Carolina Cheese Straw Apple Pie Muffins

By DomesticMuse

Topped with a cinnamon and brown sugar streusel, this recipe combines the spicy flavor of Southern cheese straws with the homey goodness of Mom's apple pie. For fans of apple pie with cheese, the cheese is baked right in to the muffin!

Ingredients

• Brown Sugar Streusel:
• 1/2 c. packed dark brown sugar
• 1/3 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 t. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 t. freshly grated nutmeg
• 3 T. butter, melted
• BATTER:
• 2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 t. cinnamon
• 1/2 t. freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/2 t. mace
• 1/4 t. cayenne pepper
• 4 oz. extra-sharp cheddar, finely shredded
• 1 egg
• 1 c. buttermilk
• 1/2 c. melted butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 c. packed light brown sugar
• 2 c. finely diced apples

Preparation

Step 1

For Streusel Topping:

Stir together the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, flour and cinnamon. Drizzle with butter and toss with a fork until evenly blended. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Grease 2 12-cup muffin pans or line cups with paper liners for 18 muffins.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, cayenne and shredded cheese. Stir with a whisk to mix well.

In a 4-cup glass measure, whisk together the egg, buttermilk, butter and vanilla. Stir in the light brown sugar. Pour the buttermilk mixture over the flour mixture and mix on low speed to blend. Add the apples and mix on low speed until just combined.

For nice peaks, spoon batter into prepared cups, filling to top. Sprinkle with the streusel topping.

Bake in preheated oven at 425F for 7 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350F and bake for 17 minutes or until a tester comes out clean. Makes 18 regular size muffins.