Fall Baking #2: Apple-Cranberry Spice Muffins

Calling all apple pickers (or buyers!), with a love for easy, tasty "fall" muffins...this recipe is for you! I found this on FamilyFun.com, which, by the way, is a fabulous website for craft ideas, recipes, and a whole lot more! (I wish I got paid to say that!) I tried it this morning for a wonderful group of Mommy's and their kiddos and I think it was a hit! Of course, there were some picky eaters, like my very own daughter, but the Mom's seemed to enjoy this little treat with their morning coffee. Give it a try and enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• Pinch of ground cloves

• Pinch of salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 large Granny Smith apple (or other tart variety), peeled, cored, and finely chopped
• 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts (optional)
• 1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries

Instructions

1. 
   
   
   
   
   Heat the oven to 400° F. Grease the bottoms only of 12 standard muffin cups.
   
   
   
   
   
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, oil, and sour cream until well blended. Add the egg mixture, apples, walnuts (if you're using them), and dried cranberries to the dry ingredients. Stir just until the batter is blended, then divide it among the muffin cups.
3. Bake the muffins for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of one comes out clean. Let the muffins cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 to 10 minutes before removing them. Makes 1 dozen.