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4.96 from 21 votes

Caramel Apple Buttermilk Muffins

What a winning combination! They rise up tall and high and are topped with a delicious buttery cinnamon crumble.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Breakfast/Brunch
Cuisine: American
Servings: 16
Calories: 326kcal
Author: Chris Scheuer

Ingredients

For the streusel topping:

  • 1 tablespoon cold butter
  • cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup finely chopped walnuts

For the muffins:

  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1⅓ cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • cups all-purpose flour you may need a bit more, if the batter is too wet
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • cups coarsely chopped peeled* apple

For the caramel icing:

  • 2 tablespoon butter
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

  • In a bowl, combine all the streusel topping ingredients. With your fingers, combine until you have a crumbly mixture. Set aside.
  • Preheat the oven to 400˚ F. and line 16 muffin cups with paper liners.
  • In a bowl, mix together the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda); set aside. In another bowl, combine the oil, brown sugar, and egg. Once combined, stir in the buttermilk and vanilla extract.
  • Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well. Gently mix in the apple*. If the batter seems to thin, add a tiny bit more flour. The batter should be fairly stiff. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups dividing it equally.
  • Divide the streusel topping equally among the muffins.
  • Lower the temperature to 350˚ F. and bake for 20-25 minutes. When the muffins are done, they will spring back when lightly pressed. Otherwise, test the muffins by inserting a toothpick. Let the muffins cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then remove them and let cool for 15-20 minutes on a wire rack before drizzling with caramel icing.
  • While muffins are baking, prepare drizzle mixture. Combine brown sugar, butter and milk in a medium size microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 30 seconds, stir well and return to microwave for 15 seconds.
  • Add vanilla. While stirring, add powdered sugar and mix until smooth and creamy. Mixture should drizzle easily, but should not be super 'runny". Add a bit more milk or powdered sugar to adjust thickness. Drizzle over cooled muffins.

Notes

* I like to leave about ½ cup of the apple unpeeled and reserve it. I stick these pieces into the batter after filling the muffin tins. It give the muffins a pretty look.
Adapted from The Best of BetterBaking by Marcy Goldman

Nutrition

Calories: 326kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 118mg | Potassium: 176mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 115IU | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 1.3mg