Apple Streusel Muffins

One of our favorite ways to give back to the kids’ schools or sports clubs is through bake sales. Bake sales always bring kids and parents together. They are such a fun way to fundraise for bakers and eaters alike. We usually belong to both groups. Although we have always enjoyed bake sales they are particularly enjoyable here in Canada because of the diversity of baked goods that people bring to the (bake sale) table. While we like to try desserts rooted in different cultures as eaters, we tend to stick to baking German treats.

Julia is a diver (the springboard and platform kind) and one of our favorite memories are the competition weekends. Julia’s diving club hosts annual meets and, of course, a bake sale for parents and siblings is a great way to fundraise. In addition, the club also provides food for divers, coaches, and judges. While everyone enjoys treats, athletes should not eat very heavy desserts during their competition days. To provide them with a healthy and delicious treat, we like to bring in this spin on a German classic: Apple Streusel Muffins. Streusel are small pieces of a dough crumbled on fruit or cheese cake before it is baked. Apples are also a staple in German cake recipes. This recipe uses a lot of this delicious fruit which makes our Apple Streusel Muffins a healthy alternative to other muffins or cupcakes.

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Recipe

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Ingredients:

For the batter:

250g all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

125g butter

100g sugar

1 pack vanilla sugar (or 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract or vanilla from one vanilla bean pod)

2 eggs

120ml milk

500g apples

For the streusel:

200g all-purpose flour

150g sugar

150g butter

1 tsp. cinnamon

Instructions:

1) Preheat oven to 380 degrees F (convection: 355 degrees F).

2) Peel apples and cut into small pieces.

3) Sift flour and baking powder for the batter. Set aside.

4) Beat butter using an electric whisk on a high setting. Slowly incorporate the sugar and vanilla sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating for at least 30 seconds each.

5) Turn whisk to low setting and add the flour mixture and the milk in three steps making sure that in each step all flour is incorporated in the batter.

6) Fold apples under the batter. It seems like a lot of apples but this will give the muffins a nice fruity flavor.

7) Put batter into a muffin tin (ideally using paper or silicon forms).

8) For the streusel dough, incorporate all ingredients with your hands or the dough hook of a Kitchenaid.

9) Sprinkle streusel on the batter in the muffin tin.

10) Bake for 20-30 min.

Enjoy the muffins with your friends and family or bring them for a bake sale!