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Split apple flax muffin showing moist crumb and diced apple pieces, stacked on a wooden board in soft light

Soft Spiced Apple Flax Muffins with Less Added Sugar

Whole wheat and flaxseed muffins studded with diced apple, sweetened with honey instead of refined sugar, ready in about 40 minutes.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 12 muffins
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Calories: 145
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients
  • 150 g whole wheat flour
  • 50 g ground flaxseed meal golden flax, not whole seeds
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
  • 2 eggs large; room temperature
  • 120 g unsweetened applesauce
  • 120 ml whole milk or any milk you have
  • 60 g butter, melted or melted coconut oil
  • 60 g honey or maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 150 g apple, peeled and diced (1 medium); Honeycrisp or Gala, cut into 1/2 cm cubes

Method
 

  1. Heat the oven to 175C / 350F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease well.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, flaxseed meal, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt.
  3. In a second bowl, whisk the eggs, applesauce, milk, melted butter, honey, and vanilla until smooth.
  4. Pour the wet mixture into the dry and fold with a spatula just until combined. A few streaks of flour are fine, don't overmix or the muffins turn gummy.
  5. Fold in the diced apple until evenly distributed through the batter.
  6. Divide the batter among the 12 muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.
  7. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, until the tops spring back and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before storing.

Notes

  • Fold batter gently, overmixing activates gluten and flax and makes muffins gummy.
  • Dice apple small so it bakes evenly through the crumb.
  • Muffins overbake fast in hot ovens, start checking at 20 minutes.
  • Swap honey for maple syrup for a slightly less floral sweetness.