Welcome to the first installment of the Valentines treat week at hugecooking.com. Before I get started please do not forget to sign up for the great giveaway of Grill Charms. The contest will run through the day tomorrow and then I will announce the winners on Thursday’s post.
I have been craving homemade muffins without a huge amount of oil. I recently picked up a new box of granola (fiber and flax) so I thought I would incorporate that into a basic muffin mixture with some apples. This is what I came up with. A delicious muffin, moist on the inside with a little crunch on the outside from the granola.
I was really impressed with the texture of the muffin, although I did find that maybe the apple was a little “BLAH“. Next time, maybe I will add some flavor to the apple before hand.
Ingredients
- 1 Large Apple (Peeled and Cored)
- 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
- 2/3 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 2/3 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
- 2 Tsp. Baking Powder
- 1 Tbsp. Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 Tsp Salt
- 3/4 Cup Granola
- 4 Tbsp. Canola Oil
- 1 Large Egg (beaten)
- 1 Cup Skim Milk
Method
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a 12- hole muffin pan.
- Place the apple and half the sugar in a bowl and set aside for 5 minutes.
- Sift together remaining sugar, flour(s), baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
- Stir in granola (reserving some for top of muffins).
- In a small bowl, beat together remaining ingredients. Stir this liquid into the dry ingredients and lightly stir together.
- Divide the mixture among the holes in the muffin pan, filling each about 2/3 full.
- Top with remaining granola.
- Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until lightly brown.
- Remove the muffins from the oven and turn out immediately onto a cooling rack to cool.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
- ENJOY!
Zesty Tip: When mixing the dry ingredients with the wet – be sure not to over mix, lumps and some flour still showing is OK. If you over-beat the batter, the muffins will be flat.
This was a really fun recipe to play around with. What do you think of the pictures? I think I may have finally figured out how to focus in the front and blur in the back with my camera. I am pretty excited. Have an awesome Tuesday!
I think tomorrow’s special treat may make you smile. I can’t wait to share it with you.
Take care
zesty

{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
Looove those muffins AND the photos
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Love the first picture! Nice shot, and the muffins look delicious!
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The muffins look and sound great!! I think your picture’s are always fantastic!!!
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Yum yum, thanks.
Going to try this with 1/2 cup of Yogurt, less milk and oil.
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ooh, i love the granola addition. apples anytime but fall are just ok… maybe get some carmelization goin on or just rub ‘em in spices
photos look great!
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Beautiful photos… seriously amazing!
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Muffins AND The pictures look great
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Wow! I love that these have granola in them. I think your pictures look awesome, but your pictures have always looked amazing!
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What a beautiful muffin.
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Beautiful pictures!! Love the muffins!
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The muffins sound and look delicious! What variety of apple did you use? Try using a flavorful baking apple, like Granny Smith, to punch up the apple flavor.
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These look delicious! A little blah, huh? That is just so easy to do with muffins it seems but it could possibly just be from the type of apples used. Not that it would keep me away from wanting to try yours…
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Looks Great! So… how DO you focus front, blur the background? Please… I need all the help I can get!
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Mmmm, muffins. Those look mad good.
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I love muffins. They are one of my most favorite things to make. Although I usually put chocolate chips in pretty much every muffin I make. I wonder how that would taste with the apple?? ;0)
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muff-muffinz.
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We have been eating Blueberry Bran Muffins for breakfast every day this past week and there are only a few left in the freezer. I can not wait to try your version using my favorite box of granola!
Thanks!
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What a great recipe!! Thanks Cooking!
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Zesty, you know I’m Miss Granola Girl. Your title alone made me happy!
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ooohhhhh… I love apple muffins! This recipe sounds great!
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They look fabulous!
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Gorgeous photos, Cooking! Those muffins don’t look like they have an ounce of “blah” in them!! I can’t wait to see your other sweet treats!
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The pictures are great, especially the one where all the muffins are lined up on the white plate.
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These look good. I made your pork, pepper, pasta dish over the weekend. I will post about it soon and link back to you. It was really, really, good. Plus it was easy to make and quick! Loved it! Just thought I’d let you know.
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I love muffins! They are the best treat.
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