Apple Muffins

When I told the two boys I would be making muffins with apples, they got very excited and wanted to have a hand on it. They are only familiar with the usual bananas, strawberries and orange muffins. Hmmm...wait till I try making those carrots or pumpkins ones...I could already imagine how their expressions and remarks would be like ;)

The recipe is from a cookbook, "The 250 Best Muffin Recipes" by Esther Brody, which I borrowed from a friend, who is also crazy about baking. I didn't follow the recipe exactly, as I used plain flour instead of cake flour which is called for. I have also omitted the cinnamon and nutmeg as I know my boys will not like the taste of the spices. I replaced them with vanilla essence. I think I've also chopped the apples too fine...can't really taste them in the muffins...will get them coarsely chopped next time. Nevertheless, the muffins still turn out very soft and yummy, this recipe is a sure keeper. With the "occasional" help from the 2 boys (they popped in and out of the kitchen in between their "action-hero battles"), we have these delicious muffins sitting on our breakfast table this morning!

Ingredients:
(makes 12 muffins)

280g plain flour
3 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
50g butter, soften at room temperature
100g caster sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 cup milk
1 cup chopped, peeled apples

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 220 deg C. Grease or line muffin pans with paper liners.
2. In a bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt, blend well.
3. In another bowl, cream together butter and sugar, still creamy. Add in egg, gradually, mix well after each addition. Stir till mixture is creamy and fluffy. Stir in vanilla essence, mix well.
4. Add flour mixture (in 3 additions) alternately with milk (in 2 additions) , starting and ending with flour. Mix only until well combined. Gently fold in the chopped apples.
5. Fill muffin cups with batter till 2/3 full. Bake for 20 to 25mins, until muffins turn golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
6. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.