Healthiest Oat Muffins

Healthy Muffins - wood background.jpg

Makes 12-15 muffins (depending on size of muffin cups)
Cook Time: 25 minutes

INGREDIENTS
1 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup unsweetened applesauce (I made mine from scratch - see note at the bottom of the post)
1 egg
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp olive oil
1/3 cup almond flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
1/2 cup dried berries (optional; you can also use fresh berries or other dried fruit)
If you like your muffins a little sweeter, add 1 tbsp honey

STEPS

  1. Preheat oven to 375oF.
  2. In a small mixing bowl, combine all the dry ingredients (1/3 cup almond flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp salt) and mix with a spoon. Add in 1 cup of oats and mix in. 
  3. In a separate mixing bowl, combine all the wet ingredients. Start by beating the egg with a whisk. Then add 1 cup unsweetened applesauce, 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tbsp olive oil and mix all together with a whisk.
  4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix together with the whisk. Option to add in 1/2 cup of nuts and 1/2 cup of fruit. 
  5. Place in oven and let bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick or knife inserted into the middle of the muffin comes out clean. 
  6. After removing from the oven, let cool on a rack for at least 15 minutes before digging in. Store overnight in a ziplock bag or airtight container. 

Note: To make applesauce, peel 3-4 apples (I used red apples), and chop into cubes. Place in medium pot with 1/4 cup of water and let simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until apples start to get mushy. Transfer to a food processor and blend until it turns into apple sauce! You can also add cinnamon and vanilla as the apples are cooking to add some sweetness. At the end, add 2 tsp apple cider vinegar. 

Chloe Moussazadeh