Caramel Apple Buttermilk Muffins – Easy and Tasty Breakfast to Go

Mmmm…your house will smell delightful when you prepare these delicious caramel apple buttermilk muffins.  They are like a caramel apple all done up muffin style!  They make a fast breakfast recipe, and are sweet enough to have as dessert!

For a healthy muffin recipe, try these cinnamon apple muffins. They are only 102 calories each.

Fall and winter are the times when apples of all types are plentiful in the grocery stores (and other fruits not so much, or not so great tasting.)  Put them to great use with apple recipes.  (I just got a new Kitchen maid mixer for Christmas, so I’m finding all sorts of use for it!)

When it is a cold, crisp morning makes me want to pull the blankets a little tighter and hit snooze so that I don’t have to leave the warmth of the covers.  That is, unless I know these beauties are waiting for me in the kitchen with their little bits of apple in each bite.  

Normally, recipes say to fill muffin cups about 2/3 full. Not so for these beauties.  I fill them almost to the top so that they will dome nicely.  I want that yummy looking streusel to play center stage under neath the drizzle of deliciousness that is a caramel frosting.

Many of my readers will know that I try to lighten up all of my recipes if I can.  Baked goods sometimes take exception to this rule.  I did use reduced fat buttermilk to save a few calories, but I’d rather eat half a real muffin than a whole one that has been messed up by trying to reduce the calories. For sweets, the real deal is it for me.  I leave the main courses to the calorie counting.

And lest you decide to forego the drizzle on the top to save a few calories, this is what you will be missing out on!

If you enjoyed this recipe, also check out my caramel apple bars. They are super yummy, too.

Pin these caramel apple buttermilk muffins for later

Would you like a reminder of these tasty breakfast muffins?  Just pin this image to one of your recipe boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.

Yield: 15

Caramel Apple Buttermilk Muffins

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These delicious caramel apple buttermilk muffins are like a caramel apple all done up muffin style!  They make a fast breakfast recipe, and are sweet enough to have as dessert!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

For the streusel topping:

• 1 tablespoon cold butter
• ⅓ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ cup finely chopped pecans

For the muffins:

• ½ cup canola oil
• 1-⅓ cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg (I use free range eggs)
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup reduced fat buttermilk
• 2-½ cups all-purpose flour (you may need a bit more, if the batter is too wet)
• ¼ tsp salt
• 2-½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1-¾ cups coarsely chopped peeled* apple

For the icing:

• 2 tbsp butter
• ¼ cup dark brown sugar
• 2 tbsp skim milk
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

In a food processor, combine of all the streusel topping ingredients. Pulse until you have a crumbly mixture. (you can also do this in a bowl and combine that way.) Set the topping aside.

Preheat the oven to 400˚ F. grease and flour a 12 cup muffin tin or use paper liners. ( I actually got 15 muffins from this recipe, so I had to use an extra muffin tin.)

In a bowl, mix together the dry ingredients and set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine the oil, brown sugar, and egg. When it is well combined, add in the buttermilk and pure vanilla extract.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix them well. Gently stir in the apple. If the batter seems to be a bit thin, you cam add a little bit more flour. The batter should be fairly stiff. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups filling them to the top so that they will dome well.

Sprinkle the streusel topping equally over the muffins.

Bake for 15 minutes at 400º and then lower the temperature to 350º F. and bake for an extra 12 minutes.

While muffins are baking, prepare the drizzle mixture. Combine the brown sugar, butter and skim milk in a saucepan on the stove top. Cook over medium heat until well mixed. Remove and add the vanilla extract. While stirring, add the powdered sugar and mix until smooth and creamy. Mixture should drizzle easily, but should not be too runny. If necessary add more milk or sugar to get the right consistency.

Test the muffins to see if they are done. They will spring back when lightly pressed or when a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then remove them and cool completely for 15-20 minutes on a wire rack. When cool, drizzle lightly with the caramel icing.

Enjoy!

**when mixing in the apple, save a few pieces to add to the top when the muffins are in the cups. It makes the top of the muffin look great when cooked!

Notes

Recipe adapted slightly from The Cafe Sucre Farine

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

15

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 321Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 224mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 1gSugar: 32gProtein: 4g

Nutritional information is approximate due to natural variation in ingredients and the cook-at-home nature of our meals.

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