Caramel-Apple Muffins With Quick Caramel Frosting

Recipe courtesy of Southern Living, September 2005.

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Yields: 2 dozen muffins

Ingredients

• To make muffins

• 1 (3 lb) bag  small apples (12 to 14 apples)
• 2  cups sugar
• 1  cup  vegetable oil
• 3  large eggs, lightly beaten
• 2  teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3  cups all-purpose flour
• 2  teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 2 1⁄2 cups  chopped pecans, toasted and divided

• To make frosting

• 2 (14 ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk
• 1⁄2 cup  firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1⁄2 cup butter
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. For muffins:.
2. Peel, core, and cut 4 apples into 24 (1/4-inch-thick) rings.
3. Sauté apple rings, in batches, in a lightly greased skillet over medium heat 1 to 2 minutes on each side or until lightly browned.
4. Remove from skillet, and place 1 apple ring in the bottom of each of 24 lightly greased muffin pan cups.
5. Peel and finely chop enough remaining apples to equal 3 cups.
6. Set aside.
7. Stir together sugar and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl.
8. Stir together flour and next 3 ingredients; add to sugar mixture, stirring just until blended. (Batter will be stiff.)
9. Fold in finely chopped apples and 1 cup pecans.
10. Spoon batter evenly over apple rings in muffin pan cups, filling cups three-quarters full.
11. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
12. Remove muffins from pan, and cool, apple rings up, on a wire rack.
13. Press the handle of a wooden spoon gently into the center of each apple ring, forming a 1-inch-deep indentation in the muffins.
14. Spoon warm Quick Caramel Frosting evenly over muffins, filling indentations.
15. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans.
16. For frosting:.
17. Place all ingredients in a heavy 3-quart saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring constantly, over medium-low heat.
18. Cook, stirring constantly, 3 to 5 minutes or until mixture reaches a pudding-like thickness.
19. Remove from heat.
20. Spoon warm frosting evenly over muffins.
21. Frosting makes approximately 2 1/2 cups.