Healthy Pumpkin Muffins with Applesauce

These healthy pumpkin muffins with applesauce have a great flavor, the perfect amount of sweetness, and a nice, soft texture. They’re nutritious, too! The perfect fall snack or portable breakfast. Recipe by Fannetastic Food

Autumn means crunchy leaves, apple cider, and of course pumpkin! There’s no denying pumpkin is a crazy popular flavor, especially during this time of year. And for good reason: it’s comforting, nutritious, and so tasty! So I’m excited to share one of my favorite fall-inspired pumpkin recipes with you.

• Dry ingredients:
  • whole wheat pastry flour
  • brown sugar
  • cinnamon
  • pumpkin pie spice
  • salt
  • baking soda
• Wet ingredients:
  • canned pumpkin
  • raisins (or chocolate chips)
  • vanilla Greek yogurt
  • unsweetened applesauce
  • eggs

Greek yogurt and applesauce replaces the need for butter or oil, lightening up the muffins while keeping that soft texture intact.

Be sure to use whole wheat PASTRY flour (or white whole wheat flour), not regular whole wheat flour. Otherwise, these will come out tough or too dense.

If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice, you can make your own! To make homemade pumpkin pie spice, just mix together 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves.

If you have extra applesauce, try these healthy banana applesauce bars or these cinnamon apple crumble muffins, too!

How to Make Pumpkin Muffins with Applesauce

Per my usual standard, this recipe comes together quickly!

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Next, mix the dry and the wet ingredients in separate bowls.

Then, gently combine into one bowl. Stir until the mixture is mostly uniform. (Don’t over-mix!).

Next, spoon the batter into a non-stick or greased muffin tin. (If making bread, pour into a loaf pan.) Bake muffins for 25 minutes, or bread for 75 minutes. (This is when your kitchen will start to smell amazing!).

Take the muffins/bread out of the oven and check for done-ness with a fork or toothpick. If it doesn’t come out clean, bake a little while longer.