Warm Strawberry Muffins

Using the same basic recipe as many of my muffins and tailoring for the season. 

I went strawberry picking earlier in the week and thought I should use up some of my haul before they got mushy. Freezing for end-of-year teacher gifts...healthy, yummy, and convenient for busy mornings!

3/4 c all purpose flour
3/4 c whole wheat flour
1/4 c oat bran
1/4 c instant oats
1/4 c wheat germ
3/4 c sugar
1 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1/2 t cinnamon
1/8 t cardamom

2/3 c applesauce
1 egg
1 c buttermilk (add 1 T lemon juice to scant cup milk, let stand 5 minutes)
1 t vanilla
1 c chopped strawberries

Mix dry ingredients in one bowl and wet in another.  Stir together until moistened and then add berries.  Pour into muffin tin prepared with baking spray and bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes.  Let cool five minutes and then remove from pan to finish cooling on wire rack.

Molasses Berry Oat Muffins

Did some experimenting with whatever I had on hand and YUM! Created my own new recipe. Molasses is a great source of iron and is a wonderful alternative to processed sugar.  This muffin packs a punch in terms of nutritious whole grains, too.

3/4 c whole wheat flour
3/4 c all purpose flour
1/2 c quick cooking oats
1/4 c wheat germ
1-2 T ground flax
1 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1/4 salt
1/3 c brown sugar
1/4 c molasses (I used robust, hence the chocolately appearance of the muffins)
2/3 c applesauce
1 egg
1 c buttermilk (scant c milk plus 1 T lemon juice, let stand five minutes)
1 t vanilla
1/2-2/3 c berries (mine were frozen)

Blend dry ingredients in one bowl and wet in another.  Stir together until moistened and then add berries.  Pour into muffin tin prepared with baking spray and bake at 350 for 17-18 minutes.  Let cool five minutes and then remove to finish cooling on wire rack.  Enjoy!

Cranberry Oat Muffins

Neighbor brought over a bag of fresh cranberries...what to do, what to do?  Well, most went into the freezer for another yummy day but a cupful went into this week's breakfast muffins.

3/4 c all purpose flour
3/4 c whole wheat flour
1/2 c quick cooking oats
1/4 c wheat germ (can omit, or use a couple T flaxseed if you like)
1/2 c sugar
1/4 c brown sugar (added in the end b/c I feared the cranberries would be too tart; might not need)
1 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1/2 t cinnamon
1/8 t ground cloves
2/3 c applesauce
1 egg
1 c buttermilk
1 c fresh cranberries, larger ones halved

Mix dry ingredients in one bowl, wet in another.  Gently blend; add cranberries.  Pour into muffin tin prepared with nonstick spray.  Bake about 20 minutes at 350.  Let cool 5-10 minutes, then remove muffins and finish cooling on wire rack.  Makes 14.

Dean's Favorite Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

I make several batches of these every fall, and they are my son Dean's absolute favorite.  I started with a traditional pumpkin bread recipe, eliminated the oil, subbed in some whole grains, and added chocolate...what more could you need?

1/2-3/4 c sugar...if you are trying to use less, you can get away with it if adding mix-ins or a topping
1/2 c applesauce
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
3/4 heaping cup all purpose flour
3/4 heaping cup whole wheat flour
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t nutmeg
1/2 t cinnamon
1 t pumpkin pie spice
1/2 c water
1 c canned pumpkin
1/2 chocolate chips

Mix dry ingredients in one bowl.  Blend applesauce, eggs and vanilla (plus agave, if using) in a second bowl.  Add dry mixture to wet, alternating with water.  Mix in pumpkin. Stir in chocolate chips.

Pour into muffin tin prepared with nonstick spray.  Bake about 20 minutes at 350.  Let cool 5-10 minutes, then remove muffins and finish cooling on wire rack.

My daughter is having a couple of girlfriends over for a Halloween playdate.  As part of the themed brunch, I am making these without chocolate chips in the batter...instead will melt them and create a spider web pattern on top!  If they turn out well I will post a photo.

Sunday, 10/30: Not bad! Although they would be cuter with a little plastic spider if I had some...