Apple Pie Muffins

"These Muffins are my salute to Fall this year.  They are full of my favorite Fall flavors-apples, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg.  I love that the apples are mixed into the batter and are also baked into the top of the muffins.  YUM!  As if that was not delicious enough, I topped the muffins with a sweet Apple Pie Spice Drizzle.  YUM, YUM!!"

 

1-3/4 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon apple pie spice*
1 (20 ounce) can apple pie filling, divided
1/3 cup butter, softened
2 Tablespoons milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare muffin tins by spraying with non-stick cooking spray or lining with baking or cupcake liners.  In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and apple pie spice.  Spoon 1 cup of the apple pie filling onto a cutting board and chop into a medium-sized dice.  Add to dry ingredients along with the butter, milk, eggs and vanilla.  Beat mixture with an electric mixer until completely combined.  Using a medium-sized scoop, spoon batter into muffin tins; filling each 2/3 full.  (Batter will make approximately 18 muffins.)  Chop remaining apple pie filling into a medium-sized dice and spoon about 1/2 Tablespoon onto the top of each muffin.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  Cool slightly and drizzle with Apple Pie Spice Drizzle (recipe follows).


Apple Pie Spice Drizzle 
1 cup powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon apple pie spice*

Whisk together powdered sugar, milk and apple pie spice until smooth.  Drizzle over muffins.

*Substitution:  If you don't have apple pie spice, you may substitute cinnamon.