goodies, too. You really can’t have enough of them. Your muffins look amazing!
Tracey, these look like a muffin that would be a hit at our home! Love apples, love muffins–great combo. And yes, I would glaze/frost them.
Have a great week.
I just fell in love with a muffin. And I miss apple picking! I wish I could’ve gone while in Boston over the weekend but didn’t have enough time π
yummy, I also got the baking bug and happened to have tons of apples that were not getting eaten.
Mmmm so yummy looking! Can’t wait to try these babies. Yum!
The flavor and texture of these were amazing! I felt they had just the right amount of sweetness, both in the cake and the glaze.
You’re right, these were a perfect treat to enjoy while watching the race!
I’ve never been apple picking. I’ll have to try it some day. These muffins were the perfect treat while watching the marathon yesterday. The flavor was great and I loved biting into the occasional chunk of apple. Loved the glaze as well. Thanks again, Tracey.
How wonderful to have such bounty close to home! Apple muffins look very tasty.
Apple fritters are one of my (many) vices. A muffin version sounds like a good compromise to eating an entire fritter myself. The cider donut looks delicious. I am sucker for donuts. Have a flat of apples that I excited to get baking with.
Are you on Twitter? I finally got myself into the current decade and signed up for Twitter. @gingersnapgirl1. Let me know your “handle”?? I’m still learning the lingo!
Delicious…we love anything apple and all this looks just wonderful. I smiled at that first photo as it reminded me of those photos that little tots have in those little tot books about “Which one of these is not like the other?” I know, I know…the apple, it’s not like the muffins! Fun to be a kid sometimes! π
I like that the apples are cooked before they go in the muffins. Apple picking would be fun! I don’t know why I’ve never gone.
Apple fritters are one of my favorites! They remind me of a farmer’s market I used to go to with my mom when I was a kid. She would buy an apple fritter for my brother and me to eat so we wouldn’t bother her while she was shopping. Can’t wait to give these muffins a try!
Beautiful all pictures and excellent this post. Yummy
Beautiful all pictures and excellent this post. Yummy
Beautiful all pictures and excellent this post. Yummy
Beautiful all pictures and excellent this post. Yummy
So great! 10 stars! Thank you from Denver Colorado!