Spiced Apple, Fig, and Oatmeal Muffins

Image: Dinner plate stacked with baked muffins flavored with fall fruits and spices.

Description: These spiced apple, fig, and oatmeal muffins are an excellent start to any fall morning! Try these and see for yourself!

Yield: Recipe makes 10 large muffins

Ingredients:

For the Topping:

• ¼ cup brown sugar

• ¼ cup oatmeal

• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

• ¼ teaspoon fine salt

For the Muffins:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour +

• 1 cup fresh apple (peeled and diced)

• 1 cup chopped fresh figs

• ¾ cup old fashioned oats

• ¾ cup brown sugar

• 1/2 cup milk

• 1 egg

• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

• ¼ teaspoon ground clove

• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350º F and line a jumbo muffin tray with liners.

In a small bowl, mix by hand the topping ingredients, being sure to coat all the oatmeal with butter. set aside. Dice the apples and figs and add to another small bowl. Toss the apples and figs with 2 tablespoon flour and set aside.

In another small bowl, combine oil, sugar, milk and egg. Whisk until combined. Set aside. In a big mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and oats. Set aside.

Add the wet mixture to the flour mixture and stir until evenly blended (don’t over mix). Gently fold in the apple/fig mixture to the flour mixture. Be sure not to mix too much at this step either, as over mixing will toughen the end result.

Scoop batter into prepared muffin tins, filling to 2/3 full. Add a bit of the topping on each muffin.

Bake for approximately 22-25 minutes or until topping is golden brown and toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven, cool slightly before taking them out onto a wire rack.