Apple-Cinnamon Muffins

I was excited to find this recipe in my latest issue of The Baking Sheet (from King Arthur Flour) because it is another way to use the Cinnamon Bites Teresa bought for me. I also needed to make homemade muffins because recently we bought some Costco muffins. Joshua was appalled (although he did like the muffins)! He was afraid I had decided to stop cooking and baking all together since Costco was now here. (This was the first time in his life we had purchased muffins! Plus, I have been using Costco quite a bit for "catering"-type functions lately.) The muffins turned out great, and I hope Joshua was somewhat reassured that I still enjoy baking.

2 cups (8-1/2 ounces) white whole wheat flour
1/2 cup (2 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (1/2 stick, 2 ounces) unsalted butter
1 cup (7 ounces) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon boiled cider (optional)
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1 cup (4 ounces) grated cooking apple
3/4 cup (4 ounces) cinnamon chips
1/2 cup (3 ounces) cinnamon Flav-R-Bites (optional)
Coarse or Demerara sugar to sprinkle tops

Preheat the oven 400 F. Lightly grease a muffin tin, or line with papers and spray the insides.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In a large mixer bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy and almost white in color. Scrape down the bowl to make sure all the butter is incorporated, then turn the mixer back on and add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the boiled cider and sour cream, and mix until incorporated. Add the dry ingredients, mixing on low speed just until the batter is smooth. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl once more, to be sure everything is evenly combined. Gently fold in the apples, cinnamon chips, and Flav-R-bites.

Scoop into greased or paper-lined muffin cups, sprinkle the tops with sugar, and bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until muffins are done. Remove from the oven and cool in the pan up to 5 minutes, then remove muffins from pan to finish cooling on a rack so they don't steam and get tough.