Fresh Apple Muffins with Toffee Topping (and Halloween Memories)

Name: Fresh Apple Muffins with Toffee Topping
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups Fresh apple ((peeled & diced)); 1 1/4 cups milk; 1/2 cup butter ((melted)); 1/3 cup maple syrup; 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs; 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 egg; 1 tbsp baking powder; 1 tsp cinnamon; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 cup Skor Toffee Bits ((for topping))

August 20, 2019 *Updated* August 20, 2019 / By: Gloria | Homemade & Yummy 151 Comments

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Do you remember toffee apples when you were a kid? These Fresh Apple Muffins with Toffee Topping just might bring back those memories.

A delicious apple muffin recipe topped with toffee bits. Perfect for celebrating Fall and apple season.

Were you one of those lucky kids who had a neighbour that made toffee apples at Halloween? You had to RUN to that house FIRST to make sure you got yours. I remember those days.

My how things have changed. Most people today don’t seem to know many of their neighbours. People are always moving in and out of neighbourhoods and complexes. We are certainly in the minority of living in the same place for a long time.

This year we will have been in our house 31 years.

The neighbours to the left of us have been here right along with us. Our kids have long grown, got married and now have families of their own. My husband and Roger (our neighbour) still talk about taking the kids out trick or treating.

Now on Halloween, we head over and help with the grandchildren. I usually man the house while mom, dad, and grandpa go out and collect candy with the kids. I will say back in the day we had 150+ kids come to the door. These days, we are lucky to see 20.

With the cooler weather on the way, fall flavour season is here. Pumpkin and apple recipes are flooding social media right now, and rightly so. I happen to think this particular flavour season rocks. You can never have too many delicious recipes this time of year.

Have you ever tried Smoked Grilled Apples? Such an easy dessert, and SOOOO delicious. Makes a GREAT Thanksgiving dessert. Your guests will be totally impressed.

We all know apples and cinnamon are a winning combination. Using fresh apples (as opposed to applesauce) in muffins is so delicious. Oatmeal apple muffins are a hit in our house, especially when we have muffins for breakfast. Apple Fig & Oatmeal muffins are one of our favourites this time of year.

FRESH APPLE MUFFINS INGREDIENTS

Let’s get back to the toffee apples. Man those were so good as a kid. I’m not sure I could handle one now. The sugar overload and all that sticky toffee on my teeth might be a bit too excessive.

The whole idea around this recipe for apple muffins was to get the taste of toffee apples without the sugar rush (and perhaps losing a couple of filling from my teeth along the way).

You will need:

fresh apples
milk
butter
flour
*maple syrup
graham cracker crumbs
eggs
baking powder
salt
cinnamon
*Skor Bits (the awesome toffee topping)

My Canadian heritage signs though when I talk about maple syrup. YES I know you can get it in the USA as well (and it is very good), but my heart is in using PURE maple syrup from Canada!! No need for sugar in this muffin recipe.

Toffee bits are so good. I can eat them by the handful (and do). What a great way to get that toffee taste in recipes, and the perfect topping on these apple muffins.

If you prefer, you can always choose other muffin toppings. These fresh apple muffins would also be delicious with a crumble topping or streusel topping.

With the addition of graham crumbs in the batter, the aroma of these baking certainly caught hubby’s attention. While I was busy doing my picture shoot for this post, he was busy taste testing (more than one of these). Guess I didn’t need to ask if they were good, the crumbs on the plate answered my question.

WHICH APPLES ARE BEST FOR MUFFINS?

Last weekend we visited a local apple orchard. Here in Ontario, we have so many great ones within a short distance. I love to look on the Ontario Apple Growers site to find some new ones to visit, especially if I am looking for a certain variety of apple.

This time I stocked up on Cortland and Honeycrisp apples. Baking these easy apple muffins were first on my “to make” list.

I prefer an apple that keeps a firm structure during the baking process. Each area has lots of great varieties to choose from. Even your local supermarket will have apples from other regions.

Other apples great for baking include:

Grany Smith
Pink Lady
Mutsu (or Crispin)
Braeburn
Northern Spy

Fresh apple season is the time I enjoy apples the most. Apples late in the winter or early spring just don’t have the same appeal to me. There are so many ways to use fresh apples.

Here are a few recipes I make:

Apple Cottage Cheese Smoothie is great for lunch, or after a workout.

Fall Flavours Apple Chickpea All Day Salad literally has you covered from breakfast to dessert.

Puff Pastry Fried Apple Tarts combine the goodness of southern fried apples, baked in a puff pastry tart shell.

Apple Rose Puffs make a stunning dessert presentation (and are super easy to make).

That old saying “cinnamon, spice and everything nice” certainly holds true in our house.

HOW MANY DAYS WILL MUFFINS STAY FRESH

Stored properly, muffins will remain fresh for 1-3 days at room temperature. Place cooled muffins in a Ziploc bag or sealed storage container.

If you are keeping them in the fridge, they may last up to a week.

You can also freeze muffins for up to 3 months. I often make a double batch just for this reason.

Individually wrap them in plastic, then place them in a freezer bag. Thaw them at room temperature. Warmed slightly in the microwave before eating seems to freshen up the taste as well.

Visit an orchard near you and check out what they have to offer. Any variety you choose will work to make these Fresh Apple Muffins with Toffee Topping. Enjoy them for breakfast, brunch or the perfect afternoon treat.

What is your favourite apple variety?

Looking for more delicious ways to use fresh apples? Here are a few:

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