Caramel Apple Fritter Muffin Cups (Printer View)
Moist muffin cups packed with caramelized apples and finished with caramel drizzle for handheld sweetness.
# What you'll need:
→ Caramelized Apples
01 - 2 medium apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and diced
02 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
03 - 2 tablespoons brown sugar
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
→ Muffin Batter
05 - 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
06 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
07 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
11 - 2 large eggs
12 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
13 - 1/2 cup whole milk
14 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Caramel Drizzle
15 - 1/2 cup soft caramel candies (approximately 12 candies), unwrapped
16 - 2 tablespoons heavy cream
# Method:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease thoroughly.
02 - In a skillet set over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add diced apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir and cook for 4–5 minutes until the apples become tender and caramelized. Remove from heat and allow to cool briefly.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon until evenly blended.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, melted butter, whole milk, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
05 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients, stirring gently with a spatula until nearly combined. Avoid overmixing for optimal texture.
06 - Fold caramelized apples and any skillet juices into the muffin batter until distributed evenly.
07 - Portion batter evenly into prepared muffin cups, filling each approximately three-quarters full.
08 - Bake for 22–25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool muffins in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
09 - In a microwave-safe bowl, combine soft caramel candies and heavy cream. Microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring after each, until caramel is smooth and melted, about 1 to 1.5 minutes.
10 - Drizzle warm caramel sauce generously over cooled muffin cups. Serve warm or at room temperature.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Easy to make and handheld for easy serving
- Warm spiced flavors with gooey caramel
02 -
- This recipe contains wheat, eggs, and milk
- Adding nuts makes this unsuitable for nut allergies
03 -
- Do not overmix the batter for the best texture
- Warm up the muffins before serving for maximum flavor