Apple Butter Quinoa Muffins

10.29.12

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Hi friends! I’m currently admist the frankenstorm of 2012 (aka hurricane Sandy) and luckily we still have power and warm water, so I’m trying to go about mybusinessas I normally do on Monday.Usuallywhen there is a crazy storm approaching, I try to get a few items baked so we have something to eat besides canned tuna, which my husband stocks up on y2k style. So last night I whipped a batch of super healthy apple butter quinoa muffins.

Oh my gawd, why have I never put quinoa in a baked good before? There are three reasons for this recipe. One, it was inspired by last week’s episode of Parenthood. Julie made the family 3 dozen batches of quinoa muffins because Kristina was having surgery. So, while watching, I thought “quinoa? In muffins?” Then while browsing the interwebs, I found this recipe for apple, pecan and quinoa muffins and was intrigued again. Lastly, I had a big jar of Musselman’s Apple Bar that was sent to me that was begging to be used.

Apple butter should be called “crack,” or “herion” or your drug of choice because holy crap, it’s good. The lovely folks at Musselman’s sent me a huge jar, a spurtle (which I have not been using to scoop apple butter directly into my mouth) and a few recipes they whipped up using the butter! The recipes were apple butter marinated chicken, sweet potato casserole and apple butter monkey bread. All of which looked amazing and I will try if I don’t die of apple butter consumption related complications this week.

As yummy as the recipes sounded, I really wanted to get creative with this stuff in my baking. So, I took Julia and Christal’s suggestions to make quinoa muffins and whipped up a batch with a few tablespoons of Musselman’s crack butter and applesauce.

These fluffy little muffins have no real butter and no oil in them whatsoever and only have 3 grams of fat per muffin! And they are still as moist as Paula Deen’s muffins made with 14 sticks of butter. Plus, the addition of quinoa is a great source of fiber and protein so one of these bad boys will keep you full well into lunchtime. Or keep you full while you’re hiding in the basem*nt because a B named Sandy is terrorizing you.

Yields 12 muffins. Recipe adapted from Nutritionist in the Kitch.
Prep time: 8 minutes
Cook time: 15 – 18 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup flour
1 1/4 cup cooked quinoa
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
Dash of salt
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 tablespoons Musselman’s apple butter
2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
2/3 cup low fat milk
1/2 cup chopped granny smith apple
1/3 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Liberally grease a 12 cavity muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray or line with paper liners. Set aside.
In a large bowl, mix flour, quinoa, sugar, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice together. Mix well. Stir in apple butter, unsweetened applesauce, egg and low-fat milk until fully combined. Stir in apples and walnuts.
Fill cavities about 2/3 – 3/4 the way full with batter.
Bake for 13 – 15 minutes, or until deep brown. Serve warm with butter and enjoy!

Nutritional information per muffin:

Calories: 117.25
Fat: 3 grams
Carbohydrates:20.91 grams
Fiber:2.8 grams
Protein:3.56 grams
Weight Watchers Points: 3

Musselman’s Apple Butter sent me a sample of this product at no cost to review. However, all opinions, ideas and photographs are all my own.

Comments

Posted by Christal Sczebel on

Monday, October 29th, 2012

Your version of the muffins look delicious! I will have to try them again with apple butter and the pumpkin pie spice! Yum!

Reply
Posted by domesticfits on

Monday, October 29th, 2012

STAY SAFE! If I could ship you some sunshine I would, for reals.

Reply
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Posted by Cassie | Bake Your Day on

Monday, October 29th, 2012

Oh lordy these are amazing! Hope you are staying dry and warm and safe!

Reply
Posted by Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. on

Monday, October 29th, 2012

Hope you can weather the storm okay! These muffins look delish. I love the addition of quinoa. Great hurricane snack!

Reply
Posted by cooking2perfection on

Monday, October 29th, 2012

I've never baked with quinoa, but I love trying new things so I'm glad you put this recipe on my radar.
I'm also fighting with Sandy...thankfully, I have lots of peanut butter and beer to hold me over if the power does go out (which, hopefully, it won't because I can only eat so much pb and beer before I lose it!).

Reply
Posted by christina on

Monday, October 29th, 2012

These look so moist and delicious! I normally make my own apple butter because I can't seem to find it anywhere, but it is so much effort and yours looks so tasty! Haha

Reply
Posted by Kammie @ Sensual Appeal on

Monday, October 29th, 2012

LOVE apple butter but only the no sugar added kind. I had some from the Amish when I went to visit last time.. SO SO good. The sweetened ones are too sweet for me.

Reply
Posted by Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious on

Monday, October 29th, 2012

Apple butter = pure heaven! And these muffins are amazing! I've always wanted to incorporate quinoa into muffins but just never got around to it. Will have to try these very soon!

Reply
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Posted by Dinnersdishesdessert on

Monday, October 29th, 2012

I need these in my kitchen NOW!! Dang they sound good. I hope you stay safe and don't lose power!

Reply
Posted by Liz @ The Lemon Bowl on

Monday, October 29th, 2012

OOOoo these look delish!! I bet my husband would like these too. Yum!

Reply
Posted by PB and Peppers on

Tuesday, October 30th, 2012

Love the muffins! They look so delsh!!!

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Posted by Scrambled Megs on

Tuesday, October 30th, 2012

these look divine! thanks for sharing and glad i popped by x

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Posted by Jessica_AKitchenAddiction on

Tuesday, October 30th, 2012

Love these! Hope you're staying dry and safe!

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Posted by Julie @ Table for Two on

Tuesday, October 30th, 2012

mmmm I have a huge jar of musselman apple butter sitting in the fridge just waiting to be used ;) i'm glad you're ok!!

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Posted by Savory Simple on

Tuesday, October 30th, 2012

These look wonderful! I made muffins yesterday as well and was trying to decide if putting quinoa in them would make them more perishable. I'm terrible at that stuff (and paranoid, because my husband got major food poisoning last year and ended up in the ER.) I have to say, though, that these look way healthier than what I wound up making and my waistline is wishing I had stress eating these instead.

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Posted by Necole Kell on

Tuesday, October 30th, 2012

These look soooooo good.

Reply
Posted by Rachel Cooks on

Wednesday, October 31st, 2012

These look fantastic! Love apple butter!

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Posted by Karrie on

Monday, November 5th, 2012

The ingredient list has baking soda, but your instructions name baking powder. Which is the correct one? We are excited to make these.

Reply
- Posted by realistic nutritionist on
  
  Tuesday, November 6th, 2012
  
  Hey Karrie! Baking soda, I'm so sorry about that!
  
  Reply
Posted by intherealworld on

Saturday, January 26th, 2013

I can't wait to try this. I am thrilled that you have used applesauce instead of oil or butter!!!

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Posted by Erin B. on

Monday, January 28th, 2013

I made these this weekend, and they were awesome! And I wanted to say "congratulations!" - after three years of cooking healthy, following innumerable food blogs, and reading untold scores of cookbooks, you are the FIRST one who's gotten me to try quinoa. I feel like there should be a siren, balloons, and confetti to celebrate this momentous occasion. :)

Reply

Apple Butter Quinoa Muffins | The Realistic Nutritionist (2024)