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Caramel Apple Muffins

Source of Recipe


Southern Living, September 2012



List of Ingredients



• Cinnamon Topping
  
• 1 (8-ounce) container sour cream
  
• 1 cup sugar
  
• 2 large eggs
  
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
  
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
  
• 2 tsp baking powder
  
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
  
• 1/2 tsp salt
  
• 2 cups peeled and diced Granny Smith apples
  
• 1 (14-ounce) package caramels
  
• 3 Tbsp whipping cream
  
• 1 cup chopped lightly salted, roasted pecans
  
• Wax paper
  
• Food-safe twigs or craft sticks
  






Instructions



1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Prepare Cinnamon Topping as directed.
   Beat sour cream and next 3 ingredients at low speed with an electric mixer 30 seconds or until blended.
   
   
2. Stir together flour and next 3 ingredients. Add to sour cream mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. (Do not overmix.) Stir in diced apples. Spoon into a lightly greased 12-cup muffin pan, filling three-fourths full; sprinkle with Cinnamon Topping.
   
   
3. Bake at 375° for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown and a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Immediately remove from pans to wire racks; cool completely (about 30 minutes).
   
   
4. Microwave caramels and cream in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals. Let mixture stand, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until thick enough to coat muffins.
   
   
5. Quickly dip bottom three-fourths of each muffin into caramel mixture; roll bottom half of caramel-coated portion of muffin in chopped pecans, and place muffins, caramel sides up, on lightly greased wax paper. (If caramel mixture begins to harden before you've dipped all the muffins, microwave mixture a few seconds to soften.) Insert food-safe twigs or craft sticks into caramel-covered portions of muffins.
   
   Makes 1 dozen.
   
   
   
   CINNAMON TOPPING
   
   Stir together 1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar, 1-1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut in 1-1/2 tablespoons butter with a pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse meal.
   
   






Final Comments


These are prettiest the day they are made. After standing overnight, the caramel melts into the muffins. (They're still delicious!)