Ingredients
Scale
- For the Streusel Topping:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- For the Muffin Batter:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup milk (whole or 2%)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups apples, peeled and diced (about 2 medium apples)
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat and Prep: Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease them lightly with non-stick spray. Preparing your tin early ensures the batter can go straight into the oven once it is mixed, which helps the muffins rise better.
- Step 2: Prepare the Streusel Topping: In a small bowl, whisk together the 1/2 cup flour, brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Add the cold, cubed butter. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set this aside in the refrigerator to keep the butter cold while you make the batter.
- Step 3: Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the 1 1/2 cups flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, and salt. Whisk these together thoroughly to ensure the leavening agents are evenly distributed, which prevents any large air pockets or flat spots in your muffins.
- Step 4: Combine the Wet Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, beat the egg lightly. Whisk in the vegetable oil, milk, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well-incorporated. Using oil instead of butter in the batter ensures that the muffins stay moist for days.
- Step 5: Fold the Batter and Apples: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Use a spatula to gently fold the mixture together until just combined. Do not overmix; a few streaks of flour are perfectly fine. Gently fold in the diced apples. Overmixing at this stage will result in tough, dense muffins.
- Step 6: Assemble and Bake: Divide the batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups. Sprinkle a generous amount of the prepared streusel topping over each muffin, pressing it down very lightly so it sticks. Place the tin in the oven and bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let them cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
- Cook Time: 40 minutes