apple and cinnamon muffins - 'appins'

I have a confession to make; these are my I-need-to-manipulate-my-hubby muffins. If I don't have time to bake his favourite, the apple cake, then I can always make these, as the recipes are similar, and have my way with him. Well, sort of, he's not that easily manipulated! By the way, he calls these appins. All jokes aside, these muffins are very easy to make and if I remember correctly I put the recipe together for a Sunday brunch. Everyone in this household finds them delicious and I make them frequently. I always use one teaspoon of cinnamon and I don't think the taste is too dominant. Use less if you're sensitive to its taste. I have added a few baking options below the list of ingredients if you would like to pop them up. If using regular baking powder one teaspoon is enough.

APPLE AND CINNAMON MUFFINS

INGREDIENTS

• 200 g spelt flour (1½ cup)
• 2 teaspoons gluten-free baking powder
• ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
• ½-1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 large egg, free-range/organic
• 1 egg white (from a large egg)
• 100 g organic raw cane sugar (½ cup)
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 2 large red apples, peeled and grated coarsely

Optional: You can use less cinnamon and/or add some ground ginger or nutmeg instead, or both. Sometimes I add a handful of chopped pecans and I have used raisins. If you really want to treat yourself then add 20 g of chopped organic dark chocolate and skip one tablespoon of maple syrup.

METHOD

1. In a medium bowl, combine the spelt flour, baking powder, salt and ground cinnamon. Set aside
2. In a large bowl, combine the egg, egg white, sugar, maple syrup and coconut oil (if the oil is solid, place the jar in a bowl of hot water before use)
3. Peel the apples and remove the seeds. Grate the apples using a coarse grater and then add them to the egg and sugar blend and mix with a spatula
4. Add the dry ingredients and mix gently. Make sure not to stir, the texture of the dough should be light
5. Lightly grease a silicone muffin pan with some coconut oil and fill each muffin cup about two-thirds to the rim (makes 12 muffins)
6. Bake at 200°C/400°F/gas mark 6 for 22-25 minutes
7. Remove the muffins from the oven and allow them to cool in the tins for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack

hot chocolate with home-made vanilla sugar

Can anyone resist the temptation of a cup of hot chocolate in cold weather? This blend is my children's favourite and it's so easy to throw everything into a saucepan after school on cold days. I don't melt any chocolate to make this one; I just use organic cocoa powder and home-made vanilla sugar. The taste is sweet and you don't really need to serve it with whipped cream/ice cream. Personally I like my hot chocolate with a stronger chocolate taste, even chilli powder, and of course you can add more cocoa powder or bits of organic dark chocolate to get the desired taste. Or maybe pouring some liquor into the cup will do. wink

HOT CHOCOLATE WITH HOME-MADE VANILLA SUGAR

INGREDIENTS

• 1 litre milk (4 cups)
• 2 tablespoons raw cane sugar
• ½ tablespoon home-made vanilla sugar
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder, preferably organic
• optional: pinch of sea salt 

METHOD

1. Warm the milk in a saucepan on medium heat
2. Add the sugar and cocoa powder and salt, if using, and whisk gently until the cocoa powder has dissolved
3. Bring to an easy boil while you stir and then remove from heat
4. Serve with or without whipped cream

HOME-MADE VANILLA SUGAR

I posted my version of home-made vanilla sugar in a separate post on this blog but I add it here for convenience. It's very easy to make, you only need organic raw cane sugar and one vanilla pod.

I split the vanilla pod lengthwise with a sharp knife. Then I scrape the seeds out with the knife tip. In a glass jar with a lid, I put organic raw cane sugar, all the seeds from the vanilla pod and the split pod itself. (Store in a closed jar.) You don't have to use all the seeds if you don't want too, in fact you don't need to use any. But I like my version with all the seeds.

home-made vanilla sugar

Someone emailed me and asked how I make my own vanilla sugar. It's very simple. Here is my version:

HOME-MADE VANILLA SUGAR

INGREDIENTS

• organic raw cane sugar
• 1 vanilla pod

METHOD

1. Split the vanilla pod lengthwise with a sharp knife and scrape the seeds out with the knife tip
2. In a glass jar with a lid, put organic raw cane sugar, all the seeds from the vanilla pod, and the split pod itself. You don't have to use all the seeds if you don't want too, in fact you don't need to use any. But I like my version with all the seeds
3. Store in a closed jar, occasionally replacing the vanilla pod/seeds