Cooking Done Light

These are my father’s favorite muffins. They taste just like a warm, crumb topped Dutch apple pie – only with half the calories of course!! I usually make a double batch of these muffins once a month and freeze them to take to my Dad. He grabs one on his way into work in the morning, pairs it with a large French Roast coffee, and is able to work through the morning without any energy slumps or hunger pangs! Not only are these delicious muffins low calorie, but they deliver some great health benefits as well. Apples provide us with fiber, calcium, phosphorous, vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and folate. The additional fiber, obtained from the whole wheat flour, is sure to leave you feeling satisfied until lunch time rolls around. All of these health benefits rolled in a delicious muffin that tastes like warm apple pie! What a wonderful way to start the day!!

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 whole egg

1/2 cup light vanilla yogurt

3/4 cup unsweetened natural style applesauce

1 tablespoon canola oil

2 cups (about 2 large) diced peeled firm tart apples

For the Crumb Topping:

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1/4 cup flour

3 -4 tablespoons skim milk

1 teaspoon cinnamon

In a small bowl, combine all “topping” ingredients, and mix well with a fork until crumbly; set aside.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a six cup jumbo muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together flours, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and the brown sugar. In a separate bowl, beat egg and then add yogurt, applesauce, and oil and mix well. Add the egg mixture into the flour mixture and stir until ingredients are just blended. Fold in the apples.

Fill the muffin tins 2/3 to 3/4 full. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the tops of muffins. Bake for 25 – 30 minutes. Cool on wire rack for at least 10 – 15 minutes before removing muffins from tin.

Makes 6 jumbo muffins. Per muffin: 227 Calories, total fat: 3 g, saturated fat: less than 0.5 g, trans fat: 0 g, carbs: 24 g, fiber: 7 g, added sugar: 3 g, protein: 7 g, sodium 219 mg, cholesterol 11 mg, calcium 161 mg.