Apple Cinnamon Crunch Muffins

Don't let the long list of ingredients discourage you. These muffins are well worth the effort, enjoy for breakfast or school lunches.

Recipe Ingredients:

Streusel Topping:
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter

Muffins:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup ricotta cheese
2 tablespoons light olive oil
2 tablespoons white corn syrup
1 large egg
2 egg whites
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 apple, cored, peeled and finely chopped

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Line a muffin pan with paper muffins cups.
3. For Streusel Topping: Combine 1/3 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, cinnamon, and butter. Rub the mixture together with your fingers to make coarse crumbs, and set aside.
4. For Muffins: In a large bowl combine 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, allspice. In a separate bowl combine together, buttermilk, milk, ricotta, light olive oil, corn syrup, egg, egg whites and vanilla; whisk until smooth. Stir in apple and pour mixture into dry ingredients, mixing just until all ingredients are moist.
5. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling 3/4 full; sprinkle the top of each muffin with some of the streusel mixture.
6. Bake for approximately 20 minutes. Muffins should be light golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the center should come out clean. Remove from oven, cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

Makes 12 muffins.