Caramel Apple Spice Muffins!

Happy Hump Day!  Lately I've been in the mood for something a little sweet - something apple, something spice, something caramel...what to do?  Make up a muffin recipe to satisfy my cravings!  These little treats have an oozy-gooey center & are best served warm with a glass of milk to help wash them down.  Recipe below...hope you enjoy!

Apples to Apples

Spices

Caramels galore

Dough & apples

Finished product | Ooey-gooey goodness

Caramel Apple Spice Muffins

Ingredients:

- 2 apples (about medium sized) peeled & chopped (I used Gala but you can use any kind you prefer)
- 1 bag of individually wrapped caramels (you will only need 10 caramels total)
- 2 cups wheat flour (all-purpose would work too but I like to use wheat when I can)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves (or allspice)
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract

(makes about 18 muffins)

Directions:

Preheat over to 350 degrees F.  Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray, then sprinkle each cup with a small amount of flour and set aside.

In medium bowl, sift together the wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ground nutmeg and ground cloves and set aside.

Unwrap 10 caramels and cut each caramel in half.  Peel and dice the apples into small chunks. Set aside.

In the bowl of a standing mixer, beat together the butter and both sugars until creamy (about 2 mins, scrape bowl, then beat for another minute).  Add the egg and vanilla and continue mixing for 1 minute.

Add half the dry ingredients mixture to the mixing bowl and beat together for 1 min.  Scrape bowl, then add the other half of the mixture and mix for another minute.  Add apple pieces to bowl and mix until incorporated.

With an ice cream scooper, scoop up a spoonful of dough and stuff 1 half of a caramel into the middle of the dough.  Form dough around caramel and drop into one of the muffin cups.  Repeat process until dough and caramels are used up - be careful, it will get sticky!

Bake muffins for 14-16 minutes, or until light golden brown on top.  Let muffins sit in pan until cool enough to touch (but still warm), then remove with a spoon - inch spoon around muffin and under when removing to be sure caramel doesn't stick and fall out the bottom.

Enjoy :)