Grilled Apple Fritter Muffins

These days I've been experimenting with things I have on hand at home. The kids had eaten all the berries and citrus was minimal but there were these apples in the back of the crisper no one seemed to want. So I thought to myself, it's nice out I should grill them! And I didn't look back after that.
I love grilling and not just protein and veggies-fruit too! I grilled the apples and then thought well I will bake them on the grill too, cuz again why not. I enjoy baked goods on the grill, keeps the kitchen inside cool and can offer up so
me smokey flavour. If you have a smoker, use that-the deeper smoke flavour and apples are a match made in heaven. Have a wonderful weekend and whip up a batch of these tasty almost like Apple Fritter muffins for your home. If you don't need them all now, no worries, freeze them for later. Happy Friday!

Grilled Apple Fritter Muffins

Use what you have at home and make these fun muffins for morning or afternoon. They really do taste like an apple fritter! As the season of fruit nears, try grilling peaches, plums or nectarines and chopping them to add to the muffins. If strawberries are your desire, grill them and add a drizzle of aged balsamic after chopping for a hit of Italian flare!

Prep time: 20 minutes
Grill time: 35 minutes
Yield: 8 muffins

2 apples, peeled, cored and sliced 

Cooking spray

2 tbsp (30 mL) packed light brown sugar 

1 tsp (5 mL) ground cinnamon 

1 1/2 cups (375 mL) all purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp (7 mL) baking powder

1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt

1/2 cup (125 mL) butter, softened

1/2 cup (125 mL) granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp (10 mL) vanilla

1/2 cup (125 mL) milk

Topping:

3 tbsp (45 mL) packed light brown sugar

1/2 tsp (2 mL) ground cinnamon

Glaze:

1/2 cup (125 mL) icing sugar

1 tbsp (15 mL) milk or water 

Preheat grill to medium high heat. Spray apple slices liberally with cooking spray. Grill turning once for about 10 minutes or until tender and well grill marked. Let cool slightly and dice. Toss with brown sugar and cinnamon; set aside.

Topping: In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar and cinnamon; set aside.

Turn off one side of the grill and reduce heat to medium to reach about 350 F (180 C).

In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. 

In a large bowl, using an electric hand mixer, beat together butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at at time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Stir in flour mixture alternating 3 of flour and 2 of milk until smooth. 

Divide half of the batter among 8 greased muffin tins. Spoon half of the apple mixture and Topping on top and press gently. Divide remaining batter along with apples and Topping. 

Place on unlit side of grill and close lid. Grill, trying to keep grill temperature around 350 F (180 C) for about 25 minutes or until tester inserted in centre comes out clean and tops are light golden. Let cool for about 15 minutes. Remove from muffin tins onto cooking rack.

All done and ready for icing!

Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together icing sugar and milk. Drizzle over top of each muffin to serve.

Grilled Apples