Caramel-Apple Muffins

Ingredients

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

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• oven
• wire rack
• loaf pan
• baking pan
• wooden spoon
• muffin tray

Directions

1. Peel, core, and cut 4 apples into 24 (1/4-inch-thick) rings. Saut apple rings, in batches, in a lightly greased skillet over medium heat 1 to 2 minutes on each side or until lightly browned.
2. Remove from skillet, and place 1 apple ring in the bottom of each of 24 lightly greased muffin pan cups.
3. Peel and finely chop enough remaining apples to equal 3 cups. Set aside.
4. Stir together sugar and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl.
5. Stir together flour and next 3 ingredients; add to sugar mixture, stirring just until blended. (Batter will be stiff.) Fold in finely chopped apples and 1 cup pecans.
6. Spoon batter evenly over apple rings in muffin pan cups, filling cups three-quarters full.
7. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
8. Remove muffins from pan, and cool, apple rings up, on a wire rack.
9. Press the handle of a wooden spoon gently into the center of each apple ring, forming a 1-inch-deep indentation in the muffins. Spoon warm Quick Caramel Frosting evenly over muffins, filling indentations.
10. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans.
11. Caramel-Apple Coffee Cakes: Omit apple rings, and prepare apple muffin batter as directed. Divide batter evenly between 2 greased and floured 8-inch round baking pans.
12. Bake at 350 for 45 to 50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
13. Remove from pans, and cool on wire racks. Spoon warm Quick Caramel Frosting evenly over coffee cakes; sprinkle evenly with remaining 1 1/2 cups pecans. Makes 16 servings. Prep: 20 min.,
14. Bake: 50 min.
15. Apple Bread: Omit apple rings, Quick Caramel Frosting, and 1 1/2 cups pecans on top. Prepare apple muffin batter as directed. Divide batter evenly between 2 greased and floured 9- x 5-inch loaf pans.
16. Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
17. Remove from pans, and cool on wire racks. Makes 2 (9-inch) loaves. Prep: 20 min.,
18. Bake: 1 hr.