Double Apple Harvest Muffins Recipe
These Double Apple Harvest Muffins are a delightful blend of sweet and spicy flavors, featuring fresh Honeycrisp apples both in the batter and as a crumbly topping. Enhanced with warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, these tall muffins are filled with a creamy cinnamon-spiced cream cheese center for a luscious finish.
- Author: Kai
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 muffins 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Apple Topping
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/3 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 cup Wesson Canola Oil
- 1 large Honeycrisp apple, divided
- 2 tsp lemon juice
Muffins
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup oat flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves (optional)
- 1 pinch salt
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup applesauce
- 1/2 cup Wesson Canola Oil
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- Remaining diced half of the apple from the topping
Cream Cheese Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 tbsp 2% milk
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
- Prepare Apple Topping: In a medium bowl, combine 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 1/3 cup rolled oats, and 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon. Stir in 1/4 cup Wesson Canola Oil until the mixture becomes crumbly. Core the large Honeycrisp apple and finely dice it. Toss half of the diced apple with 2 teaspoons lemon juice and add it to the topping mixture. Set aside.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to preheat at 375°F (190°C), ensuring it’s ready when the batter is prepared.
- Mix Dry Muffin Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup oat flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves (optional), and a pinch of salt. Toss in the remaining diced half of the Honeycrisp apple.
- Mix Wet Muffin Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together 3/4 cup packed brown sugar, 2 lightly beaten eggs, 1 cup applesauce, 1/2 cup Wesson Canola Oil, and 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract until well blended.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir gently until just combined, making sure not to overmix to keep the muffins tender.
- Prepare Muffin Cups: Line 12 muffin cups with tulip paper liners, which are recommended because they accommodate the tall height of these muffins. Divide the muffin batter evenly among the cups.
- Add Topping and Bake: Evenly divide the prepared apple topping over the muffins. Place the muffin tray in the center of the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Make Cream Cheese Filling: While muffins bake, beat 8 oz softened cream cheese with a handheld or stand mixer until smooth. Add 1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons 2% milk, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional). Continue beating until the filling is creamy and smooth.
- Fill Muffins: After muffins cool, use the end of a small wooden spoon or chopstick to create a pocket inside each muffin by inserting it into the top and moving back and forth. Fill a piping bag fitted with a plain tip or a zippered plastic bag with the cream cheese filling and pipe into each muffin pocket. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- For best results, use tulip paper liners to accommodate the tall muffins and prevent sticking.
- Honeycrisp apples are recommended for their natural sweetness and texture, but other sweet-tart apples like Fuji or Gala can be used.
- If oat flour is unavailable, finely ground oats can be substituted to maintain flavor and texture.
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened to avoid lumps in the filling.
- Do not overmix the muffin batter to keep muffins light and fluffy.
- Optional spices (cloves, cinnamon in filling) enhance the flavor but can be omitted for a milder taste.
Keywords: apple muffins, harvest muffins, fall recipes, cream cheese filling, breakfast muffins, spiced muffins, double apple muffins