Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins

I've never quite been someone who does something the way everyone else does.

I dye my hair blonde in the winter and dark brown in the summer. I wear white whenever I damn well please. I changed my major 4 times in college, the last time being fall of my senior year. So when you tell me apple dishes are for fall, I say "I don't care!".

Apples were on sale this week and they aren't something I cook with very often. I do love them though. Also, I believe all the press for "American Reunion" has sent me a subliminal message to Get. Apple. Pie. Now. I didn't feel like making a pie, but it was time to make more muffins.

These muffins feature diced apple as well as shredded apple, so you get sweet brown sugary, apple goodness in every bite. The apples get all soft, it really is like a bite-size apple pie.

I would know, I taste-tested a few. Just to be sure :)

Ingredients (makes 18 muffins):
Muffins-
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, room temp
2 tsp vanilla
2 peeled and cored apples, diced
1 peeled apple, shredded

Crumb Topping-
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp flour
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp butter, cold

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Mix flour through nutmeg in a small bowl. Whisk to combine. Set aside.
3. Cream butter and sugars in a separate, large mixing bowl with a hand mixer, 2-3 minutes. Add in egg, mix completely. Add vanilla, mix completely. Fold in the apple.
4. With a spatula, begin adding flour mixture to apple mixture. Add gradually and mix until just combined. Batter will be very thick.
5. Mix brown sugar through cinnamon in a separate bowl. Add cold butter and cut in until mixture resembles coarse sand.
6. Spray muffin tin with cooking spray. Fill muffin cups 3/4 way full, sprinkle with butter mixture. Bake in oven 15-17 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven, cool in pan 5 minutes. Remove to a cooling rack, cool completely before storage.

Adapted from Your HomeBased Mom.