Apple Muffins

A friend made these muffins and I just had to ask her for the recipe.  They are packed with apples, and with a little cinnamon and sugar crunch, it's hard not to like them.  I put toasted pecans in a couple of the muffins, and they are great with nuts too.

Apple Muffins
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 cups flour (I used 1 cup whole wheat, 2 cups all-purpose)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 cups peeled, cored, diced apples (about 3 apples)
1 cup toasted pecans, chopped (optional)
Brown sugar and cinnamon for topping

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line muffin pan with paper liners.

2. Stir together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.  In a large bowl, mix together sugar, eggs, oil, applesauce and vanilla.  Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until just combined.  The batter will be very thick.  Stir in the diced apples and pecans, if using.

3. Fill muffin liners about 3/4 full.  Sprinkle tops of muffins with brown sugar and a dash of cinnamon, to taste.

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-24 minutes.  Makes 20 muffins.

Source: adapted from www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com