Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Apple Bran Muffins

muffinapplebran (3)

The concept of 'you're supposed to have a few lumps in the batter' was part of the reason I was never really into muffins. Even though it's the way it should be, it just never felt right. The problem is, I tend to view cake batter as the standard of what batters should be and most of the time, that is not how muffin batter looks like... unless of course it is a cupcake in disguise.

Anyway, not only did Steph of Steph Chows inspire me to bake muffins again, but she led me into the direction of the healthy variety. And yes, healthy muffins can actually taste good! I still have this fear that I'll end up with bricks if I bake with whole wheat flour so I found a recipe from my high school food and nutrition class that uses all purpose flour and wheat bran instead. I made half the recipe (which is the version I posted) and ended up with 11 squat muffins. Now that these are a keeper, I'll make the full recipe next time.

These were delicious and reminded me of apple pie, which was perfect for breakfast!

muffinapplebran

Apple Bran Muffins
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup wheat bran
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
3 tbsp oil
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 cup of chopped apple

1. Preheat oven to 375, grease muffin tin
2. Mix flour, wheat bran, baking powder, cinnamon, salt in a bowl
3. Whisk applesauce, egg, oil, brown sugar until combined
4. Add chopped apples into wet mixture
5. Add wet mixture into dry mixture and fold until combined
6. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted the center comes out clean.
7. Let the muffins cool in the tin for 5 minutes before removing to cool on an oven rack.

23 comments:

  1. My kids would so dig these apple pie-ish muffins for breakfast!
    ~ingrid

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  2. Heh, I have a terrible time leaving lumps in things too. My pancakes are always overmixed. Those muffins look wicked good though, I love apple/spice stuff.

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  3. Steph! I'm so happy to hear from you, sweetie.

    I think blogging can be overwhelming sometimes, especially if (like me) you get caught up in the whole comment and be commented upon cycle.

    I hope you'll hang in there, because although I may not be able to visit as often, I've learned so much from you.

    Hearing you rave about 7-minute frosting, I finally gave it a go recently (and thought of you, truly!) and I LOVED it. Am kicking myself for not attempting it earlier.

    Your blog's looking lovely. And I dig the colourful sprinkles on the choc cuppies you made. I don't think I've seen these colourful balls here. Gonna keep an eye out for them.

    This is getting to be letter-long, so I'll end now.
    Have a great weekend, Steph.

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  4. Those apple chunks look so good! These sound delicious!

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  5. Apple Pie in muffin form?? Yes, please!

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  6. I feel the same way about baking muffins - the batter just freaks me out a bit. Maybe I should try again.

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  7. These look delicious! (Your photos are so petty and so appetizing! I wish mine were as nice!) I would love to try these...these days, I need a portable breakfast! I like the combination of applesauce and apples, too.

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  8. These look fantastic. And to boot - they are healthy! Love them.

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  9. love those chunks of apples, that's how to do it. I would love to have these around for those mornings I do not have time to eat, but need too.

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  10. Whoa, nice job on using the wheat bran. That really adds up the fiber and crunch in those guys :)

    I kinda already guessed you have a thing for cupcakes, but then again, what's not to like :)

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  11. You just made my day!! I'm so excited I inspired you to give healthy muffins a go!!! These sound delicious! I'll be adding them to my list of "to bake" for sure! :D

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  12. apple pie in a muffin form..ohhhh yeah!

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  13. A muffin that tastes like apple pie for breakfast, Oh I am so all over that. It looks fantastic.

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  14. I love baking muffin. Would love to taste those.

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  15. Sounds/looks like my kind of breakfast--perfect portable snack too!

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  16. Glad you're taking on muffins again - they're one of my favourite things to make and one of my favourite breakfasts.

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  17. Apple pie muffins? I'm so in! Delicious :) I have the exact same problem with the lumpy muffin-batter thing - I always over do it!

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  18. I love healthy muffins! These sound delicious.

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  19. Apple pie-like things for breakfast... I love cheating ;) I too am afraid of whole wheat flour, but mostly because I think it'll go stale and gross really quickly in my cupboard. Embrace the lumpiness!! It's the only way to go for tenderness (not for custard or icing, though, heh heh :)

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  20. Apple pie muffins! I'm so digging this! Look delicious! And I tend to overmix too, but have never noticed any bad results for it!

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  21. I am always looking for healthy muffin recipes....they are baking in the oven right now. THANKS!

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  22. Maybe that's my problem...I don't leave chunks in my batter. At least, I don't think I do.

    I really like healthy muffin recipes and I have a drawer full of apples to use up. I'm starring these.

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  23. Muffins that taste like apple pie? Awesome :)

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