Apple Crisp Cupcakes

One of the best cupcakes I've made thus far...no need for frosting. They are soft, moist, and have the perfect delicious balance between the bits of apple and rich flavor of brown sugar and cinnamon making up the streusel. Great to eat on a cold winter night with a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate =) This recipe is from my favorite cupcake book 125 Best Cupcake Recipes.

Ingredients:

Batter -

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted and cooled slightly)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 apple (peeled, cored, and diced)

Streusel -

• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter (at room temperature)
• Pinch of salt

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with paper liners. For the batter, in a small bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, and salt.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.

3. Alternately whisk in flour mixture and milk, making three additions of flour mixture and two of milk, beating until smooth.

4. Stir in the apple.

5. For the streusel, in a bowl, whisk together brown sugar and cinnamon. Add the butter and rub in with fingertips until moisture holds together in small, moist clumps.

6. Scoop about half of the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle streusel over the batter. Scoop remaining batter over streusel.

7. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and tops of cupcakes spring back when lightly touched. Let cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool completely on rack. Top cooled cupcakes with frosting if desired.