Breakfast Foods

Apple Oat Muffins Recipe

Ingredients:

• Topping:
• 1/4 cup light or dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup unbleached flour
• Pinch of salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons less-fat margarine (with 8 grams fat per tablespoon)
• 2 to 3 tablespoons oats
• Muffins:
• 2 tablespoons less-fat margarine
• 1/2 cup sugar (or sugar blend with Splenda or Equal)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup unbleached flour
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
• 2 tablespoons low-fat buttermilk (or mix 2 tablespoons fat-free half-and-half with 1/4 teaspoon vinegar and let stand)
• 2 apples, cored and diced (about 1 1/2 cups)

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line muffin pan with paper or foil liners.
2. Add the brown sugar, 1/4 cup flour, pinch of salt, and 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon to a large mixing bowl and beat briefly to blend, with mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Add the 2 tablespoons margarine and beat on low until crumb mixture forms. Work the oats in with your hands. Pour into a small bowl and set aside.
3. Return mixing bowl to mixer and add the 2 tablespoons margarine, sugar (or sugar blend), and vanilla extract and beat until light and fluffy. Add egg and beat to combine, scraping sides of bowl.
4. Add the flours, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a 4-cup measure, and whisk to blend.
5. Add the flour mixture all at once to the mixing bowl, along with the sour cream and buttermilk. Beat on low speed just until blended (scraping down the sides of bowl after 5 seconds). Stir in the apple chunks.
6. Spoon a slightly heaping 1/8 cup of batter into each muffin cup. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the top of each muffin. Bake for about 20 minutes or until muffins are lightly browned and top springs back after being pushed.

Yield:
12 muffins (6 servings)

Nutritional Information:
Per serving: 130 calories, 3 g protein, 25 g carbohydrate, 2.5 g fat, 0.5 g saturated fat, 1 g monounsaturated fat, 1 g polyunsaturated fat, 18 mg cholesterol, 1.5 g fiber, 192 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 17%.