I want to tell you about muffins, buuuuut…
…I can’t, because I’m in hysterics over this video of Tom Hanks doing a poetry slam of Full House. Full. Freaking. House. It’s one of those shows I still find myself watching at 8 PM and then again at 6 AM. Uncle Jesse was my first TV crush.
Well, actually Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing was my first crush, then Uncle Jesse, and later Zack Morris when things got serious. By “serious” I mean daydreaming about being Kelly Kapowski for days, trying to copy her style (not recommended), and dressing like her for Halloween. If you’d asked me in 1992 who I wanted to have dinner with, my answer would have been Kelly Kapowski—a fictional hero who lived in crop tops and an off-the-shoulder gray Bayside sweatshirt. I tried to recreate that look countless times; most recently this summer. I know. I hate myself a little.
Anyway, that Tom Hanks video only increased my total love for him. I’d give anything to be one of those lucky people who bump into him in a restaurant and then take a bunch of fake, drunk photos. He’s just the coolest.
Now that I’ve annoyingly relived my youth (and accidentally ate a plate of microwaved nachos out of nostalgia), I can actually tell you about cute little apple muffins.
Confession: I had these muffins ready to share after making them last week, but then Erin mentioned caramelizing Brussels sprouts in apple cider in the comments of a recent post, and I had to test the idea with my muffins. I made another batch and “caramelized” the apples in extra apple cider to intensify the apple flavor. The result was just as amazing as when I caramelized them with butter. If you want them extra apple-forward, do the cider route—totally worth it.
These muffins are hearty and versatile. They’re light enough for breakfast and, because they use whole wheat pastry flour, oats, and plenty of fruit, they make a great snack too. They’re not overly sweet, so if you want to indulge, top them with the brown butter apple cider glaze. There’s brown butter in the batter as well—because if you’re using butter, you might as well brown it. It adds a deep, nutty richness that elevates the whole muffin.
Loaded Apple Cider Oatmeal Muffins with Brown Butter Apple Cider Glaze
12
muffins
20
15
35
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Ingredients
- 2 honeycrisp apples, diced
- 3 tablespoons apple cider
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
- 1 pinch of nutmeg
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup loosely packed brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 4 tablespoons brown butter, melted and cooled
- 1/3 cup apple cider
brown butter apple cider glaze
- 4 tablespoons brown butter, melted and cooled
- 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2-3/4 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a small skillet over medium-low heat, combine the diced apples with 3 tablespoons apple cider and a pinch of cinnamon and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples soften and become caramel-like, about 8–10 minutes. Meanwhile whisk together the flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices in a bowl. Line a muffin tin with paper liners.
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In a large bowl, whisk the egg and brown sugar until smooth. Add the vanilla, brown butter, applesauce, and apple cider and whisk again until combined. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until just combined, then fold in the cooked diced apples. Do not overmix. Fill each liner about two-thirds full (an ice cream scoop helps keep sizes even).
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Bake for 15–17 minutes, until the tops are set and slightly golden. Let cool slightly, then top with the glaze if desired.
brown butter apple cider glaze
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In a bowl, whisk together brown butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar until combined. Add 1 tablespoon apple cider and whisk well for several minutes until the mixture forms a glaze. If it’s too thick, add cider in 1/2 tablespoon increments; if it becomes too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar. Spoon or dip the glaze onto warm muffins and serve.
Notes
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These muffins are also excellent with a handful of cinnamon or white chocolate chips for a little extra sweetness—a nice option if you’d like a treat.