Apple Cinnamon Muffins

After taking the kids apple picking yesterday we now have more apples than we know what to do with. So expect apples in everything these upcoming weeks. 

This morning we made simple, yet delicious, apple cinnamon muffins. And the kids devoured them! It was a really quick recipe and Allie loved baking them with me. Plus who doesn't love warm muffins for breakfast. It's a win-win! 

Apple Cinnamon Muffins 

Fridge:

1/2 cup milk

1 egg

2 1/2 tbs sour cream 

1/2 cup applesauce 

Counter:

2 cups apples, peeled and grated 

Pantry:

2 cups ap flour

1/2 cup white sugar 

1/4 tsp allspice

3/4 tsp cinnamon 

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract 

1/4 cup coconut oil, liquid 

 Tools:

Muffin tray, greased or paper lined

2 medium mixing bowls

Mixing spoons

Measuring cups/spoons 

Box grater 

Ice cream scoop or large spoon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In one bowl add flour, baking powder, salt, allspice, cinnamon and sugar. Combine well.

In the other bowl add milk, sour cream, the egg, grated apples, vanilla extract applesauce and coconut oil. Mix well. 

Combine the two bowls and mix until it just comes together. Scoop the muffin batter into the greased or lined muffin tray. Place tray into the preheated oven and bake for 23-25 minutes or until the tops are slightly golden and spongy but firm to touch. 

Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving. 

The kids really inhaled these puppies today! They are almost gone! And with the little amount of sugar in them- I'm totally ok with that!! Enjoy them! Xo

Applesauce Season

It is officially fall here in New England. And autumn kicks off the season of all things apple and pumpkin. As if you haven't seen the million facebook posts and tweets about pumpkin lattes and apple picking.

The family I work for also joined the apple picking club and brought home more apples than we knew what to do with- and so our first cooking venture together was making our own applesauce. And if you can peel an apple- then you can make this applesauce. It's beyond simple!!

Easy Applesauce 

Counter:

10 large apples, peeled and cored 

Juice of 1 lemon

Enough water to barely cover the apples, my pot used about 7 1/2 cups.

Pantry:

2 cinnamon sticks 

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground ginger 

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 cup white sugar 

Tools:

Large pot with lid

Slotted spoon 

Blender or food processor 

Measuring cups/spoons 

Add all the ingredients to the pot and then add cold water to just barely cover the pot. Stir together and cover with a lid. Turn heat on low to medium and allow to simmer until apples begin to break down. It took about 20-25 minutes on a gas stove. 

Once the apples are broken down and soft, remove from heat. You can allow to cool for 10 minutes before processing.

Using the slotted spoon, add just the apples into the blender. Pulse the apples until the consistency you want. I like my applesauce fairly smooth with just a little chunks. If the sauce is too thick for you- add a little of the cooking liquid. Continue this process until all the apples are blended and smooth. 

Now at this point taste the apples for flavor. I did not want to add any extra sugar as this was for the kids- so ours was slightly sweet but still tart. You might prefer a more sweeter applesauce so make sure to add more sugar while sauce is still hot so the sugar dissolves. I recommend only adding a tablespoon at a time- you don't want to over sweeten it (or maybe you do, no judgments). 

Allow to sit out for 30 minutes to come to room temperature and then put into mason jars or Tupperware and chill in the fridge. This will last 7-10 days in the fridge. 

This is great to eat for both kids and adults. I like to dip pretzels in mine- thanks to my friend Leslie who taught me that in grade school. It is also great as a substitute in baking. Grab some apples and give it a go! So simple! Xo

Charlies faces as he tries the applesaucefor the first time are classic!!