85 consecutive weeks. That’s how long we’ve been baking muffins. It’s been fun, but like all commitments there were pockets of doubt and a lack of motivation to kept going relentlessly every Monday morning. But there are so many muffins to bake, one must soldier on and find delight in the challenge. And to be fair, most of the time we do.
You would think after 85 weeks I would have a ton of muffin posts – planned, baked and ready to be published right? Let me tell you that most posts are put together in a couple of hours in real time – that involves baking, writing, pictures, editing, round up and publishing. Phew! It’s quite a scene every week, one that has become a part of my routine and one that I’ve come to enjoy, on most Mondays. Some days I feel particularly lazy but the sheer weight of not breaking the momentum of 85 weeks keeps me going. On to today’s little creations – the Apple Maple Rum and Raisin Muffin.
This morning my kitchen was filled with the aroma of sweet maple, apples and cinnamon being dunked into a buttery batter. I made very tiny changes to this excellent recipe – the first was using rolled oats instead of quick cooking. And I took tiny currants, soaked them in rum for 20 minutes, and added them to the streusel.
I divided the batter too – I baked 6 muffins and put the rest of the batter in a loaf pan, making for an excellent quick bread as well.
- 8 tablespoons(1 stick) butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup Greek yogurt (vanilla or plain)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 cups chopped apples
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup flour
- ¼ cup quick oats
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons butter (or maple butter)
- ⅓ cup currants (soaked in rum for 20 minutes to an hour)
- In a small bowl mix together the sugar, flour, oatmeal, currants (discard the extra rum) and cinnamon. Blend with a fork, making sure there are no lumps.
- Melt the butter in a glass container in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Then pour over the dry mixture. Blend with a fork until mixture becomes crumbly.
- Preheat oven to 350º F. Fill muffin tins with liners.
- In a stand mixer, cream together the brown sugar and the butter. Then add the eggs and mix on low until well blended.
- In a large bowl sift together flours, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Then slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture while mixing on low.
- Add yogurt and vanilla extract. Then add maple syrup and continue to mix on low until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Lastly, add the chopped apples and mix until apple pieces are well distributed.
- Evenly distribute the batter into the muffin liners. Evenly distribute the crumble mixture over muffin batter.
- Then place muffin tins in the oven and bake at 350º for 15-20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out dry.
#MuffinMonday: Round Up
Happy Baking!
An, these look and sound amazing. I love the addition of rum. Yum!
I bet these smell heavenly while baking! I’ll most assuredly have to find out!
Its amazing how you keep going every monday!! complete respect A!! These are lovely.. with the streusel topping et al!!
These muffins sound so good! Love the rum-soaked currants. I wish I could say I’ve been able to pull off 85 weeks straight but I can say that each week that I’m able to participate I truly enjoy it! You’ve made me appreciate the humble muffin more that I ever did before Muffin Monday. Thank you!
Great idea about using the batter for a quick bread. Loved this recipe :)
85 weeks!! You have done a fantastic job.
These apple muffins look beautiful.
I know what you mean, Anuradha, and I haven’t been doing Muffin Monday anywhere near as long as you have. But then I get into the recipe and it all comes out great and I am glad I have made the effort again.
I love your muffins with the rum-soaked currants in the topping! You always have the cutest muffin cups.
85 weeks, that is impressive! You should be ready to open a bakery to share your beautiful creations! This muffins sounds and looks great.
Maple and cinnamon are favorite flavors and they bring out the flavor of apples so well! I like the raisins in the topping, very nice!
So after 85 weeks how do you keep dreaming up new ones?!
Love the flavors in these muffins!
85 weeks is extremely impressive! As are these apple maple rum muffins!
This rum raisin and apple combination sounds perfect for me! And really nice baking cups ;)
85 consecutive weeks? Holy cats that is AWESOME!!! I have had fun seeing all the different muffins you have created:-) Love your addition of rum in your muffins, the flavor combo sounds fantastic! Hugs, Terra
Congratulations on 85 consecutive weeks of Muffin Mondays! This apple maple rum & raisin is the perfect celebratory muffin :)
I bet your kitchen did smell great. I’m also willingly to bet these taste even better than they smell.
85 weeks? Wow, what an accomplishment!
Oooh rum raisin muffins? Sounds super tasty. I look forward to muffin mondays every week.
I’d say these muffins make the 85 weeks worthwhile!
maple rum! that sounds amazing
These muffins are ideal for a wholesome breakfast. Bet they taste good with added rum.
I am awe of just how committed you are to Muffin Mondays, and how fabulous they always look. Anything apple-cinnamon is a must-eat for me.