Caramel Apple Muffins

Ingredients:

Cinnamon Topping (Recipe Below)

• 1 (8-oz.) container sour cream 
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs 
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups peeled and diced Granny Smith apples
• 1 (14-oz.) package caramels
• 3 tablespoons whipping cream
• 1 cup chopped lightly salted, roasted pecans
• Wax paper
• Food-safe twigs or craft sticks
• 
  
• Directions:
• 1. 1. Preheat oven to 375°. Prepare Cinnamon Topping as directed.
• 1. 2. Beat sour cream and next 3 ingredients at low speed with an electric mixer 30 seconds or until blended.
• 1. 3. Stir together flour and next 3 ingredients. Add to sour cream mixture, beating at low speed just until
• 1. blended. (Do not overmix.) Stir in diced apples. Spoon into a lightly greased 12-cup muffin pan, filling three-fourths full; sprinkle with Cinnamon Topping.
• 1. 4. Bake at 375° for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown and a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Immediately remove from pans to wire racks; cool completely (about 30 minutes).
• 1. 5. Microwave caramels and cream in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals. Let mixture stand, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until thick enough to coat muffins.
• 1. 6. Quickly dip bottom three-fourths of each muffin into caramel mixture; roll bottom half of caramel-coated portion of muffin in chopped pecans, and place muffins, caramel sides up, on lightly greased wax paper. (If caramel mixture begins to harden before you've dipped all the muffins, microwave mixture a few seconds to soften.) Insert food-safe twigs or craft sticks into caramel-covered portions of muffins.
• 
  
• Tips & Tricks:  These are prettiest the day they are made­. After standing overnight, the caramel melts into the muffins. (They're still delicious!) 

Cinnamon Topping

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
• 
  
• Directions:
• Stir together brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse meal.