Black Twig Apple Muffins

I’ve had this Bon Appetit reader recipe forever, and it makes a delicious, not-too-sweet breakfast treat. Any tart baking apple will do. I did find Black Twig apples recently at the Easton farmer’s market and they were quite good.
– Terry, Jan. 2013

Ingredients

• 1¾ cup all purpose flour
• 1¼ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• ⅛ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 cup tart apple, peeled, cored and chopped
• 2/3 cup raisins (optional, I don’t use ’em)
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon wheat germ
• 2 eggs, room temperature and lightly beaten
• ½ cup walnuts, finely chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour 12 muffin cups.
2. Into a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, soda, cinnamon, salt, cloves and nutmeg.
3. To the flour mixture add in the apple, raisins, oil and wheat germ. Stir in eggs, then the walnuts (batter will be stiff).
4. Place two (2) tablespoons of batter in each muffin cup.
5. Bake 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from cups and let cool on a wire rack.

Note

• Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Store in an airtight container.

Makes 12-16 depending on size.