Healthy Applesauce Oat Muffins

• servings: 12 servings
• active time: 15 minutes
• total time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (see note)

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 cup milk

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup butter or coconut oil (melted)

1/3 cup granulated sugar or honey

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins (optional)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners or grease the muffin cups. Set aside..

In a medium bowl, stir together the oatmeal, applesauce, milk, egg, vanilla, butter and sugar. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt (and cranberries or raisins if using). Make a well in the center and pour in the applesauce mixture. Stir until just combined (don't overmix or the muffins will be dense and dry). The muffin batter texture might be a bit different (wetter?) than other muffin batters but no fear, carry on!

Distribute the batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups. Bake for 15-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Don't overbake or the muffins will be dry.

Remove the muffins to a rack to cool completely. Once cool, I place 6-9 muffins in a large freezer ziploc bag, suck all the air out (oh yes I do) and seal the bag, then freeze, pulling them out one by one to stick in my kids lunches or warm slightly for a snack.

Notes

Add 1/8 tsp nutmeg

If using sweetened applesauce reduce sugar to 61 g

Warm milk and butter together and pour over oats & let sit while mixing dry ingredients before adding other ingredients in step 2.

If time available, refrigerate batter several hours for taller muffins.

Sprinkle tops with Turbino sugar & cinnamon before baking.

Cook muffins at 400 for 5 min, then reduce to 350 for less time-for taller muffins?

For gf: 100 g oat flour, 1/4 tsp xanthan gum

This recipe doubles well and freezes well.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 muffin
• Calories: 131 kcal
• Total Fat: 6 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 14 mg
• Sodium: 140 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 19 g
• Dietary Fiber: 2 g
• Total Sugars: 8 g
• Protein: 3 g