Fluffy & Soft Banana Muffins with Fresh Apple Topping and Pumpkin

So the other day I was talking about savory muffins, so why not go sweet today? These are totally my kind of thing, nice and rustic, loaded with fruit, none of that vanilla extract and chocolate chip business hehehe. If you want something truly delicious, nothing beats baking with fruit or vegetables, throw in a few spices and you’ve always got something divine… or dare I say… a delicacy, hehehehe. That’s exactly what’s going on here, and the only real problem is stopping yourself from eating them all in one sitting and ending up with a stomachache, hahahaha. We all have to suffer for our art ;D

Honestly, banana and apple is one of those combinations that just works. The banana gives you that soft, fudgy crumb and a natural sweetness that you really can’t fake with anything else, and then the apple topping bakes up slightly caramelized and a little crispy on the edges while still keeping that juicy sweetness. It’s the kind of contrast that makes you go back for a second one before the first one is even done. Add some pumpkin spice into the mix and you’ve basically bottled up a perfect autumn afternoon (and yes i know im publishing in the Summer, but thats what i wanted to share today hehehe).

The best part? This is a super forgiving recipe, perfect for using up those bananas that have been sitting on the counter looking sad, or those apples that have been rolling around in the fridge for way too long. The riper the bananas, the better the muffin, so don’t be shy about using the ones that are almost black. Let’s get to the recipe!

Fluffy & Soft Banana Muffins with Fresh Apple Topping and Pumpkin Spice

Servings: 12
Time: 40mins
Difficulty: Normal
Rating: ★★★★★
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Yeah i got to say this ons is a winner, some fluffy banana muffins loaded with warm spice and topped with a generous pile of fresh apple, you reaaaallly can't go wrong with that!

Ingredients

Brown Sugar – 160g
Flour – 260g
Butter – 100g (At room temperature)
Eggs – 2 L (At room temperature)
Bananas – 4 Ripe (+/- 380g peeled)
Apples – 2
Milk – 1 Tablespoon
Pumpkin Spice – 1 Teaspoon
Baking Powder – 1 Teaspoon
Baking Soda – 1 Teaspoon
Salt – A Pinch
Brown Sugar – For Sprinkling (Optional)

Directions

First, start by creaming the butter with the sugar, until its super creamy.

Then, separately, peel and mash the bananas with a little milk until it forms a paste.

Mix the banana paste with the sugar and butter mixture, followed by the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Finally, add the sifted flour, followed by the pumpkin spice, baking powder, baking soda, and a pinch of salt. Mix well again.

Preheat the oven to 180ºC (350ºF) and line muffin tins with parchment paper.
Peel and chop the apples into tiny cubes.

Pour batter into each tin and generously top with the apples, followed by a pinch of brown sugar on top. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes (batters rich in fruits and vegetables take longer to bake).

As always, poke the center of the cupcake with a toothpick; if it comes out clean, the cupcakes are ready. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before removing from the tin. Enjoy!

Notes & Tips: I used the apple only as a topping because I love the contrast, you get a soft and fluffy muffin and then a big pile of apple on top, but this recipe also works just fine with the apple mixed right into the batter. Just add a few extra minutes to the baking time if you go that route.

You can also swap in other toppings, just avoid fruits that are too watery or they’ll make the tops soggy. Dried fruits, chopped walnuts, or even a crumble topping all work great here.

If you can’t find pumpkin spice, you can easily make your own with a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and a tiny bit of clove. A teaspoon of plain cinnamon also works and gives the muffins a warmer, simpler flavor if you prefer to keep things more classic.

This recipe for Fluffy & Soft Banana Muffins with Fresh Apple Topping and Pumpkin Spice was originally created on BakeAfter.com. Esta receita de Queques de Banana e Maçã foi publicada em português no Iguaria.com.