Macadamia & Apple Muffins

UmmBinat's Note:

ZWT7 Pacific Islands, Hawaii. Macadamia nuts are synonymous with Hawaii but indigenous to Australia. The almost perfectly round light coloured nuts grow to approximately 1 inch in size, and they have a rich distinctive taste. Recipe from the Australian Macadamia Society. http://www.macnuts.com.au.

• Total Time: 47 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 32 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 12

Yield: 12.0 muffins

• butter or oil, for greasing
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 2 cups self-raising flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 150 g macadamia nuts, coarsely chopped
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 large apples, peeled and chopped
• creme fraiche or mascarpone, to serve

Topping

• 20 g unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 large apples, unpeeled, cut into 24 wedges
• 100 g macadamia nuts, coarsely chopped

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 180C and grease a 12 cup muffin tray.
2. Combine sugar, eggs and maple syrup in a medium bowl and whisk until thick and smooth.
3. Sift flours and cinnamon together in a large bowl and add chopped macadamia nuts.
4. Add bicarbonate of soda to buttermilk, stir until dissolved, then add buttermilk immediately to flour mixture, along with sugar-and-egg mixture and chopped apple.
5. Fold in gently until just combined.
6. Spoon mixture into muffin tray, place in preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a cake tester withdraws clean.
7. Stand muffins in muffin pan for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool.
8. Topping:.
9. Place butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan and heat gently until melted.
10. Add apple wedges and cook until soft and syrup is thick and smooth.
11. Add chopped macadamia nuts and stir to coat in syrup.
12. Spoon apple and macadamia topping over each cooled muffin and serve with crème fraiche or mascarpone. Makes 12.

Reviews

[weekend cooker]

Took to work for the guys today. This was a first break treat for us. All great compliments, and all gone after the break. Made recipe as posted.Made for 1-2-3 hits.

[Charlotte J]

Easy to make and fun to eat. I made 20 muffins, so when I make these again I'll use my extra large pan. I think one apple would have worked fine, cut into very thin wedges. I used Grade B maple syrup. Made for the *Aus NZ Bush Tucker Challenge * on * Zaar World Tour 5* 2009 game for team *Genies of Gourmet*