As Heather mentioned earlier, a group of us attended Greater DC Care’s MLK Day Of Service a few weeks ago. We all had fun and a few of our party even got lost on the way to the project and saw celebrities (Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, and Tobey Maguire).
Whenever I organize something like a service project, I try to bring food to give it an extra special touch. It’s just a way of saying thanks and “sweetening” the deal so that they’ll be more inclined to participate in the future. For this event I brought Smitten Kitchen’s whole wheat apple muffins and King Arthur Flour’s Chocolate Muffins. Both were great, but I felt the apple was taking a back seat in the former. And thus, today’s recipe was born.
These muffins definitely get you that apple-y goodness. They’re very moist, so if that turns you off consider reducing the amount of apple sauce. Nicole from Baking Bites suggested adding 1/4, but I did not reduce to that this time.
Whole Wheat Apple Muffins with a Punch
adapted from Smitten Kitchen
1/2 unsweetened apple sauce
1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 stick butter at room temperature
1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) granulated sugar
1/4 cup dark brown sugar; packed (plus more to sprinkle)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup yogurt
3 apples; peeled, cored, and chopped
Preheat the oven to 450. Line or grease an 18 cup muffin tin and set aside.
Reduce your apple sauce in a small pan under low/medium-low heat for approximately 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.
Mix together the fours, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and set aside. Cream the sugar and butter. Add the egg and mix well, followed by gently mixing the buttermilk in (according to Smitten, the buttermilk will curdle if you over mix) along with the applesauce and yogurt. Stir in the flour mixture and fold in your chopped apples.
Divide in your muffin tin cups and sprinkle brown sugar on top, as much as you like (more = better. 1/4 cup total, perhaps?). Bake for 15 minutes and test with a toothpick. Let cool and enjoy.
I wonder could use instead use a sweetened applesauce and reduce some of the sugar in the recipe? I’m looking for a moist apple muffin that is a little more on the healthy side. Just a little though, I’m not anti sweet by any means!
Kjkessler, I’m sure you could use sweetened applesauce with no ill effect. I reduced the amount of butter from the original recipe, so there is more than enough sugar for the creaming. I’d be wary of taking away TOO much sugar, however. Start small and work your way down. If it was me, I’d probably try the original recipe using sweetened apple sauce and see how it turns out.
Please let us know how what your results are. You’ve piqued my curiousity…