Healthy Apple Rhubarb Muffins

Ingredients

• ¼ cup unsalted butter (Melted. Can use vegan butter or dairy butter.)
• 3/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 1 cup apple (grated, with or without peel.)
• 1 cup rhubarb (chopped to 1/2 inch dice)
• 2 eggs eggs (beaten)
• ¼ cup milk (can use dairy milk or dairy free milk)
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour (289 grams - plus one tablespoon set aside for tossing with rhubarb)
• 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon (4 grams)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda (6 grams)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder (6 grams)
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt (2 grams)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a muffin tin with muffin liners or spray with cooking spray, set aside.
2. In one bowl, combine the dry ingredients, whisk until combined.
3. In a second bowl, mix together the wet ingredients, except for the chopped rhubarb. Mix until fully combined.
4. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and use a spatula to mix them until just combined. Do not over mix.
5. Before adding the rhubarb to the muffin batter, toss it with a tablespoon of flour until every piece is coated. Then fold the rhubarb into the batter until just combined and no dry spots remain. Do not over mix or muffins will be tough.
6. Evenly distribute the batter into the muffin tins. Each muffin cup will be nearly full. I like to use an ice cream scoop for easy portioning.
7. Place muffins in the oven and bake for 5 minutes. Without taking the muffins out of the oven, turn the heat down to 350 degrees F. Bake for another 17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
8. Remove muffins from oven and as soon as they are cool enough to handle, remove them from the muffin pan and allow to cool completely on a wire cooling rack.