Cinnamon Raisin Streusal Muffins {+ 5 Other Varieties}

This past weekend was spent in my hometown where the final girl in my "group" got married.  She's been waiting 10 years for this, so it was ultra special.  I failed to bring out my camera at all, except for this one shot.

A great one, don't you think?

You know, I have a history of these "bite" shots.  You can view another one here.  But this time it was a caramel apple!  All homemade by the bride herself, given away as wedding favors.  So good.

Yes, I did take the plastic wrapper off the next day to actually eat it.

Along with the wedding, we spent time with Grandma and Grandpa, and that always means cooking or baking.  The kids hopped up on the stools by the kitchen counter and got to work.  Messy?  Yes.  Cute?  Yes.  Either way, they love it.

We dove into these muffins, with some recipe help from Parade magazine.  They had a great article on a base muffin recipe, that can be changed up various ways into completely different muffin flavors.

Talk about yummy!  Spread on a little butter...and, well...consider yourself spent. 

Done. 

Finished. 

Ready to throw out all other muffin recipes.

I'm serious.

Cinnamon Raisin Streusal Muffins
{Print this Recipe!}
2 c. flour
1 T. baking powder
1/4 c. sugar
3/4 t. salt
2 eggs
1 c. milk
1/2 c. canola oil
1 1/2 t. vanilla
1 c. raisins

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Coat a 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray or line with muffin liners.

In a medium bowl combine all dry ingredients.  In another medium bowl, combine all wet ingredients, then beat with a mixer on medium for 1 minute.  Add wet to dry, making sure not to over mix.  Spoon batter 3/4 cup full into muffin tin.

For streusel topping: In a small bowl combine 1/4 c. flour, 1/4 c. brown sugar, 1/2 t. cinnamon and 2 T. cold, unsalted butter.  Cut with a fork until crumbly.  Sprinkle this mixture onto the muffins.  Bake for 18-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Allow to cool.

Other Variations: Banana Chocolate Chip {stir in 1 mashed banana and 1/2 c. chocolate chips}, Apple Pie {mix in 1 t. cinnamon, 1/2 t. nutmeg and 1 c. chopped apple}, Oatmeal Raisin {stir in 1 c. raisins and sprinkle muffin tops with rolled oats}, Lemon Poppy Seed {substitute 1 t. lemon extract for vanilla and add in 2 T. poppy seeds to batter} and Cinnamon Sugar {sprinkle muffin tops with a mixture of 3 T. sugar and 1 t. cinnamon before baking}.