Vegan Caramel Apple Muffins with Streusel & Frosting

Ingredients

For the Streusel:

• Plain flour (or oat flour for gluten-free): 60g
• Light brown sugar: 20g
• White granulated sugar: 20g
• Dairy-free butter (room temperature): 90g

For the Muffins:

• Ground flaxseed + water: 6 teaspoons each (acts as a flax egg)
• Plain/all-purpose flour (or oat flour): 370g
• Baking powder: 3 teaspoons
• Ground cinnamon: 1/2 teaspoon
• Ground nutmeg: 1/4 teaspoon
• Ground arrowroot: 1 teaspoon
• Xanthan gum: 1/4 teaspoon
• White granulated sugar: 200g
• Dairy-free plain/vanilla yogurt: 60g
• Dairy-free butter (room temperature): 115g
• Dairy-free milk (room temperature): 300ml
• Chopped apple: 50g

For the Frosting:

• Dairy-free cream cheese: 20g
• Dairy-free butter: 30g
• Icing sugar: 150g
• Caramel: 2 teaspoons

Additional Toppings:

• Dairy-free caramel (for drizzling)
• Icing sugar (for dusting)

Instructions

Streusel Method:

1. In a bowl, combine flour and sugars.
2. Add room temperature butter, mixing with a fork until clumpy. Avoid over-mixing.
3. Optionally, prepare a day in advance and refrigerate in a sealed container.

Muffin Method:

1. Line two cupcake tins with liners. Mix ground flaxseed with water and set aside to form a “flax egg.”
2. In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, spices, arrowroot, and Xanthan gum.
3. In a separate bowl, combine sugar, yogurt, butter, milk, and the flax egg. Integrate this with the dry ingredients until just combined. Fold in apples.
4. Cover the batter and refrigerate for at least an hour, or overnight.
5. Preheat oven to 180°C (fan).
6. Fill each liner with batter to the top. Top with a generous amount of streusel.
7. Bake at 180°C for 12 minutes, then reduce to 160°C and bake for another 16-18 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Let cool.

Frosting Method:

1. Whip dairy-free cream cheese and butter until smooth.
2. Gradually add icing sugar, followed by caramel, and whip until thick.
3. Transfer to a piping bag with a large round nozzle.

Final Assembly:

1. Ensure muffins are cool.
2. Drizzle caramel sauce across muffins.
3. Pipe a dollop of frosting on each muffin. Optionally, refrigerate before serving.

These vegan muffins, with the sweet tang of apple and caramel and the crunchy bite of streusel, make for a delightful treat!