1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Make sure to line 14 muffin cups with paper liners or generously grease them. This ensures easy removal once your muffins are baked to perfection. Set your muffin pan aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the Gold Medal all-purpose flour, salt, baking powder, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and ground allspice. This will create a dry mix packed with flavor. Ensure every ingredient is evenly distributed for consistent flavor throughout the muffins.
3. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the large egg, canola oil, buttermilk, vanilla extract, and almond extract. This mixture adds moisture and flavor to the muffins. Pour this over the dry ingredients and mix gently with a spatula until just combined. Be cautious not to overmix, as this will keep your muffins tender. Gently fold in the diced peeled peaches until evenly distributed.
4. Now, let's create the almond streusel topping! In a small mixing bowl, combine the Gold Medal all-purpose flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cold unsalted butter. Using your hands, mix these ingredients together until you achieve a crumbly consistency. It’s okay to have some pea-sized chunks of butter; they contribute to the muffin's texture. Add in the sliced almonds and toss to combine.
5. Evenly pour the muffin batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each one about two-thirds full. This gives them room to rise while baking. Next, sprinkle the almond streusel topping generously over the muffin batter, ensuring each muffin gets a fair share of the crunchy goodness.
6. Place the muffin pan in the preheated oven and bake for 18 to 20 minutes. You'll know they’re ready when a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. The tops will be golden and slightly springy to the touch. Remove the muffins from the oven and allow them to cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
7. Let the muffins cool to room temperature before serving. They are delightful warm but taste just as good on the second day, making them perfect for breakfast or a snack throughout the week!
