Fluffy Apple And Oat Muffins

Ingredients

• 1 small to medium lemon ((The zest, plus 1 tablespoon of juice.))
• 1 cup milk
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup rolled oats (plus a few extra for sprinkling over the top of the muffins)
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice ((or apple pie spices))
• 2 large eggs
• 2/3 cup brown sugar (plus a little extra for sprinkling over the top of the muffins)
• 1/3 cup oil ((I usually use canola oil and/or light olive oil. Another type of vegetable oil is fine, too.))
• 1/4 cup applesauce ((Sub with another fruit puree, or just use more oil.))
• 3 medium apples (or about 1 1/2 to 2 cups, chopped into small cubes (Tart and firm apples are best: I like Granny Smiths.))

Instructions

1. 1

   Stir lemon juice into milk, spray muffin cases with oil and preheat oven to 355F/180C (convection/fan oven) or 375F/190C (conventional oven).: Start by stirring the tablespoon of lemon juice into the cup of milk. Leave it while you prepare the other ingredients. Also, lightly spray 12 muffin cases in a muffin pan with oil and preheat the oven to 355F/180C (convection/fan oven) or 375F/190C (conventional oven).

2. 2

   Mix together dry ingredients.: Then mix together all of the dry ingredients in a large bowl - flour, oats, baking powder and soda, salt, cinnamon and allspice.

3. 3

   Mix together wet ingredients.: In a separate medium sized jug or bowl, whisk together all of the wet ingredients - lemon zest, eggs, brown sugar, oil, applesauce, and milk and lemon mixture.

4. 4

   Stir the wet ingredients into the dry.: Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture, and stir with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula until 'just' combined. Try not to overmix. It doesn't matter if there are a few streaks of dry flour still.

5. 5

   Fold in chopped apple.: Finally, fold in the chopped apple.

6. 6

   Fill muffin cases with batter, then sprinkle with extra oats and sugar.: Use a metal spoon to fill the muffin cases almost to the top. Sprinkle the tops with a few extra rolled oats, and a bit of brown sugar.

7. 7

   Bake for 17 to 21 minutes then let cool on a cooling rack.: Then bake for 17 to 21 minutes, or until the muffins are nicely risen and golden, and a skewer pushed into the middle comes out clean. Let cool on a cooling rack, then enjoy.