Apple Chunk Muffins!

Autumn is arriving, and with it gluts of apples – a great reason to bake some Apple Chunk Muffins! One of the fabulous things about living in the UK is it’s clearly defined seasons and their transitions. So as I write up this post it’s pouring with rain – a cosy day I call it.

I have been really craving cooked apples of late, so these muffins are absolutely packed to the max with delicious brambly apple chunks. I don’t think you could get any more apple into them if you tried! They also have the added advantage of a crunchy topping and base – a bit like a crumble, full of wonderful warming cinnamon. I really hope you give these a go and enjoy them as much as we do!

These tasty treats are free-from eggs, dairy, soya and gluten. If you are nut-free you can easily adapt them by replacing the nuts with safe seeds of you choice.

Apple Chunk Muffins!  – Ingredients

cinnamon, muscovado sugar, roasted chopped hazelnuts, gluten-free oats, gluten-free self-raising flour, demerara sugar, bicarbonate of soda, salt, apple puree, water, oil, cider vinegar, vanilla extract, brambly apples 

Apple Chunk Cupcakes!  – Process (makes 24 gorgeous very apple-y muffins!)

• Preheat your oven to 170° C (fan oven)

  

• Pop some cases into your muffin trays
• In a small bowl add:
  • 1 Tbsp oil (I used sunflower oil)
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¹⁄3 C muscovado sugar
  • 2 Tbsp gluten-free flour
  • ½ C chopped roasted hazelnuts
  •  ¼ C gluten-free oats
• Stir this well so everything is combined
• Add a tablespoon to each of the muffin cases so the base is covered (see photo)
• In a new mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients:

  

  • 1½ C gluten-free self-raising flour
  • ½ C demerara sugar
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • grind of salt
• In a jug add your wet ingredients for the cake:
  • ½ C apple puree
  • 1 C water
  • ¹⁄3 C oil (I used sunflower oil)
  • 1 Tbs cidre vinegar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
• Now you can peel and chop into big chunks:

  

  • 3 massive brambly apples (or 4 smaller ones!)
• Pour your wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until a smooth batter is formed
• Stir in your chunks of brambly apple so its all combined
• Dollop into the waiting cases
• Add a sprinkle of the crumble mix over the top of each muffin
• Pop into the oven for 18 minutes
• When they come out of the oven leave in their tins for 5 minutes before placing on a cooling rack.

Enjoy!