More Muffin Love- Whole Wheat Applesauce Oatmeal Cranberry Dark Chocolate Muffins

... now that's a mouthful! The title... and this delicious picture!

I needed to use some applesauce, and I love to bake, so what better idea then...
Whole Wheat Applesauce Oatmeal Cranberry Dark Chocolate Muffins. I adapted it from the recipe below.

Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins

(adapted from http://lowfatcooking.about.com/od/muffins/r/appsaucemuffins.htm)

Ingredients:

•1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour

•1 1/4 cups oats

•1 tsp baking powder

•1/2 tsp baking soda

•1/4 tsp salt

•1/2 tsp cinnamon

•1 cup unsweetened applesauce

•1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk

•1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

•2 tbsp canola oil

•1 large egg, lightly beaten

•1/2 cup raisins (so instead, I used some dark chocolate and cranberries)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper cases or spray with nonstick cooking spray. 

In a large bowl combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In a medium bowl combine applesauce, buttermilk, sugar, oil and egg. Make a well in dry ingredients and add applesauce mixture. Stir until just moist. Fold in raisins. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. 

Bake for 16-18 minutes.

Per muffin: Calories 208, Calories from Fat 37, Total Fat 4.1g (sat 0.6g), Cholesterol 18mg, Sodium 123mg, Carbohydrate 37.4g, Fiber 3.8g, Protein 5.4g

A 1/2 cup of dried cranberries.

A half cup of dark chocolate chips.

And there you have it! Delicious muffins for the whole family.

Fall time means Applesauce bread!

So check out my new Fall discovery- Applesauce bread. Thanks to my dear friend Janice who mentioned this was her favourite 'bread' to make in the fall. I did some research and found a lower calorie/fat/sugar bread and tested it out.... and it's a Winner!

Tasty & Healthy Applesauce Bread

Adapted from Food.com

 Serves: 12, Yield: 12 slices

Ingredients

        1 egg

        1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce

        2 tablespoons vegetable oil

        1/2 cup brown sugar ( firmly packed)

        2 cup whole wheat flour

        2 teaspoons baking powder

        1/2 teaspoon baking soda

        1 teaspoon salt

        1 teaspoon cinnamon

        1/4 cup raisins

        1/4 cup walnut pieces (or pecans)

Directions:

    Preheat oven to 350°F Grease a loaf pan.

    Mix beaten egg with applesauce, oil, sugar, cinnamon and salt, and combine thoroughly.

    Stir in flour, baking soda and baking powder; mix well.

    Stir in raisins and walnut pieces.

    Pour into well-greased loaf pan and bake at 350° for 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean.

    Let it rest in pan for 10 min., then turn out and allow to cool on rack.

Per serving: Calories 169.8, Total Fat 4.5g, Sugars 10.5 g, Total Carbohydrate 30.2g, Dietary Fiber 2.1g, Protein 3.4g

OH, BUT WAIT....
I couldn't just follow the recipe, I doubled the recipe and...

For one bread I  used currants, shredded coconut and walnuts...

... and for another bread I used chopped pecans, dried cranberries and dark chocolate chips.

... and then, when all was said and done... I enjoyed a small slice with my Mickey Mouse Coffee!