Apple Muffins…My Happy Place

Apple muffin a la Viv

I freaking LOVE baked goods. The delight I take in savoring a really good slice of carrot cake compares only to the joy I receive from slipping into a really great pair of jeans. It’s truly a life changing experience. I really like to bake because I can control what ingredients are used. Most run of the mill supermarket bakeries use refined flour which is not bueno. And when I say not bueno, I mean like a lactose intolerant guy eating a whole cheese pizza by himself not bueno. These kinds of flours are highly processed and have been stripped of their nutritional value.

When I bake I also like to tweak recipes so I don’t puff up like Anna Nicole pre-trim spa but post guess-girl. This is what I did with my favorite apple muffin recipe. It originally called for vegetable oil and all purpose flour. I swapped those out for some more nutritionally redeeming counterparts. It’s important to note that swapping all purpose flour for 100% whole wheat flour 1:1 in a recipe completely changes the taste and texture of what you are baking. 100% whole wheat flour is drier and has a strong nutty taste. I usually swap out all purpose flour for a combo of equal parts unbleached white whole wheat flour and 100% whole wheat flour. White whole wheat flour has a mild taste and acts more like all purpose flour when baked. I like the combo of these two because it gives me the right balance of nutty flavor and texture. This combo also has more fiber than all purpose flour.

Want to know how to make my favorite apple muffins? Well here you go kiddo! This recipe was originally for a loaf pan, but I used a muffin pan instead. I just find it easier for individual servings.

Ingredients:

·         2 eggs

·         2 cups brown sugar

·         3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

·         2 teaspoons vanilla extract

·         2 cups apples, peeled and diced (I like golden delicious apples)

·         1 cup of unbleached white whole wheat flour

·         1 cup 100% whole wheat flour

·         1 ½ teaspoons salt

·         1 teaspoon baking powder

·         ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, or more to taste

Directions:

1.       Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a muffin pan.

2.       Beat eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl; add apples.

3.       Mix flour, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon in a separate bowl; add to apple mixture and stir just until evenly combined into a thick batter. Pour batter into the prepared muffin pan.

4.       Bake in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes. Cover pan with aluminum foil; continue baking until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.