Healthy Heart Muffin Mix with Variations
You will need:
1 quart wide-mouth canning jar
1 small Ziplock bag
16 inches of a pretty ribbon
1 tiny wire whisk
1 large rubber band
1 large envelope (Punch a hole in the upper left corner of the
envelope.)
2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour (spoon into measuring cup and
level top)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
In a medium mixing bowl, combine 2 cups all-purpose unbleached
flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1
teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg and 1/8
teaspoon salt Using a funnel, pour ingredients into the jar.
In a small Ziplock bag, place the dark brown
sugar in and completely close. Push bag into the mason jar. Close
jar tightly. Secure the small wire whisk with a rubber band around
the lid. Type baking instructions (see below) on a pretty piece of
paper or card, and tuck inside the envelope. Tie instruction card
with a pretty ribbon covering the rubber band.
Instruction card:
HEART SMART MUFFIN MIX
Per muffin: 158 calories, 30 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fat (less
than 1 gram saturated fat), 18 milligrams cholesterol, 1 gram fiber.
Makes 12.
Dry mix keeps for 3 months. Store in a cool, dark cupboard
Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat it to 350
degrees F. Lightly spray twelve 2 3/4-by-1 1/2 inch nonstick muffin
cups with oil. Empty the Heart Smart Muffin Mix ingredients into a
medium bowl. Set aside.
In another medium bowl, using a handheld electric
mixer set at medium speed, beat the 3/4 cup low-fat (or regular)
buttermilk, 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce, 2/3 cup packed dark
brown sugar (from the Ziplock bag), 1 large egg, 1 1/2 tablespoons
canola or vegetable oil and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until frothy,
about 2 minutes. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients
and pour in the buttermilk mixture. Using a spoon, mix just until
moistened. Batter will be thick. Do not overmix.
Divide the batter equally among the prepared
muffin cups. Bake until the tops spring back when pressed gently in
the center, about 20 minutes. Do not overbake. Cool in the pan on a
wire rack for 10 minutes before removing from the cups. Serve warm
or cool completely on the rack.
Variations:
DO YOUR OWN THING MUFFINS:
Stir in 1/2 cup fresh or frozen (do not thaw) blueberries,
raspberries, chocolate chips, raisins, currants or walnuts.
BRAN MUFFINS:
Stir in 3/4 cup unprocessed bran flakes with the dry ingredients. If
batter is too thick, add in 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce.
CRANBERRY-PUMPKIN MUFFINS:
Substitute 1/2 cup solid pack pumpkin for 1/2 cup of the applesauce
and 1/2 cup dried cranberries.
DAIRY FREE MUFFINS:
Replace the buttermilk with soy or rice milk. Add in 1 tablespoon
freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Source of Recipe: Sarah Phillips Healthy Oven
Baking Book |