Apple Cinnamon Muffins May 25, 2008

In my quest for a yummy healthy apple coffee cake, this is my first attempt.  It is based on a coffee cake recipe, but they really are not quite coffee cake texture.  I think they came out well anyway, though.  

Whole Grain Apple Muffins

Batter:
1 1/4 cups oat flour (or finely ground oats)
1 1/4 cups spelt flour or whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup canola oil
1/3 cup + 1/6 cup agave nectar
2 eggs
1/2 cup plain unsweetened yogurt
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp vanilla

1 cup chopped apple pieces
optional: 1/2 cup walnuts

Topping:
1 cup oats
1/3 cup agave nectar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp canola oil
optional: walnut halves for garnish

Mix together the dry batter ingredients in one bowl, and the wet batter ingredients in another bowl.  Add the wet to the dry and mix together.  Fold in chopped apple and walnuts, if using.  Mix together topping.  Pour into muffin tins and put some topping on each muffin.  Add walnut halves to each muffin if you like. 

Bake at 325 for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. 

My husband’s opinion of these muffins is “mmmmmmmm”.  I particularly like the chopped apple, because it’s a bit less common to find in a muffin, but so tasty!

Adapted from King Arthur Flour Whole Grain Baking.

Recommended Reading May 22, 2008

I’m currently working on an apple coffee cake recipe inspired by S for KC and my fabulous blueberry cake recipe.  I will be able to get to that over Memorial Day weekend and hopefully have a lot of baking success to share soon

Here are some great books that I have found very helpful while trying to be healthier.

The pH Miracle
This is the book that first got me thinking about being healthier.  It talks about having an alkaline body pH, and how to do so.  That means more vegetables and alkenalizing grains, and less meat and dairy.  It is similar to the type A plan in according to the blood type diet, discussed in the Eat Right For Your Type books.

 

 

Live Right For Your Type 
A different diet plan for each blood type.  I find it frighteningly accurate for me. 

 

 

Ultrametabolism: The Simple Plan For Automatic Weight Loss
Lots of great information about your health.  Dr. Hyman discusses many weight loss myths and backs up his points with science.  

 

 

 

Cookbooks:

King Arthur Flour Whole Grain Baking
Lots of information about baking with different, non-traditional flours like barley, brown rice, spelt, etc.  Not much information about baking gluten free or sugar free, but definately better than totally refined wheat recipes.  A good starting point for someone who wants to work up to eating all whole grains or looking to add more nutrition to their treats.

 

The “I Can’t Believe This Has No Sugar” Cookbook
A cookbook of fruit-sweetened desserts.  Some use date sugar, which is expensive and a bit hard to find, but I did have some luck with it.  I have been quite pleased by the recipes in this book. 

 
 

Sweet And Sugarfree: An All-Natural Fruit-Sweetened Dessert Cookbook
Another cookbook with fruit-sweetened desserts. 

 

 

 

 Baking With Agave Nectar: Over 100 Recipes Using Nature’s Ultimate Sweetener
My favorite cookbook. 

 

 

 
Have anything to add?  Let me know!