Homemade

Apple Streusel Sourdough Muffins

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These muffins are my new favourite. So moist, and that topping–I mean you can’t go wrong with butter and brown sugar crumble, right?!

I have a habit of buying rather a lot of apples, and then not using them up as quickly as I buy them (who doesn’t love a good sale on fruit in the middle of winter?!). So every few weeks I find myself with limited space in our fridge and have to do some creative cooking or baking so that I don’t waste anything as I “make room”.

This recipe used up 4 of my apple stash to make 24 delicious muffins!

And sourdough discard? The consistency of sourdough starter to muffin batter is so similar, that the amount of discard does not have to be spot on in this recipe. I like putting in a 3/4 cup, but any amount up to 1 cup of sourdough starter is just as tasty. Also, the fermented bonus of sourdough is so so good for digestion!

How to Make Apple Streusel Muffins with Sourdough Discard:

Supplies Needed:

Ingredients:

Wet Mix:

  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2-1 cup sourdough discard
  • 2 cups peeled & grated apple (about 3-4 med size apples)

Dry Mix:

Topping:

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425℉.

2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars together. Add the eggs, vanilla and sourdough discard and mix well.

3. Peel the apples and grate about 2 cups. Add to the wet mix and stir well.

4. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, sea salt and cinnamon.

5. Add to the wet mix and mix together just enough so it is all combined. Try not to overmix as this will make the muffins less fluffy.

6. Grease muffin pans or use muffin cups. (I like using our silicone muffin cups, or just greasing our muffin pans with coconut oil!)

7. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. (I use a spoon to plop it in!)

8. For the topping, mix together in a small mug or bowl: melted butter, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon.

9. In approximately 1 teaspoon amounts, spread the topping onto the muffins (it will continue to “ooze” a bit while baking).

10. Bake at 425℉ for 5 minutes, then (keeping muffins in the oven) turn the temperature down to 350℉, and bake for another 12-15 minutes (for medium sized muffins). Muffins will be firm to the touch, and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted.

11. Let muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

12. Store in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 3 days, refrigerate for 1 week, or freeze in a sealed freezer bag for up to 6 months.

Additional note: This recipe usually makes about 24 muffins. Whenever I make muffins, I usually freeze half of them and use up within a few months. Freeze in a freezer-ziploc bag, remove air. When ready to eat, thaw gently in the oven or microwave to freshen up!

Made this Recipe?

I’d LOVE to see your results!! Feel free to post to your social media account and tag Northbird using one of the links below or post in the comments!

More Desert & Snack Recipes:

Hi, I’m Jessie!

I’m a Wife and Homeschooling Mom living in a remote town in Northern Ontario, Canada. I love making wholesome meals for my family from scratch, homeschooling our girls and learning more about natural living.

Read more about my story HERE.

Other Tasty Sourdough Recipes to Check Out!

Subscribe to Northbird’s email list to get weekly posts on: tasty recipes, activity ideas for kids, natural living tips, and some genuine mom thoughts and encouragement!

Recent posts from Northbird:

Apple Streusel Sourdough Muffins

  • Servings: 24 Muffins
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Print

Soft, moist, and with a delicious butter-sugar topping, this Apple Streusel Sourdough Muffin recipe is a favourite in our home!


By Jessica Burman © 2024 The Northbird Blog http://www.thenorthbirdblog.com

Supplies Needed:

  • 2 mixing bowls
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • Measuring cups
  • Teaspoon & Tablespoon

    • Ingredients

    Wet Mix:

    • 1/2 cup melted butter
    • 1/2 cup white sugar
    • 1/2 cup brown sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
    • 1/2-1 cup sourdough discard
    • 2 cups peeled & grated apple (about 3-4 med size apples)

    Dry Mix:

    Topping:

    Directions:

    1. Preheat oven to 425℉.
    2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars together. Add the eggs, vanilla and sourdough discard and mix well.
    3. Peel the apples and grate about 2 cups. Add to the wet mix and stir well.
    4. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, sea salt and cinnamon.
    5. Add to the wet mix and mix together just enough so it is all combined. Try not to overmix as this will make the muffins less fluffy.
    6. Grease muffin pans or use muffin cups. (I like using our silicone muffin cups, or just greasing our muffin pans with coconut oil!)
    7. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. (I use a spoon to plop it in!)
    8. For the topping, mix together in a small mug or bowl: melted butter, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon.
    9. In approximately 1 teaspoon amounts, spread the topping onto the muffins (it will continue to “ooze” a bit while baking).
    10. Bake at 425℉ for 5 minutes, then (keeping muffins in the oven) turn the temperature down to 350℉, and bake for another 12-15 minutes (for medium sized muffins). Muffins will be firm to the touch, and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted.
    11. Let muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
    12. Store in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 3 days, refrigerate for 1 week, or freeze in a sealed freezer bag for up to 6 months.

    Additional Notes:

    This recipe usually makes about 24 muffins. Whenever I make muffins, I usually freeze half of them and use up within a few months. Freeze in a freezer-ziploc bag, remove air. When ready to eat, thaw gently in the oven or microwave to freshen up!

    Nutrition


    Per 1 muffin: 200 calories; 6.9 g fat; 36.9 g carbohydrates;
    2.6 g protein.

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read my full disclosure HERE.

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    DIY Natural Beard Oil Recipe for Men

    NorthbirdLeave a comment

    Find Northbird on social media:

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read my full disclosure HERE.

    Jump To Recipe Card

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    Just to clarify: I don’t have a beard, but I’ve been married to an amazing bearded man for over 9 years! And in that time I’ve made a few different beard oil recipes for him and also for a few other masculine relatives that love their beards.

    The first time I made a beard oil for my husband was when I was trying to figure out what to get him for Christmas and ended up making 5 simple gifts: each one representing one of the 5 senses. This one of course represented Scent.

    He is somewhat particular about smells, and what scents he likes for his self-care products. So, I had fun blindfolding him a few weeks prior to Christmas and holding up different essential oil bottles to get him to tell me what scents he liked. His personal favourites are Cedar and Sandalwood.

    This recipe is made with all natural ingredients and fits perfectly into a 30ml dropper bottle like THIS ONE.

    You’ll notice that the recipe below has Sandalwood Essential Oil listed, but feel free to substitute it for any scent that you/your spouse prefer.

    Masculine Essential Oils:

    I’ve noticed that many essential oils that have the label “masculine” tend to be from different tree species and have musky, forest scents. I’m sure it’s not always the case, it’s just my own observation from research, and asking the bearded men in my life. Essentially, think: Musky, Smoky, Spicy, Earthy…This seems to be the general idea (from a female’s perspective!)

    These are some of the scents that I have used, as well as a few more that I’ve read are enjoyed as beard oil scents:

    Sweet Almond Oil:

    Sweet Almond Oil: is an important oil that has been used for massaging and skin treatment for hundreds of years. It is rich in medicinal properties that help prevent inflammation, scarring, and dryness.

    Jojoba Oil:

    Jojoba Oil is another all-around essential skin oil that is a great moisturizer and cleanser. It is also known to help with treating acne, psoriasis and eczema.

    Vitamin E Oil:

    I always add a few drops of Vitamin E Oil into whatever skin care products I am making. It is highly beneficial to the skin because of its moisturizing properties, and helps to cure skin problems such as psoriasis, eczema, dryness and itchiness to name just a few!

    It is also a wonderful antioxidant and helps to keep your immune system strong.

    Why are Pure Essential Oils better to use in skincare products than Artificial Scents?

    Artificial fragrances and perfumes are everywhere: in candles, in air fresheners, hand soaps, body lotions, shampoos & conditioners, laundry products, and tons of skin care products. This is one reason why it is so important to check the labels and list of ingredients!

    Synthetic scents are usually petroleum based and these chemicals have very serious effects on the human body. Some common chemicals used include benzophenone and styrene (carcinogenic) and phthalates (endocrine disruptors). You can read more about this HERE.

    Other Commonly used Essential Oils for Self Care Products and their Medicinal Uses: (I’ve also added a few that primarily aid skin conditions)

    • Peppermint: A great resource for opening up the sinuses and relieving headaches.
    • Sandalwood: Calming and a relaxing scent.
    • Lemon: A bright and refreshing scent that helps to even out the skin tone.
    • Eucalyptus: An antiseptic, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial essential oil. Fights infection and promotes healing.
    • Sweet Orange Oil: An anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, aides in digestion, but most known to act as a mood enhancer and relaxant.
    • Carrot Seed Oil: An antioxidant, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. Primarily used to treat skin infections and inflammations.
    • Grapefruit: Treats acne and other skin infections. Mood enhancer and may also help with weight loss.

    How to Make Your Own Beard Oil

    Supplies Needed:

    Ingredients:

    Directions:

    1. Lay some paper towel down for your work station, and set the mini funnel ready in the bottle.
    2. Carefully measure out the Jojoba, Sweet Almond Oil and Vitamin E Oil and pour through the mini funnel.
    3. Add the drops of Sandalwood (or other) pure essential oil until it is as strong as you like.
    4. Screw the lid on tight and shake to mix it well.
    5. To Use: Squirt a few drops into your hands and rub into beard to encourage softness and healthier skin.

    Made This Activity?

    I’d LOVE to see your results!! Feel free to post to your social media account and tag Northbird using one of the links below or post in the comments!

    More Ideas for Natural Living:

    Hi, I’m Jessie!

    I’m a Wife and Homeschooling Mom living in a remote town in Northern Ontario, Canada. I love making wholesome meals for my family from scratch, homeschooling our girls and learning more about natural living.

    Read more about my story HERE.

    Subscribe to Northbird’s email list to get weekly posts on: tasty recipes, activity ideas for kids, natural living tips, and some genuine mom thoughts and encouragement!

    Check out on the Natural Living Page:

    Nature’s Medicine

    An on-going picture collection of various herbs, vegetables, fruits, oils, etc and highlighting some of the amazing health benefits that they have to offer us!

    Recent posts from Northbird:

    DIY Natural Beard Oil Recipe for Men

    • Servings: 1 x 30ml bottle
    • Difficulty: Easy
    • Print

    An All-Natural Beard Oil Recipe to soften bristly beards and moisturize skin.


    By Jessica Burman © 2025 The Northbird Blog. http://www.thenorthbirdblog.com


    Supplies Needed:

  • Glass storage dropper bottle, 30ml
  • Mini funnel
  • Measuring Tablespoon and teaspoon
  • Mini sticker label


    • Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon Organic Jojoba Oil
  • 1 Tablespoon Sweet Almond Oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon Vitamin E Oil
  • 10-15 drops Sandalwood Pure Essential Oil (or see other suggestions above!)


    • Directions:

    1. Lay some paper towel down for your work station, and set the mini funnel ready in the bottle.
    2. Carefully measure out the Jojoba, Sweet Almond Oil and Vitamin E Oil and pour through the mini funnel.
    3. Add the drops of Sandalwood (or other) pure essential oil until it is as strong as you like.
    4. Screw the lid on tight and shake to mix it well.
    5. To Use: Squirt a few drops into your hands and rub into beard to encourage softness and healthier skin.

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    DIY Natural Hand Soap Recipe for Healthy Skin

    NorthbirdLeave a comment

    Find Northbird on social media:

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read my full disclosure HERE.

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    Why I like making my own hand soap:

    We have been using variations of this recipe for about 8 years now, and I’ve never regretted it for a number of reasons:

    1. I’ve noticed a huge difference in the condition of the skin on my hands while using this gentle hand soap, in comparison to using a store-bought hand soap. My hands are more smooth, and less prone to drying out.
    2. I know EXACTLY what is in the ingredients and what I am allowing my skin to absorb.
    3. This costs a fraction of the amount for store-bought hand soap pumps.
    4. I can choose which pure essential oil scent each batch will have!

    I would like to give credit to my sister-in-law K and my mother S, for sharing their homemade hand soap recipes with me several years ago, and being the inspiration to create this simple recipe that keeps our hands fresh and clean!

    What to know about Castile Soap:

    Castile soap is an amazing natural and non-toxic product made from combining plant-based oils and an alkali. It is also biodegradable and contains no synthetic or chemicals that are tough on the environment.

    It is named after the Castile region in Spain, where castile soap bars have been made for centuries and are treasured for their quality and gentleness on skin.

    Typical ingredients include: olive oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, sunflower seed oil, hemp, and alkalis such as: sodium or potassium hydroxide if it is a liquid soap, or sodium hydroxide if it is a soap bar.

    I have use a few different castile liquid soaps over the years, but this one from Dr. Bronners is my favourite. They come in scented or unscented bottles per your preference.

    Vitamin E Oil Health Benefits:

    I always add a few drops of Vitamin E Oil into whatever skin care products I am making. It is highly beneficial to the skin because of its moisturizing properties, and helps to cure skin problems such as psoriasis, eczema, dryness and itchiness to name just a few!

    It is also a wonderful antioxidant and helps to keep your immune system strong.

    Why are Pure Essential Oils better to use in your home than Artificial Scents?

    Artificial fragrances and perfumes are everywhere: in candles, in air fresheners, hand soaps, body lotions, shampoos & conditioners, and in most commercial based laundry products. This is one reason why it is so important to check labels and list of ingredients!

    Synthetic scents are usually petroleum based and these chemicals have very serious effects on the human body. Some common chemicals used include benzophenone and styrene (carcinogenic) and phthalates (endocrine disruptors). You can read more about this HERE.

    I suppose that makes sense why there are so many allergies and asthmatic reactions to strong scents!

    Commonly used Essential Oils for Hand Soaps and their Medicinal Uses: (I’ve also added a few that primarily aid skin conditions)

    • Lavender: Lowers stress, anxiety, and headaches. Improves sleep quality, relaxes muscles, lowers pain. Also used to treat head lice and stimulate hair growth.
    • Peppermint: A great resource for opening up the sinuses and relieving headaches.
    • Sandalwood: Calming and a relaxing scent.
    • Lemon: A bright and refreshing scent that helps to even out the skin tone.
    • Eucalyptus: An antiseptic, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial essential oil. Fights infection and promotes healing.
    • Rosehip: Primarily used for treating eczema, acne and rashes. It has linoleic acid in it which shrinks pimples and reduces inflammation.
    • Sweet Orange Oil: An anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, aides in digestion, but most known to act as a mood enhancer and relaxant.
    • Geranium: Used to treat depression, balance hormones, improve circulation, and sleep aid to name a few.
    • Carrot Seed Oil: An antioxidant, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. Primarily used to treat skin infections and inflammations.
    • Jasmine: Used to treat depression and anxiety, aides in balancing hormones and improving energy and sleep.
    • Grapefruit: Treats acne and other skin infections. Mood enhancer and may also help with weight loss.

    Here is a short visual of how to make your own hand soap using the ingredients listed below.

    ♫ Music by Mark Mothersbaugh

    How to Make Homemade Hand Soap

    Supplies Needed:

    Ingredients:

    Directions:

    1. Mix Castile soap, water and vitamin e oil together in glass jar.
    2. Add favourite essential oil(s) until scent is as desired.
    3. Mix together well.
    4. Secure lid and prime pump. Enjoy!

    Additional Notes:

    • If the vitamin e oil separates to the top after a few hours, this is normal. Just give it a shake and continue use.

    More Ideas for Natural Living:

    Hi, I’m Jessie!

    I’m a Wife and Homeschooling Mom living in a remote town in Northern Ontario, Canada. I love making wholesome meals for my family from scratch, homeschooling our girls and learning more about natural living.

    Read more about my story HERE.

    Subscribe to Northbird’s email list to get weekly posts on: tasty recipes, activity ideas for kids, natural living tips, and some genuine mom thoughts and encouragement!

    Check out on the Natural Living Page:

    Nature’s Medicine

    An on-going picture collection of various herbs, vegetables, fruits, oils, etc and highlighting some of the amazing health benefits that they have to offer us!

    Recent posts from Northbird:

    DIY Natural Hand Soap Recipe for Healthy Skin

    • Servings: 1 x 500ml Jar
    • Difficulty: Easy
    • Print

    Gentle on skin, and made from natural ingredients, this homemade hand soap is one of my favourite household recipes!


    By Jessica Burman © 2025 The Northbird Blog. http://www.thenorthbirdblog.com


    Supplies Needed:

  • Mason glass jar, 500ml (pint)
  • Pump lid fitting mason glass jar
  • Measuring cups and teaspoon
  • Jar funnel -I love this one!
  • Stirring spoon


    • Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups Water
  • 1/2 cup Liquid Castile Soap
  • 1 teaspoon Vitamin E Oil
  • 10-15 drops Pure Essential Oil (optional, see suggestions above!)


    • Directions:

    1. Mix Castile soap, water and vitamin e oil together in glass jar.
    2. Add favourite essential oil(s) until scent is as desired.
    3. Mix together well.
    4. Secure lid and prime pump. Enjoy!

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    Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins with Sourdough Discard

    NorthbirdLeave a comment

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    Every once in a while we do a purge and inventory of our freezers, and guess what we find?! Lots and lots of frozen bananas. Sometimes when our food order arrives off the train, the bananas look less than appealing. Especially if they’ve not been packaged properly (slightly squashed) or left in a cold area (slightly frozen). I really dislike wasting food, so as long as the bananas aren’t outright rotten, I’ll usually throw them into one of the freezers to be used later in baking.

    This recipe was created from one such time, when we realized we were desperately running out of space in the fridge freezer, and also had an abundance of sourdough discard that I didn’t want to just toss out.

    The amount of sourdough discard in this recipe is flexible, based on what you have available. That’s the beauty of muffin recipes: the batter consistency is usually not too different from a sourdough discard consistency, so anywhere up to 1 cup of sourdough discard would blend into this muffin batter quite well in my opinion. I have made it several times with varying amounts of discard and they all turn out great and tasty!

    How to Make Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins (Sourdough Discard)

    Supplies Needed:

    Ingredients:

    Directions:

    1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees fahrenheit.
    2. In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg together

    3. In another bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar together. Whisk in the eggs and add vanilla.

    4. Add the mashed bananas, sourdough discard, and applesauce to the wet mixture and mix well together.

    5. Make a “well” in the flour mix, and add the wet mixture to it. Mix until fully blended together, but do not “overmix” so that the muffins stay fluffy. Fold in the chocolate chips.

    6. Grease muffin pans or use muffin cups. (I like greasing our muffin pans with coconut oil, works beautifully every time!)

    7. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full and sprinkle more chocolate chips on the tops.

    8. Bake at 425 F for 5 minutes, then turn the oven down to 350 until muffins are golden on top and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted. For large muffins this takes me about 12-15 minutes.

    9. Let muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes before moving to a cooling rack or inverting in the pan.

    10. Store in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 5 days, refrigerate for 1 week, or freeze in a sealed freezer bag for up to 6 months.

    Additional note: This recipe usually makes about 30 muffins, half of which we like to freeze and use within a few months. Freeze in a freezer-ziploc bag, remove air. Thaw overnight and pop in the oven or microwave to freshen up!

    More Desert & Snack Recipes:

    Hi, I’m Jessie!

    I’m a Wife and Homeschooling Mom living in a remote town in Northern Ontario, Canada. I love making wholesome meals for my family from scratch, homeschooling our girls and learning more about natural living.

    Read more about my story HERE.

    Other Tasty Sourdough Recipes to Check Out!

    Subscribe to Northbird’s email list to get weekly posts on: tasty recipes, activity ideas for kids, natural living tips, and some genuine mom thoughts and encouragement!

    Recent posts from Northbird:

    Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

    • Servings: 30 Muffins
    • Difficulty: Easy
    • Print

    This is a great way to use up an excess of sourdough starter/discard and also those spotty bananas (or if you are like me, a stash of frozen ones!!)


    By Jessica Burman © 2024 The Northbird Blog http://www.thenorthbirdblog.com

    Supplies Needed:

  • 2 mixing bowls
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • Measuring cups
  • Teaspoon

    • Ingredients

  • 2 + 1/4 cup of all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 6 medium bananas, mashed
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1 + 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 3/4 cup sourdough starter discard
  • 1/2 cup applesauce
  • 1 cup chocolate chips (plus more for the tops)

    • Directions:

    1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees fahrenheit.
    2. In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg together.
    3. In another bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar together. Whisk in the eggs and add vanilla.
    4. Add the mashed bananas, sourdough discard, and applesauce to the wet mixture and mix well together.
    5. Make a “well” in the flour mix, and add the wet mixture to it. Mix until fully blended together, but do not “overmix” so that the muffins stay fluffy. Fold in the chocolate chips.
    6. Grease muffin pans or use muffin cups. (I like greasing our muffin pans with coconut oil, works beautifully every time!)
    7. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full and sprinkle more chocolate chips on the tops.
    8. Bake at 425 F for 5 minutes, then turn the oven down to 350 until muffins are golden on top and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted. For large muffins this takes me about 12-15 minutes.
    9. Let muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes before moving to a cooling rack or inverting in the pan.
    10. Store in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 5 days, refrigerate for 1 week, or freeze in a sealed freezer bag for up to 6 months.

    Additional Notes:

    This recipe usually makes about 30 muffins, half of which we like to freeze and use within a few months. Freeze in a freezer-ziploc bag, remove air. Thaw overnight and pop in the oven or microwave to freshen up!

    Nutrition


    Per 1 muffin: 179 calories; 5.8 g fat; 31 g carbohydrates;
    2.6 g protein.

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read my full disclosure HERE.

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