Moist and Tender Spiced Yogurt Muffins with Applesauce and Walnuts

I’m always on the lookout for a healthy muffin that tastes good. Most of the muffin recipes I’ve tried taste like cardboard. For some reason, the use of whole wheat in a muffin makes for a tough and chewey breakfast experience.

Not these muffins from Cafe Nilson. Cafe Nilson found the recipe in Food and Wine Magazine, and her muffins are light and oh, so tender. You would never know they were made with whole wheat flour.

I make my own yogurt and applesauce, so these muffins were extra yummy, if I don’t say so myself. I added some heart healthy walnuts to take these muffins over the top. Delicious!

Spiced Yogurt Muffins with Applesauce and Walnuts

Serves 16

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup light brown sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp allspice
½ tsp ground cloves
1 tsp nutmeg
2 large eggs
1 ¼ cups fat free plain yogurt
¼ cup applesauce
1 tsp vanilla
4 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup walnuts (my addition)

1. Preheat oven to 375F.  Line muffin pan with liners and spray with cooking spray.  Set aside.
2. In a bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, cloves and nutmeg.  In another bowl, whisk eggs, yogurt, applesauce, brown sugar, vanilla and melted butter.  Fold in wet ingredients with the dry ingredients and carefully mix in walnuts until well combined.
3. Pour into muffin pans and bake for 18 – 20 minutes or until muffins feel springy on top.
4. Cool in pan for 5 minutes then transfer to wire rack to cool at room temperature.

What’s good for me in this dish?

Whole wheat flour contains fiber, protein, niacin, vitamin B6 and several minerals. One of the biggest benefits of whole wheat over refined white flour is the boost in fiber. Most people don’t get enough fiber in their diet. Fiber is necessary to keep your digestive system functioning at its best.

Apples are a great source of vitamin C and fiber. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant for a healthy heart. The flavonoids in apples also contribute to heart health. High in fiber, apples can help lower LDL cholesterol.

Yogurt contains prebiotics and probiotics that restore a healthy balance of bacteria in your digestive tract. Probiotics, you add healthy bacteria to your intestinal tract. Common strains are Lactobacillis and Bifidobacterium families of bacteria.

Calories: 153
Total Fat: 3.49g
Cholesterol: 34mg
Sodium: 231mg
Total Carbs: 27.12g
Dietary Fiber: 2.03g
Sugars: 15.56g
Protein: 4.01g

Weight Watchers PointsPlus 4
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Please see disclaimer for further details. Nutrition information is compiled with MacGourmet. If you find discrepancies, please let me know. It’s important to  me that I provide you with accurate information.

Last updated by Kristi Rimkus at November 3, 2012.

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