Mmm, Mmm Muffins: Healthier Recipes for You

Warm muffins are a treat, a treat you may bypass because you're eating healthy. But you can eat muffins if you swap a few ingredients. These recips for Apple Cinnamon Muffins, Sweet Corn Muffins, and Orange-Blueberry Muffins are easy to make and, better yet, give you a chance to add more grains and fruits to your diet. I bet you can smell the cinnamon already!

Who can resist warm muffins? Not me. I love muffins and bake many different kinds. Making muffins from scratch gives me a chance to add more grains and fruits to my diet. Though I can't say these recipes are totally healthy, I can say they're healthier than the original recipes because of the ingredients I've swapped.

Instead of white flour I use half white and half whole wheat. I use half Splenda and half sugar for most muffin recipes. The muffins are virtually fat free because I use sugar-free applesauce instead of shortening. I also swap skim milk for whole.

All of these recipes get a five-star rating, according to my family members. Eat them right from the oven and you won't need butter or margarine. The Apple Cinnamon Muffins will make every breakfast special. For another breakfast treat pair Sweet Corn Muffins with sugar-free strawberry jam. These corn muffins also taste good with chili. And the Orange-Blueberry Muffins are so tasty you may find yourself eating them for dessert.

Dry ingredients: 1 cup white flour, 1 cup wheat flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup Splenda, 3/4 teaspoon baking soda, 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon salt

Wet ingredients: 2 eggs, 3/4 cup sugar-free applesauce, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 medium apple (grated), calorie-free brown sugar

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients with a whisk. In a separate bowl, combine wet ingredents together with a whisk. Add wet ingredients to dry, being careful not to over mix. If the batter is too stiff at a little skim milk.

Spoon batter into paper muffin cups. Sprinkle each muffn with calorie-free brown sugar. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes. Yield: 1 dozen muffins.

Dry ingredients: 1 1/4 cups flour, 3/4 cup corn meal, 1/4 cup Splenda, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt

Wet ingredients: 2 eggs, 1 cup skim milk, 1/2 cup sugar-free applesauce, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients with a whisk. In a separate bowl, combine wet ingredients with a whisk. Add wet ingredients to dry, being careful not to over mix. If the batter is too stiff add a little more milk.

Spoon batter into paper muffin cups. Sprinkle each muffin with a little sugar. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes. Yield: 1 dozen muffins.

Dry ingredients: 1 cup white flour, 1 cup wheat flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup Splenda, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

Wet ingredients: 1 egg, 1/2 cup sugar-free applesauce, 1 tablespoon cooking oil, 1/2 cup fresh orange juice, 1 teaspoon orange zest, 1 teaspoon vanilla

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients with a whisk. Gently fold blueberries into dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine wet ingredients with a whisk. Add wet ingredients to dry, being careful not to over mix. If the batter is too stiff add a little more orange juice. Spoon batter into paper muffin cups. Sprinkle each muffin with a little sugar. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes. Yield: 1 dozen muffins.

Harriet Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 27 years and is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists. Before she became a health writer she was a food writer for the former "Rochester Magazine," in her hometown of Rochester, MN. Her 24th book, "Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief," written with co-author Dr. Lois Krahn, is available from http://www.amazon.com

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Mmm, Mmm Muffins: Healthier Recipes for You