These pumpkin applesauce muffins with real chunks of apples and walnuts are so light and fluffy, your family will have no idea they’re actually good for you!
Apples are a big deal here in Michigan. In fact, my house is within just a few miles of countless apple farms. Sweet, tart, sour, crisp, juicy – you name it, we eat it. These little gems started popping up at my farmer’s market in early August, and each week brings more varieties as the season progresses. I couldn’t help but mix the delicious apple with another fall favorite: pumpkin! I don’t do much baking, but these Healthy Pumpkin Applesauce Muffins are the perfect grab-n-go breakfast or afternoon snack- and are kid approved!
Ingredients
- Whole wheat pastry flour: The whole grains add fiber and additional nutrients that you wouldn’t get from using white flour.
- Flax seed: Finely ground, it doesn’t do much to the taste or texture, but adds omega 3 fatty acids and other nutrients.
- Brown sugar: Sweetens the muffins.
- Warm spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves give these muffins a warm, almost pie like taste.
- Baking soda and baking powder: Helps the muffins to rise.
- Salt: Balances and enhances the other flavors.
- Eggs: Acts as the binding agent to the muffins.
- Pure pumpkin: Adds that delicious pumpkin flavor, as well as adds moisture, and vitamins to the muffins.
- Yogurt: The acidity in yogurt reacts well with the baking soda to help with the leavening.
- Applesauce: Adds moisture, sweetness, and also helps to bind the muffins.
- Coconut oil: Adds moisture, and is a bit healthier option than using vegetable oil.
- Apple: They bake in the muffins to be soft, sweet, almost caramelized clumps of goodness.
- Walnuts: Adds protein, and a wonderful, crunchy, textural element to the muffins.
How to Make
Step 1. Mix all of your dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and set aside.
Step 2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients until fully combined.
Step 3. Then slowly stir the wet ingredients into the dry until completely mixed.
Step 4. Once the batter is mixed, slowly fold in the chopped apples and walnuts.
Step 5. In a prepared muffin tine (with or without liners), evenly distribute your batter.
Step 6. Take your remaining mixture of brown sugar and walnuts and sprinkle on top of each muffin. Then toss in the oven at 375 for about 25 minutes.
Once finished baking, let cool a couple minutes in the muffin tin before removing and then let them finish cooling on a cooling rack. Serve warm, topped with butter, and enjoy your Pumpkin Applesauce Muffins!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the same as pumpkin puree?
What can I use instead of applesauce in baking?
How do I store baked muffins?
More Pumpkin Goodies
- Healthy Pumpkin Bread
- Fluffy Pumpkin Pancakes
- Pumpkin Pie Protein Smoothie
- Pumpkin Banana Oatmeal
- Pumpkin Spice Latte
Eat It, Like It, Share It!
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These tender and moist pumpkin applesauce muffins are the perfect healthy breakfast to grab on your way out the door. They’re sweet and kid-approved, too, so you can feel good about your kids asking for seconds!
No fork required.
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Healthy Pumpkin Applesauce Muffins?
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Healthy Pumpkin Applesauce Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups whole wheat pastry flour
- ½ cup ground flax seed
- ½ cup brown sugar + 2 tablespoons
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup pure pumpkin
- ½ cup plain low fat yogurt
- ½ cup applesauce (unsweetened)
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil (melted)
- 1 cup chopped apple
- ½ cup Chopped Walnuts (divided)
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees and line a muffin pan with baking cups.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients: flour through baking soda. *Use only 1/2 cup of the brown sugar.*1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour, 1/2 cup ground flax seed, 1/2 cup brown sugar + 2 tablespoons, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- In a large bowl, whisk together wet ingredients: eggs through melted coconut oil.2 eggs, 1 cup pure pumpkin, 1/2 cup plain low fat yogurt, 1/2 cup applesauce, 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until fully incorporated.
- Scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula then stir in chopped apples and all but two tablespoons of chopped walnuts.1 cup chopped apple, 1/2 cup Chopped Walnuts
- Using a large cookie scoop, divide the batter evenly between the 12 muffin cups.
- In a small bowl, combine remaining 2 tablespoons walnuts and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and carefully sprinkle the top of each muffin with the mixture before placing pan in the oven.1/2 cup brown sugar + 2 tablespoons, 1/2 cup Chopped Walnuts
- Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool 2 minutes in the pan then remove and continue cooling on a baking rack.
Last Step:
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