These cardamom apple muffins aren't too sweet, have a couple different flavors going on, and the crunch with the oat and nut streusel on top is perfect!
I kinda love to experiment with exotic spices. It all started with my love of Indian food! One time, while at my favorite Indian place in Utah I asked the lanky 14-year-old boy what the main spice was in the Tikka Masala I loved so much. He held his finger up, skipped to the back kitchen, and came back to me. He leaned in and pronounced, "Garam masala."
These muffins do not have garam masala thankyouverymuch, but they do have another exotic Indian spice in them: cardamom! It's really difficult to describe a spice's flavor, so I'll just say that these apple muffins take on an entirely new dimension of flavor that just gives it new, fuller body. It's a little like cloves, but a little more mellow and rounded. You just have to try cardamom!
And whatever you do, do not overmix your muffin batter! Barely fold the wet ingredients into the dry until it's just mixed. You better still see streaks of flour all up in it! If you don't have any peeking through, you've overmixed it and you'll have a tough, rubbery muffin instead of a tender one. Just like women.
Granny smith apples are perfect for baking, and the tart little buggers shine even more with a little squeeze of lemon. Totally optional, but I really like the apple flavor to shine, especially in a sweet muffin.
I made six bakery-size muffins, so these babies rose nice and tall in my hot oven. I took this method from King Arthur, putting the muffins in a hot oven to get a quick rise, then immediately turning the oven down to a normal (albeit still slightly hot) baking temperature.
These apple muffins aren't too sweet, have a couple different flavors going on, and the crunch with the oat and nut streusel on top is perfect!
What Else Can I Add To These Apple Muffins?
Don't have apple or want a little extra fruity punch? Try adding berries such as raspberries, blueberries or blackberries. Lemon or orange zest can be added and you could also adjust the spices to your liking.
If you tried these Cardamom Apple Muffins or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave us a comment below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest to see what else we’re getting up to!
Apple Cardamom Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 c flour
- ½ Tablespoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- ¾ Tablespoon cardamom
- 1 granny smith apple cored and chopped
- 2 large eggs
- ½ c sugar
- 1 c milk
- ¼ c canola oil
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
Topping
- ¼ c butter softened
- ¼ c walnuts chopped
- ¼ c oats
- ⅓ c brown sugar
- ½ c flour
- 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
- Combine streusel topping ingredients in bowl with fingers until you have pea-sized clumps.
- In large bowl, whisk flour, salt, baking powder, cardamom, and chopped apple.
- In third bowl, beat eggs with whisk, add sugar, milk, canola oil, and vanilla extract. Whisk well.
- With fork, gently mix wet ingredients into dry. Mix until batter is just barely cohesive, do not overmix!
- Grease 6-tin muffin tins or 12-tin muffin tin with butter. Fill each tin ¾ full. Crumble streusel topping over each tin.
- Place muffin tin into hot oven, then immediately turn oven temperature down to 400 degrees. Bake 15-25 minutes, depending on how big your muffins are.
- Take out when very lightly browning on edges and inserted toothpick comes out clean. Remove from tin after 5 minutes and set on cooling rack.
Notes
Nutrition
ELIZABETH FEWTRELL says
Yum! These have the most wonderful aroma! I substituted half whole wheat flour, and used half canola/half olive oil. Still delicious.
Emily Kemp says
cardamom and apple, perfect combo!
Kathy says
Where are the ingredients for the streusel topping?
Cheryl Arvidson says
My guys love these. So glad I tried this recipe! Thank you!
Pia Watkins says
Made these today! They are delicious and have a really lovely texture! Probably the best muffins I have made. The spicy cardamom brings a freshness to the muffin! Yum! Will save this one for the future!
Stephanie says
Yay, glad you liked them Pia! And I have to say, your name is so cute, I love it.