Apple and cranberries baked in a moist muffin and topped with a sweet streusel and buttery apple frosting
Author: Annie @ Annie's Chamorro Kitchen
Serves: 2 dozen
Ingredients
Ingredients for the Muffins:
4 cups all-purpose flour (set aside 4 tablespoons out of the 4 cups of flour)
2 granny smith apples, peeled, cored, and diced
2 sticks butter, softened
2 cups white, granulated sugar (you can use Splenda or Truvia made for baking)
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
⅔ cup orange juice (with pulp)
1 cup craisins
⅔ cup coarsely chopped walnuts, optional
Ingredients for Streusel Topping:
⅔ cup packed brown sugar
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons lemon zest
2 tablespoons butter, melted
⅔ cup finely chopped walnuts, optional (or use your favorite nut)
Ingredients for the Apple Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 granny smith apple, peeled, cored, and diced
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter
1 stick butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese
1 box powdered sugar
Instructions
Directions for the muffins:
Place cupcake liners in two regular sized muffin pans. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a small bowl toss 4 tablespoons of flour with the diced apples; set aside.
In a large mixing bowl cream the 2 sticks of butter with the granulated sugar. Add the eggs, vanilla and orange juice; mix until creamy.
Mix together the remaining flour, baking soda and salt; add to the butter mixture.
Fold the apple mixture, craisins and chopped walnuts into the batter (it will be quite thick).
Spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, filling about ⅔ full.
Top with streusel topping then bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
Cool the cupcakes/muffins in the pan for 10-15 minutes then remove from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack.
Make the Streusel Topping:
In a medium bowl combine the brown sugar, 4 tablespoons of flour, lemon zest, melted butter and chopped nuts (you can use a food chopper to chop these nuts very fine).
Mix well (you can use a fork) until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Make the Apple-Cream Cheese Frosting:
Place the diced apples, brown sugar and 2 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the apples have softened, stirring frequently to prevent burning. Place the cooked apple mixture in a blender or food processor to finely chop the apples (small bits are okay). Set aside to cool completely.
In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and cream cheese together with an electric mixer. Add the apple mixture; mix until combined. Mix in the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until creamy. Refrigerate the frosting until you’re ready to ice the cupcakes/muffins.
Recipe by Annie's Chamorro Kitchen at https://www.annieschamorrokitchen.com/apple-cranberry-muffins-with-streusel-topping/