Apple Crunch Muffins

Since we didn't have enough muffin recipes on here, I thought I needed to add one more!  Since school has been out I've been making breakfast more often and we've had fun with all the muffin recipes.  I was not able to get a picture before my children ate them all!

• 1 large apple - cored and chopped into small pieces - about 1 cup
  
• 1 and 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
  
• 1/4 cup butter - softened
• 1 egg
  
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
  
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
• For Topping:
  
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
  
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
  
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  

Mix the topping ingredients together in a small bowl. Set aside.

Prepare 12 regular muffin cups with muffin papers or a light coating of cooking spray. - these don't stick so don't be afraid to skip the muffin papers.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Cut in the butter by hand until the texture is like wet-sand.

In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, then add the milk and mix well.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until just combined and moistened. Then fold in apple pieces.

Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full. Sprinkle topping evenly over the muffins.

Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Careful not to overcook - my walnuts on top were almost burned.