Apple Spice Muffins (egg-free)

2 cups unbleached flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. nutmeg, mace or allspice
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 egg (replace with 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce)
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup grated or chopped apples

 

Preheat oven to 375°F.Grease a 12-cup muffin pan.
Sift or whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, and spices. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat the butter until light and fluffy, gradually adding the sugar; then add the egg and blend thoroughly. Add milk and vanilla to butter/egg mixture and mix well. It may look curdled, but that's OK.
Add the dry ingredients to the liquid mixture and stir (do not beat) until blended. Fold in apples.
Spoon batter into muffin pans until 2/3 full and bake for 30 minutes, or until the tops spring back when lightly touched.
Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes and remove from pan. If desired, brush muffin tops with melted butter and sprinkle a bit of sugar or cinnamon sugar over the top.