Apple Muffins

I've been in the mood for apple bran muffins but wanted to make them myself so they wouldn't be filled with oil and a bunch of sugar and all that. I didn't have any bran flour so I made due with what I had. Makes roughly 30 muffins.

Ingredients:

3 c. whole wheat flour

1 c. unbleached all-purpose flour

1 c. rolled oats

4 tsp. baking soda

3 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. allspice

1/2 c. + 3 tbsp.(reserved) almond meal

3/4 c. water

4 tbsp. flaxseed meal

1 1/2 c. almond milk

1/2 c. unsweetened natural applesauce

3/4 c. maple syrup

1 tbsp. oil

2 apples, peeled and chopped into small pieces (I chose locally grown Pink Lady apples)

Instructions:

- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line muffin tins.

- Mix the flaxseed meal and water in a large bowl. Set aside.

- Mix the dry ingredients in a medium bowl (for the almond meal, only use the 1/2 cup. The few tablespoons will be used later.)

- Mix the remaining wet ingredients into the flaxseed bowl. When this is well incorporated, slowly stir in the dry ingredients, making sure not to over mix.

- Fold in apple pieces.

- Spoon batter into lined muffin tins, filling up about 3/4 of the way. Sprinkle cinnamon and almond meal on top of muffins.

- Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until fully baked (check this with a fork or toothpick).

- Place on cooling racks.

Be careful if you are like me and can't wait for your baked goods to cool before devouring-- the apples are HOT! Also, store them in the refrigerator. I just realized that after a few days of being stored in an air-tight container on the counter they are already bad. Such a bummer because these were mighty tasty! These muffins were an easy breakfast or afternoon snack so it's sad to see them go already. If you like dense, filling, not-too-sweet muffins, then these are definitely for you. If you aren't using muffin liners, feel free to leave out the 1 tbsp. oil. I only put in a tad bit of oil so they wouldn't stick to the liners -- it seemed to have helped. All in all, these muffins were quite enjoyable. I will definitely be making them again. Hm, maybe I'll add some slivered almonds or chopped walnuts next time...