We all like to have something sweet once in a while, right? The challenge can be keeping it healthy. This Apple Cinnamon Muffin recipe is gluten free and has no granulated sugar. The sweetness comes from the apples and organic maple syrup. There are only 4 grams of sugar per muffin compared to at least 16 grams in most muffins. To keep the recipe grain free, I used coconut flour.

Sweetness:  I chose Fuji apples because they are the sweetest apple available. This recipe calls for unsweetened applesauce. You can purchase it, but I decided to make my own without sugar.

Homemade Applesauce: two cups peeled, cored and chopped Fuji apples, ½ tablespoon lemon juice, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon vanilla, and ½ cup water. I simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes in a sauce pan until the apples are soft. The mixture can then be transferred to a blender. Blend until the mixture has a smooth consistency. You will have a little more than what you need for this recipe, but the rest can be eaten as an extra treat.

Coconut flour works well for desserts, quick breads, and muffins. There are some challenges when converting recipes when using coconut flour. It absorbs a lot of liquid so you will need a lot less flour. If a recipe calls for 1 cup of flour, you will use 1/4 to 1/3 cup of coconut flour. You will need to add more eggs to help with binding of the ingredients. Items that are made with coconut flour tend to be dense and dry so adding cooked, pureed, or mashed fruit or vegetables to the batter will increase the moisture in the baked goods. This is another way to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet!

Now back to the Apple Cinnamon Muffin recipe.

Here are the ingredients you will need:

I hope you enjoy this recipe . Have you tried baking with coconut flour? What did you make?

Regarding Re-using Images and Credits

I put a lot of effort into every single recipe and blog post, as well as my photos (unless otherwise stated), so I would REALLY appreciate it if you would link back to my site if you:

• Use an image for a ‘link love’ or equivalent type post (if you would like to use more than one image, I would appreciate it if you would ask me first, there’s a 95% chance I’ll say yes)
• Adapt my recipe and post it to your site
• Use any other content from Chronicles in HEALTH.

Please don’t just copy and paste my whole recipe to your website. If you’re going to be just copying and pasting my recipe, you might as well just link back to my original post.

Images:

http://pics.blameitonthevoices.com/072010/small_know%20your%20apples.jpg

http://www.claudiazapata.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/coconut-flour.jpg