Makes 12 regular size muffins.
Streusel Topping:
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon cold butter
Apples:
1 1/4 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled and chopped (about 2 small)
2 teaspoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons butter
1/4 teaspoon apple pie spice
1/4 cup coarsely chopped raisins
Muffins:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup light brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon apple pie spice
5 tablespoons melted butter
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1. Place rack in center of oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Line a 12-mold regular size muffin pan with paper muffins cups.
2. To make the streusel, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, and walnuts.
Cut cold butter into small pieces. Using your fingertips, rub butter
into the mixture until a pebbly texture forms. Refrigerate while making
the muffins.
3. For the apples: Put peeled apples in a small bowl, and douse with
lemon juice. Toss to coat. In a medium skillet over medium high heat,
melt 2 teaspoons butter. Add apples and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon
apple pie spice. Add raisins. Cook for 3-5 minutes, or until apples are
lightly browned and tender. Remove from heat.
4. For the muffins: Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda,
salt, and 1 teaspoon apple pie spice in a large bowl and stir well.
5. In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, buttermilk, eggs, and
vanilla extract; whisk well. Add to the flour mixture, stirring until
just combined. Fold in the cooked apples.
6. Spoon the batter evenly into the into 12 muffin cups. Remove
streusel from refrigerator, and sprinkle evenly over the top of the
muffins. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and
a cake tester inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
Transfer the pan to a rack to cool for 5 minutes before removing each
muffin and placing on a wire rack to cool.
-Recipe courtesy of Susan Russo at FoodBlogga.