Whole Wheat Apple Chai-Spiced Muffins

Tuesdays with Dorie will be "Teanna Does Wednesdays with Dorie" this week!  I was a bit delayed in making the dessert (read: I still haven't made it yet), but will make it tomorrow to post!  I apologize for any inconvenience! 

I saw these muffins on a blogger friend's page. Tracey, of Tracey's Culinary Adventures, had an apple theme on her blog this past week, and when I saw these muffins, I jumped out of my chair and made them.  

I'm not kidding. At 12:30 in the morning on Monday morning, I started baking these whole wheat muffins. There is nothing better than seeing a recipe that you love and knowing you have all of the ingredients to make it.  And then on top of having all of the ingredients, having the will to make it at that very moment. That's a compelling recipe.

Honestly, food bloggers, or anyone who loves to cook for that matter, how many times do you see a recipe and bookmark/dog ear/email it to yourself/rip out the page, swearing that you'll make it at a later date and time.  And how often do you actually make that dish?

Exactly. 

This is a recipe that is simple and straightforward and packs a great punch.  Tracey saw this recipe on the King Arthur Flour blog (a site I never read, but checked out when I saw this recipe and now realize what I've been missing)

I made some changes to the recipe, but not many.  I didn't have white whole wheat flour on hand, so I used regular whole wheat flour, and I added my favorite spice - McCormick Gourmet's Chai Spice.  I usually don't often use premade spice blends (like pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice) because for some reason, actually measuring the out ginger, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, etc, etc etc makes me feel like a more accomplished cook/baker, but I make an exception with this spice. 

These complex fragrant spices of the chai spice work so well with the robust cinnamon (in my opinion, you can never have too much cinnamon) and the crisp gala apples become soft and sweet once baked and are finished with the slight tang of buttermilk to create a wonderful breakfast muffin.  

I've listed my ingredient changes, but head over to Tracey's blog to see the entire recipe! 

1 cup (4 ounces) whole wheat flour

1 cup (4 1/4 ounces) all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon chai spice

1/2 cup (1 stick, 4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) granulated sugar

1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 cup buttermilk

2 large apples, peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped

Comments

[Maria]

These are my kind of muffins!

[Tangled Noodle]

You caught me! I just printed out 2 recipes this morning from one site with visions of making them in the next day or two. Right!! But I'm confident I'll get around to them . . . ! 8-P

I can almost smell the aroma of these freshly-baked muffins - heavenly!

[Theresa]

OK, if I wasn't at work I would be jumping up to make these muffins right now! You had me at chai apple, but with the cinnamon and whole wheat too? Plus, gala apples are one of my favorites! I had no idea they sold chai spice at the store, but I'm buying some ASAP. And then I'm going to make these muffins!

[ABowlOfMush]

mmm apple and chai flavors sound delicious!

[grace]

i share your feelings about cinnamon, and i must say, robust is a fine descriptor for the best spice of all time. great muffins!

[steph (whisk/spoon)]

omg--they sound so good! i love a little whole wheat in morning baked goods...makes me feel more healthy! :)

[Phyllis (me HUNGRY!)]

Muffins look awesome Teanna! I can't wait to pick up a bottle of the chai spice - how convenient! b/t/w, I am also guilty of bookmarking a million recipes online and never making them, except for yours! I've actually made at least 3 of your recipes :)

[Katrina]

Mmmm, muffins. They sound good!
You're a true baker--12:30! I'd just worry about waking up the kids. ;)

[Caitlin]

I'm with you there - very few bookmarked recipes actually get made. But the ones that do are the special ones, right? And those muffins look pretty darned special.

[jenn]

I'm guilty of the bookmark and save it for later. I've got a tons of them stacked up and taking up disk space in my computer. lol. It's an addiction. lol.

Awesome muffins. Perfect with my morning tea.

[Wendy]

I loved these on Tracy's blog and I love them on your blog. I agree there are a ton of recipes I rip out, bookmark, print and never get to and then there are ones I just make. Not at 12:30 in the morning though. :P

[Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction]

Yum... These sound fantastic, and I love that they are whole wheat. That takes away all guilt! Beautiful!

[nora@ffr]

Those are beautiful! I've got to try that. vat a sweet treat!1
cheers!!

[Mary]

Yum...I need to get that chai spice...great idea...

[Tracey]

Thanks for the mention Teanna - I'm so, so, so glad these were a hit for you :) I would have felt really bad if you'd starting making them at 12:30 in the morning only to wind up hating them! They look wonderful and I love your adaptations.

[Carol Peterman]

Don't feel bad about tardy TWD posts; I just got mine up (Wed night!)I know what you mean about seeing a recipe, knowing you have the ingredients, and needing to make it right then, but 12:30 in the morning? You’re nuts!

[Elizabeth - Cake or Death?]

Mmmm, sounds like a perfect fall recipe. I love chai anything, so I'm definitely making these soon.

[sara]

These sounds fabulous, now I will have to look for chai spice. Yum!

[Scootabaker]

it's really a wonder why I haven't worked with chai yet.

[Ashley]

Mmm these sound delicious. I'll have to keep an eye out for that chai spice!