Applesauce Muffins

I had some unsweetened applesauce I wanted to use, so I searched Pinterest for a muffin recipe with applesauce.  I found a delicious sounding recipe from Lil Luna.

I made a few changes to make it just a little healthier.  I know buttery muffins topped with cinnamon sugar are not the best breakfast choice, but the small changes might help a little.  I also doubled the recipe.

Makes 2 dozen.

1/4 cup softened butter
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 kids cup or 1/2 cup applesauce (I used unsweetened.)
1 cup flour (I used white-whole wheat flour.)
1/4 t salt
1/2 T baking powder
Optional:  I added a splash of vanilla and dash of cinnamon.

Preheat oven to 350F.  Spray mini muffin pan with Pam.  Cream butter and sugar.  Add egg and applesauce.  Add dry ingredients.  Bake for 11-13 minutes.

After baking, dip in melted butter and cinnamon sugar.  (1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 t cinnamon)

Baked Pumpkin Spice Donuts

These little morsels of pumpkin yumminess are sooo good!  The recipe is from Craving Chronicles, via Christine on Pinterest.  And it looks like they were also inspired by the Pioneer Woman via Tasty Kitchen.  Needless to say, you just can't go wrong with these pumpkin muffins.  They could be a sweet breakfast, a scrumptious snack or a small dessert.  That is if you can just eat one!

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup canned plain pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
1/2 cup low-fat milk

For Coating
1 stick of unsalted butter, melted
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray a 24-mini-muffin tin with Pam.  

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and spices (through cloves). In a separate, large bowl whisk together oil, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, pumpkin and milk until smooth. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until just combined – do not over mix!

Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. (Using a 2-tablespoon scoop will ensure uniform size.) Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

While the muffins bake, melt butter in one bowl and combine granulated sugar and cinnamon in another bowl. Remove muffins from oven and cool for 2 minutes, or until just cool enough to handle. Dip each muffin in melted butter, then roll in cinnamon sugar to coat.