It’s not often that I bake. I tend more towards the savory side of things for every meal, including breakfast. But sometimes, you just need a sweet treat. And lately I’ve been baking more often. I’ve found an awesome cornbread recipe that I honestly don’t know how I’d improve upon (you my girl, Alex Guarnaschelli!). I’m working on an easy gluten-free brownie recipe that uses coconut flour instead of all purpose. And then there are these Simple Ginger-Spiced Apple Muffins.
Just sweet enough and with warm spices that transport you directly into fall & winter. The apple keeps them nice and moist, too. Because no one wants a dry muffin. That’s what scones are for. (JK. I love you, scones.)
Muffins are, hands down, the great perfect excuse for eating dessert for breakfast. And thats okay, in moderation, right? There’s a little bit of fruit in there so we’re golden. Right? Right?!
Apple Picking at BelleWood Acres
Speaking of apples: I’ll have you know that I’m down to my last fresh apple over here. I’ve pretty much been eating an apple a day for the last 1.5 months thanks to our early-October trip up to Bellingham for apple picking. BelleWood Acres is one of the largest apple orchards in Washington state.
Note to self for next year: go on a weekday. They let you drive a golf cart to the orchards if you go on a weekday.
This was our second year driving up to BelleWood Acres for the pick-your-own apple (and pumpkins!) experience and it’s always a great time. Plus, they let us fill up our own large tote with apples instead of having to use one of their plastic bags which was awesome. Zero waste FTW. Overall, it’s a super fun experience that involves:
- Tastings of the apples they grow before you pick (they grow so many different kinds!)
- Driving a golf cart (or, on the weekends, hopping on a tractor-drawn train/cart thing) past a corn fields and pumpkin patches and over a bridge to the orchards
- Picking your own apples from a selection of 20! different apple varieties (depending on what’s available for harvest at the time)
- Tastings at their in-house distillery (for adults!)
I highly, highly recommend checking this out if you’re in the area.
Simple Ginger-Spiced Apple Muffins
Back to the muffins, though. I love eating apples just the way they are, but when you bring home over 20 lbs of apples in one go, you have the freedom to try some apple-focused recipes and dishes. This year I’ve made apple butter, sunken apple cake, and these muffins. They’re especially tasty with a healthy schmear of butter & cinnamon on top.
Enjoy!
Simple & tasty muffins with warming spices of ginger and cinnamon -- bursting with fresh bites of apple and a crispy top. Perfect for breakfast or dessert!
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unrefined cane sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1.5-2 cups peeled and chopped apples (from ~1 large or 2 small)
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425. Grease a 12-cup muffin pan with butter or vegetable oil.
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and ginger. Stir in the chopped apple until well combined.
- In a medium bowl, add the milk, vegetable oil, eggs and lightly beat until combined.
- Add the wet ingredients into the large bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir gently, until just combined.
- Pour batter into each muffin cup. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until a knife comes out clean.
Notes
Muffins will keep in an airtight container, refrigerated, for a week.. but they don't last that long over here!