Cranberry-Apple Cinnamon Streusel Muffins

My husband loves the flavor combination of sweetened dried cranberries and apples. So, on this cold and damp day I thought I'd surprise him with these delicious muffins. More like a cupcake with it's tender crumb, these muffins are just what you need for breakfast (or a snack) on these cold Winter days. These muffins surely fall under the category of comfort food..... they are "comfort muffins"! I hope you'll try them. I'm sure you're family will want them often after they taste them!

Supplies

SUPPLIES:

Cooling Rack

Muffin Tins (recipe makes 16 muffins)

2 mixing bowls

2 mixing spoons

Vegetable peeler

Measuring spoons

Measuring cups

Sharp knife

Fork

Paper Cupcake liners

Toothpicks

INGREDIENTS:

Muffins:

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 large eggs

1 cup sour cream (NOT the low fat kind)

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 1/2 cups peeled, cored and diced tart apple

1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries

Crumbs:

1/4 cup sugar

3 tablespoons all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons cold butter

Step 1: Pre-heat Oven

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F.

Step 2: Prepare Muffin Tins

Place a paper liner in each of 16 muffin cups. Set aside.

Step 3:

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Mix well.

Step 4: Combine the Wet Ingredients

In a separate bowl, combine the wet ingredients: sour cream, eggs and melted butter. Mix well until smooth and creamy.

Step 5: Add Wet to Dry

Pour wet ingredients into dry. Mix well with a sturdy mixing spoon. Mixture will be very stiff and shaggy. (This is ok. Once you add the apples it will become more like a batter.)

Step 6:

Chop the apple. I got 1 1/2 cups chopped/diced apple from this one medium size apple.

Step 7: Sweetened Dried Cranberries

Add the cranberries.......

Step 8: Add to the Batter

Add the apples and cranberries to the batter. Mix well. Once you start mixing, the liquids will come out of the apples and make the batter a bit "loser".

Step 9: Fill Cupcake Tins

Fill prepared cupcake tins about 2/3 full.

Step 10: Make the Crumbs

Put the crumbs ingredients in a small flat bowl. Mash with a fork until mixture forms coarse crumbs about the size of a small pea.

Step 11: Sprinkle Crumbs on Top

Sprinkle a rounded teaspoon on top of each muffin.

Step 12: Bake

Bake at 400 degrees F for 15-18 minutes.

Step 13: Muffins Are Done

Muffins are done when a toothpick inserted near the middle comes out clean.

Step 14: ENJOY!

Sit back ...... pour yourself a cup of coffee (or tea) and enjoy these muffins. They are best served warm but room temperature is ok. Store ant leftovers in a covered contained in the refrigerator.