There are hardly any muffin recipes on the site which is a shame as they are so quick and easy to make. I would not go as far to call them healthy as they can be loaded with sugar but these Apple and Olive Oil Muffins are quite light on the sugar and have some good for the heart extra virgin olive oil added in the mix.
I have added vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg to the batter, all spices that pair so well with apple. Also some orange zest for citrus notes. There seem to be a supply of oranges right through the year these days but you could replace the orange with lemon if you can’t find oranges. The walnut topping adds much needed texture to the muffins and also add to the visual appeal. The addition of the buttermilk and olive oil ensures a moist and tender crumb. All in all pretty delicious.
We have only 2 spots left for our first Food Photography Workshop of 2017 that will take place on the 5th of February 2017. All the details can be found here. Do let me know if you would like to join us on this creative and fun day at the most beautiful location in Langebaan. It really is a fantastic opportunity to get more acquainted with your camera and practise your food photography skills without having to worry about cleaning up any mess!
**GIVEAWAY** Two subscribers will each receive a bottle of Baleia Extra Virgin Olive Oil. All you need to do is make sure you are a subscriber to the blog (the option to subscribe is to the right of this recipe) and tell me when the first Baleia Extra Virgin Olive Oil was pressed and bottled by leaving a comment below before the 3rd of February 2017.
*The giveaway is only open to readers based in South Africa*

Apple and Olive Oil Muffin and an Olive Oil Giveaway
Ingredients
- 325 ml buttermilk
- 1 egg
- 75 ml Baleia Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 50 g soft brown sugar more for sprinkling
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- zest of half an orange
- 225 g brown bread flour
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- 1½ tsp bicarb of soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 medium apples coarsely grated and sprinkled with lemon juice to avoid discolouring
- 35 g walnuts roughly chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C and spray or grease a 12 cavity (at least 60ml volume each) muffin pan tray and set aside
- Whisk the buttermilk, egg, oil, brown sugar, vanilla, and zest together
- In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, bicarb, spices and salt together
- Add the apple to the dry ingredients and mix gently
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix gently until just combined.
- Divide the batter equally between all the muffin cavities
- Sprinkle the walnuts on top of the batter and sprinkle with some more sugar
- Bake for about 25 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean
- Leave the muffins to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning them out
- Eat on the same day
This recipe first appeared in the Sunday Times Food Weekly.
Click here for more baking with olive oil recipes.
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** Disclaimer: Olive oil sponsored by Baleia Extra Virgin Olive Oil
I am proud to be associated with Baleia Extra Virgin Olive Oil and use it whenever a recipe requires Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The South African cold press extra virgin Olive Oil is produced in the Riversdale area, has a whiff of fresh cut grass and aromas of green tomatoes, almonds artichokes and green apples.
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Linda aRay
Jan 30, 2017
Baleia Extra Virgin Olive Oil was first bottled in 2012
Celeste Glöss
Jan 30, 2017
2012
Elmari Swart
Jan 30, 2017
first Baleia olive oil was pressed and bottled in 2012. I’ve read about them so many times on your blog, would LOVE to try this out.
rozanne
Jan 30, 2017
2012
heather (delicious not gorgeous)
Jan 30, 2017
these sound amazing! i definitely don’t bake with olive oil enough, but i love how tender and fruity the goods turn out. and i’ve never heard of brown bread flour before, but it sounds like such a nice and hearty mix (:
mandaoverturf
Jan 30, 2017
2012
Michele Cupp
Jan 31, 2017
It was first pressed and bottled in 2012. Thank you!
kt3us
Feb 1, 2017
It was first pressed and bottled in 2012. Kelly Tupick
Winsome Mortimer
Feb 1, 2017
Baleia Olive Oil was first pressed and bottled in 2012.