As I was looking for a recipe to make in honor of Earth Day (04.22.12), I was going through all the different parts of the world and tried to find what they were the best at growing to make a dessert. It became a bit overwhelming to put all the ingredients together and make something “good” that would represent Earth Day. In between a million different bookmarks, I stopped and asked myself what does this day means to ME as a baker, and came up with the fact that I wanted to create something local and organic. In fact, Earth Day is a reminder that challenges us to make positive changes to our daily habits for a better world. When it comes to food, cooking and baking with local, sustainable and organic produces can make a difference! So out the window with my first idea and came this idea that honors my own part of the world, Canada.

When you think Canadian produce you think; oats and dairy (Prairies), apples (Ont, BC and PQ), maple syrup (PQ), berries and honey. What could I make that represent us and incorporate all those delicious produce together? Humm… Organic honey-apple muffins, with an oat & maple syrup crumble, made to share with all your friends on Earth Day!

Honey-Apple Muffins

Makes 12 delicious muffins to share or not!

• 2 cups organic whole wheat flour or
• 1 cup organic whole wheat flour and 1 cup never bleached all purpose flour
• 3/4 cup organic honey
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup organic milk
• 1/3 cup organic unsalted butter
• 2 organic eggs
• 1 cup shredded organic apples*(about 3 apples)
• 1 tsp vanilla

Maple-Oat topping

• 1/2 cup organic oats
• 1/3 cup organic whole wheat flour
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 3 tbsp cold organic butter
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

How to make it

1. Preheat oven at 375°F.
2. In a large bowl combine all dry ingredients. Reserve.
3. In a mixer, combine eggs and butter, mix well.
4. Add honey (mix for about 3 min).
5. Add vanilla.
6. Alternate by adding dry ingredient and milk.
7. Add apples, just mix until they are all incorporated in the batter. Do not over mix.
8. In a muffin tin put unbleached baking cups, add batter to about half.
9. For the topping, combine flour, oats, cinnamon and maple syrup.
10. Work in cold butter and mix until texture is crumbly (I use my hands, it’s much easier).
11. Spoon over 1 tbsp of topping over muffin mixture.
12. Bake for about 18-20 min.

*You can interchange apples for any fruit that is locally grown in your part of the world. I debated between apples and berries since we also grow beautiful ones here but couldn’t find fresh ones at this time of the year.

Serve the muffins in a recyclable egg cartons, it’s cute and good for the environment!