Pin It A playful, sweet-and-savory treat featuring tender muffin cubes, crisp apple, sharp cheddar, and luscious caramel drizzle, perfect for parties or brunch.
The first time I made these muffins-on-a-stick for brunch, my guests loved picking up their own skewers and drizzling the caramel. It’s become a go-to for gatherings where I want something playful and tasty.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour: 1 1/2 cups
- Granulated sugar: 1/2 cup
- Baking powder: 1 1/2 tsp
- Salt: 1/4 tsp
- Ground cinnamon: 1/2 tsp
- Whole milk: 1/2 cup
- Unsalted butter (melted): 1/3 cup
- Large egg: 1
- Vanilla extract: 1 tsp
- Tart apples (e.g., Granny Smith): 2 medium, cored and cut into 1-inch cubes
- Sharp cheddar cheese: 6 oz, cut into 1-inch cubes
- Soft caramels: 1 cup (about 20 pieces)
- Heavy cream: 2 tbsp
- Wooden skewers: 12
Instructions
- Prepare the oven:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin tin with 12 liners or grease well.
- Mix dry ingredients:
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
- Mix wet ingredients:
- In another bowl, whisk milk, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract.
- Combine batter:
- Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix just until combined. Do not overmix.
- Bake muffins:
- Divide batter among muffin cups and bake 15 to 18 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
- Cube muffins:
- Once cooled, cut each muffin into quarters to form bite-sized cubes.
- Assemble skewers:
- Thread a muffin cube, apple cube, and cheddar cube onto each skewer. Repeat to fill the skewer (about 2 of each per skewer).
- Make caramel drizzle:
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine caramels and heavy cream. Microwave in 20-second bursts, stirring until smooth and pourable.
- Finish & serve:
- Drizzle caramel over assembled skewers. Serve immediately.
Pin It This recipe gets everyone involved—kids love threading the skewers and drizzling caramel. It turned into a new family tradition at fall gatherings!
Required Tools
Muffin tin, mixing bowls, whisk, knife and cutting board, wooden skewers, microwave-safe bowl
Allergen Information
Contains wheat (gluten), dairy, eggs. May contain tree nuts if using nut toppings. Always check product labels for hidden allergens.
Nutritional Information (per skewer)
Calories: 220. Total Fat: 9 g. Carbohydrates: 31 g. Protein: 5 g.
Pin It Take these straight to the table while caramel is warm for the best flavor. Everyone will love biting into their own sweet-and-savory skewer!
Recipe FAQs
- → What type of apples work best?
Tart varieties like Granny Smith build contrast, while sweet apples such as Honeycrisp offer milder flavor.
- → Can I make these ahead?
Skewers taste best served fresh, though components like muffins can be made ahead and assembled just before serving.
- → Are there faster substitutions?
Store-bought mini muffins speed up prep. Pre-sliced apples and cheddar cubes also reduce effort.
- → How do I melt caramel for drizzling?
Soften caramels with a little heavy cream in short microwave bursts, stirring until smooth and pourable.
- → Can I add crunchy toppings?
Chopped pecans sprinkled before drizzling caramel add a nutty, crunchy twist to the finished skewers.
- → Is there a way to make these dairy-free?
Swap regular butter for plant-based options and select dairy-free cheese for modified skewers.