The warm flavors of apples and cinnamon come together in these quick and easy muffins. Using applesauce as a sweetener and replacement for some of the oil typically found in baked goods keeps the muffins moist but lower in sugar, fat and calories. Oats and whole-wheat flour add fiber.
There couldn’t be a better time of the year to add muffins to a healthy breakfast routine. Everyone is back to their fall routine and the fresh apples are plentiful at local stores. Take a few minutes to look at how you are starting off your day. Are you rushing around and skipping breakfast or do you have a sense of calmness? Are you consuming a well-balanced breakfast to provide your body with the energy and nutrition it needs to get the day moving in the right direction? Now’s a perfect time to think about the many ways you can add healthy foods like these Cinnamon Applesauce Muffins to your morning meal to obtain several benefits.
An Apple A Day
As the saying goes, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” What about applesauce? Applesauce, in its simplest form, is cooked apples. As such, it has many of the same incredible nutrients that fresh whole apples have. Check out these amazing apple health facts.
- Apples are rich in fiber. A single medium-sized apple contains about 4.5 grams of fiber, about 17 percent of the recommended daily intake. The fiber in apples may also help improve satiety and cause weight loss, while lowering blood sugar levels and improving the function of the digestive system.
- Apples contain about five percent of the daily value of Vitamin C, an essential dietary nutrient that has many important functions in the body including growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body.
- Potassium is the main mineral in apples. High intake of potassium may have beneficial effects for heart health and blood pressure control.
- Apple peels are packed with polyphenols. These antioxidants prevent cellular damage from harmful molecules called free radicals.
While there are many ways to make homemade applesauce, store-bought, unsweetened applesauce is the perfect shortcut when it comes to using it in recipes like muffins, quick breads, sauces, or even an in individual cup for your child’s lunchbox.
Get inspired with one of these fun, healthy fall recipes.
Cinnamon Applesauce Muffins
Yield: 12 servings
Download a printable pdf of this recipe
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray
1 cup old-fashioned oats
½ cup fat-free milk
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 Tablespoons canola oil
½ cup whole wheat flour
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
Directions
Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray. In a arge bowl, combine oats and milk. In a separate bowl, combine applesauce, egg, vanilla, and canola oil. Stir in oat mixture slowly. Add flours, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Stir until just combined. Divide mixture evenly among muffin cups.
Bake until muffins are cooked through, about 12-14 minutes.
Nutrition Information Per Serving: 135 calories; 3 grams fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 15 mg cholesterol;160 mg sodium; 24 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams fiber; 3 grams protein
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