Description
Hearty cinnamon applesauce muffins blend sweet and spicy notes in a comforting morning treat. Warm spices and tender crumb create a delightful breakfast companion you’ll crave with morning coffee.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (240 ml/8 fl oz) unsweetened applesauce
- ½ cup (113 g/4 oz) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ¾ cups (220 g/7.8 oz) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (100 g/3.5 oz) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (50 g/1.8 oz) light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
- 2 tbsps granulated sugar (for topping)
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon (for topping)
- 2 tbsps melted butter (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat Setup: Configure oven to 375F (190C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease lightly.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large mixing bowl until uniformly combined.
- Wet Ingredient Harmonization: Blend melted butter with granulated and brown sugars until smooth, then introduce eggs, applesauce, and vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly until completely integrated.
- Batter Integration: Gently fold liquid mixture into dry ingredients, stirring minimally to maintain a tender muffin consistency, ensuring ingredients are just incorporated without aggressive mixing.
- Baking Preparation: Evenly distribute batter across muffin cups, filling each approximately two-thirds full to facilitate proper rising during the baking process.
- Baking Transformation: Place muffin tin in preheated oven and bake for 18-22 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick that emerges clean from the muffin center.
- Cooling and Finishing: Rest muffins in tin for five minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling; optionally, brush warm muffins with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture for enhanced flavor profile.
Notes
- Prevent Overmixing: Stir batter gently and minimally to keep muffins tender, as aggressive mixing develops gluten and creates tough, dense textures.
- Ingredient Temperature Matters: Use room temperature eggs and applesauce for smoother batter integration and more consistent rising during baking.
- Check Baking Precision: Oven temperatures can vary, so use a toothpick test and watch muffins closely to avoid overbaking, which leads to dry results.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap all-purpose flour with gluten-free blend, use alternative sweeteners like maple syrup, or replace eggs with mashed banana for adaptable options.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 176
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 37 mg