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A better-for-you muffin made with oats and applesauce then crowned with a sweet, crumbly oat topping.
It’s January and like many of you, I try to start the year out eating a little better. I’m a firm believer that little changes can make a big difference, like including more whole grains in your diet. This muffin recipe has more oats in it than flour, and replaces some of the fat with applesauce. Yet the muffins aren’t dense or heavy, they’re tender and delicious.
Using a scoop makes easy work of dividing the muffin batter in to the muffin cups. A Size 16 scoop is the perfect size for muffins.
We love dried cranberries in our baked goods, but substitute raisins or any other dried fruit you prefer. You could even omit them if you want to save a few calories.
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Applesauce Cinnamon Oat Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups quick-cooking oats
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup canola oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup raisins or Craisins
Topping
- ¼ cup quick-cooking oats
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400º. Lightly grease a muffin tin with cooking spray, or line with paper muffin liners.
- Prepare topping: In a small bowl, whisk together ¼ cup oats, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, and ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon. Add 1 tablespoon melted butter and mix together until well combined; set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. In another bowl, whisk together the applesauce, brown sugar, milk, oil, vanilla and egg. Add to dry ingredients and mix just until moistened. Stir in raisins.
- Divide batter evenly into 12 muffin cups. Use your fingers to sprinkle muffins with topping.
- Bake at for 16-18 minutes or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool for a few minutes in the pans.
- Remove muffins from pans and cool on a wire rack.
Notes
More muffin recipes you might like:
Apple Cinnamon Sugar Donut Muffins, Barbara Bakes
Skinny Banana Blueberry Muffins, Sally’s Baking Addiction
Joanne
Hi Barbara. Like you, I’m trying to eat healthy. I have decided to give up sugar. Applesauce muffins and cake are my favorite things. That said, can I use Splenda in place of the brown sugar?
Barbara Schieving
I think Splenda sells a brown sugar baking blend that would probably work, but I don’t have much experience baking with artificial sweeteners. Thanks for the question.
Sylvia
Splenda is okay for baking. But you can’t use Equal (:
Samantha
I love the oat topping on top of these muffins! I do love a good muffin! Thanks for this awesome recipe.
Sara
Mhmmm..Applesauce Cinnamon ..what could be more prefect..yummm..a get way to get my kids to eat oats. Love it! Thanks Barb
Shikha @ Shikha la mode
Healthy and delicious, look great for breakfast!
Kitchen Belleicious
these are my favorite breakfast for the kids bc they are quick and easy and so delicious and yet so healthy for them. A great alternative to regular oatmeal. Love your version
patsy
I love the flavors in these muffins… so perfect and they must be wonderful right out of the oven!
Rocky Mountain Woman
mmmmm..I can almost smell the cinnamon…
Melissa B
Thanks for sharing this healthy muffin recipe, they look so good! =)
Pinned to my Dessert board!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
I always make more applesauce than we end up eating and what a great way to use it. These look delicious.
Angie@Angie's Recipes
I love the combo of flavours. These muffins are not only delicious also very healthy.
leslie
These sound wonderful Barbara. I might have to whip some up tomorrow!
Becki's Whole Life
I love finding yummy treats that are on the healthier side. I crave stuff like this for breakfast, but try not to indulge too much so this is perfect!
Claire @ Claire K Creations
Yum Barbara! Using oats in place of a portion of flour is my go to way to health-ify muffins. These look delicious!
Auntiepatch
Ummm……are the 2 ingredients under the Directions a typo? Thanks –
Barbara Schieving
Yes – thanks for the heads up. All fixed.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
They look delicious mum! And you’d never know that these were healthy muffins from looking at them too 😀 xxx
Laura @ Lauras Baking Talent
I use an ice cream scoop when I make muffins. Makes it so much easier. Love how you added healthy touches to these muffins, and they still look amazingly fluffy. Love the snowman cupcake holders as well 🙂
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
Mmm these sound awesome!
Rosa
Lovely! A great combination of flavors and ingrdients.
Cheers,
Rosa
Carol
Perfect! You know, it was fun eating all those treats but I’m ready to start enjoying healthy stuff again.
These muffins fit right into that plan. They look delicious.
Thank you, Barbara.
Vickie S.
Wow, thanks Barbara! I have some craisins and applesauce that need to be used up and this is the perfect recipe! I plan to bake them tonight and bring them into the office tomorrow. Thanks again for your wonderful blog and happy baking in 2014!
Barbara Schieving
Thanks Vickie! I hope everyone enjoys them. I think the topping really makes them something special.
Vickie S.
I baked them last night and they came out great!