I’m working on a reader requested Brain Food 101 post on the best way to store muffins. So naturally, I had to come up with a new muffin recipe for the experiment, right?
What better than sweet bite-sized ‘doughnut’ muffins, topped with cinnamon sugar and filled with apple butter?
Yup, filled with spiced apple butter. Think of it as a jelly doughnut, only a little healthier and a little spicier.
I’m doing my experiment over the next few days, so keep an eye out for the Brain Food 101 post. In the meantime, Dan has his own theory on the best way to store these little morsels:
“My theory is that the best way to store muffins is in my office. In my desk drawer. Depleted at a rate of approximately one per day. Except for the first day, which will be 6. Though if they are mini, maybe the rate will be more like three per day”
Apple Cinnamon Doughnut Muffins
Slightly adapted from CHOW’s doughnut muffins
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 3/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Olive oil, sugar and cinnamon for brushing on top of muffins
1/2 pint spiced apple butter
Preheat the oven to 375F and grease and flour a mini or regular muffin tin.
In a large mixing bowl, stir the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. In a smaller bowl, combine the milk and vinegar.
Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a handheld mixer, beat the butter, olive oil and sugar together until smooth and creamy. Add in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add one quarter of the dry ingredients and one third of the liquid ingredients and mix until incorporated.
Repeat until only 1/4 of the dry ingredients remains. Fold in the last of the dry ingredients, mixing until just blended.
Pour into muffin tin up to the rim. Bake 12-16 minutes for mini, 15-20 for regular. Allow to cool in the pan for 3-5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
While the muffins are still warm, brush each top with olive oil and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
When the muffins have cooled, use a plastic bag filled with apple butter and fitted with a pastry tip to poke a hole in the muffins and fill with apple butter.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Yum, these sound and look amazing, Julie!
Lauren @ Sassy Molassy recently posted..Winning happens
Oh goodness! Send some of these my way!
Yum! I love apple butter, these sound so so good!
Alayna @ Thyme Bombe recently posted..Kevin & Ashley’s wedding
Do these muffins count as a dessert? Or maybe a serving of freggies? Just wondering….
Kelly recently posted..Wordless Wednesday April 20- 2011
Counting these as a serving of fruit may be a bit of a stretch…
Oh goodness. These look heavenly. They make me wish it was fall.
Tracey @ I’m Not Superhuman recently posted..The Day After
Ha! Dan’s theory is too funny.
Victoria (District Chocoholic) recently posted..Oh! Caramels- Classic Milk and Dark Caramels
And that’s why I married an engineer
I have been obsessed with anything similar to apple pie lately and these look divine!
kate@ahealthypassion recently posted..and we’re back weekend recap a little giveaway!
Hi! I’m fairly new to your blog, but I can say– these look amazing!
It’s late… but I suddenly feel like going into the kitchen and whippping up a batch!
Thank you! Hope you enjoy them!
Mmh. I love donut muffins. I love the idea of filling with with a flavored butter or jam. I’ve also thought to fill it with like a creamy mascarpone filling too. Great, now I want these, again…
Vanessa recently posted..Hash It Out
These look tasty, indeed, but don’t really go along with your “smart food and fitness” tagline.
Thanks for your comment. To me, ‘smart food’ includes the occasional treat, especially those with healthy twists thrown in. For instance, in this recipe, I replaced some of the flour with whole wheat flour, the whole milk and buttermilk with 1% milk and vinegar, and cut back on the butter.
Man these look GOOOOOD! And I love that say they are a little healthy, yup I’ll take it!
Koko @ KokoLikes recently posted..What I Ate Wednesday Part 8
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