Pumpkin Apple Muffins

I am on a small quest to find new pumpkin recipes. The only ones I have are pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and breads. I also need to find a use for some apples I bought to be a decoration and I am realizing that that's a nice thought but now they are going to go bad and what a waste of really delicious apples that would be. So luckily while looking for a new pumpkin recipe I found this and it not only has pumpkin but it also had apples. 

I haven't ever made muffins so I was so interested to make these. They turned out so moist and flavorful. My girls scarfed them down. It sounded like an odd combination but its definitely going to be a recipe I make again.

Pumpkin Apple Muffins

Recipe Source: AllRecipes.com

Muffins:
2 1/2 cups Flour
2 cups Granulated Sugar
1 Tablespoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
2 Eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup Pumpkin Puree
1/2 cup Vegetable Oil
2 cups Apple.. peeled, cored and chopped

Streusel Topping:
2 Tablespoons Flour
1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
4 teaspoons Butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 20 muffin cups with paper liners.

For Muffins...

In a large bowl whisk together flour, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt. In a small bowl mix together the eggs, pumpkin and oil. Add the pumpkin mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just combined. Fold in chopped apples. 

Spoon batter into prepared muffin tin and fill 3/4 full.

For Streusel...

In a small bowl combine flour, sugar and cinnamon. Cut in the butter until coarse crumbs form. Sprinkle evenly over muffins.

Bake muffins for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

We were going to visit my cousins, who just happen to be very big boys, and the idea that I could try a recipe and not have any left over to bring home is all the motivation I need to try something new. I went to Costco and saw all of the apples and decided that an apple dessert sounded really good. This is really easy and is worth the work to cut up the apples into little bits. This is the perfect fall dessert!

Carmel Apple Cheesecake Bars
Recipe Source: thegirlwhoateeverything.blogspot.com

Crust:
1 cup Flour
1/4 cup firmly packed Brown Sugar
1/2 cup Butter, softened

Cheesecake Filling:
3 - 8 oz pkgs Cream Cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar, plus 2 Tbsp, divided
3 large Eggs
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla

Apples:
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Nutmeg

Streusel Topping:
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1/2 cup Caramel Topping

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender (or 2 forks) until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into a 9x13 baking pan lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bake 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

3. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 3/4 cup sugar in an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Then add eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Stir to combine. Pour over warm crust.

4. In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture. Combine ingredients for Streusel topping and sprinkle evenly over cream cheese mixture. Bake 40-45 minutes, or until filling is set. Drizzle with caramel topping and let cool. Refrigerate several hours. Serve cold and enjoy!

I shared this at
Themed Bakers Sunday