Apple Banana Muffins

This is a super alternative to “boxed” cupcakes. Vadim and I love any kind of dessert with fruit. These are especially moist. You can frost them as cupcakes or enjoy them as muffins with milk or your morning coffee. Kids really enjoy them too; after all, it looks like a cupcake! We each ate 3 right out of the oven.

Cost to Make: $5 to $6
Servings: 24 (or 8 if you are like us!)

Ingredients:
2 apples, peeled, cored and finely diced
1 cup ripe mashed bananas
1 ¼ cups white sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 eggs at room temperature
2/3 cup unsalted butter at room temperature (10 tablespoons or 1 ¼ sticks)
¼ cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda

How to make Apple Banana Muffins:
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F.
1. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.

2. Mix together flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon.

3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together on medium speed until it has a light and fluffy texture.

4. Without reducing the speed, add the eggs one at a time, add vanilla extract and buttermilk.

5. Finally, beat in the flour mixture.

6. Use a spoon to fold in the apples and banana.

7. Fill the lined muffin cups about half-way.

Bake until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes.

I love these frosted with my Russian Cream Cheese Frosting.

Notes: If you only have a 12 count muffin pan, you can fill it first and bake the rest in a small baking dish.