Healthy Upside Down Apple Cinnamon Muffins
These delightful Healthy Upside Down Apple Cinnamon Muffins are a guilt-free treat that combines the sweetness of apples with a warm cinnamon flavor, providing a delicious start to your day or a perfect snack. Made with low-fat yogurt and skim milk instead of traditional butter and shortening, these muffins are light yet satisfying. The unique upside-down preparation allows the apples to caramelize slightly, creating a pleasing presentation and enhancing their natural sweetness. These muffins are not just limited to apples; feel free to experiment with other fruits like peaches or apricots to suit your taste. Ideal for a family breakfast or as a wholesome treat for gatherings, these muffins are sure to impress!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
12
Ingredients
Ingredients
Sugar
4 tablespoons (mixed with cinnamon for topping)
Ground Cinnamon
1 teaspoon (mixed with sugar for topping)
Apples
2 (peeled and cut into small pieces)
Honey
2 tablespoons (mixed with apples)
Flour
1 1/2 cups (lightly spooned into measuring cup)
Sugar
1/2 cup (for batter)
Baking Powder
2 1/2 teaspoons (for leavening)
Salt
1/4 teaspoon (for flavor)
Low-fat Yogurt
2/3 cup (for moisture)
Butter
1/4 cup (melted)
Skim Milk
3 tablespoons (for liquid)
Egg
1 large (lightly beaten)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2
Generously spray the 12 muffin tins with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
3
In a small bowl, mix together 4 tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Sprinkle less than a teaspoon of this blend into the bottom of each muffin cup and reserve the remaining mixture for later use.
4
In another bowl, combine the peeled and chopped apples with 2 tablespoons of honey, stirring until the apples are evenly coated.
5
Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the honeyed apple mixture into each muffin cup, creating a fruity layer on the bottom.
6
In a medium bowl, lightly spoon 1 ½ cups of flour into measuring cups and level off with a knife. Add the flour, 2 ½ teaspoons of baking powder, ¼ teaspoon of salt, and the remaining ½ cup of sugar to this bowl. Mix well with a whisk to combine all the dry ingredients.
7
Make a well in the center of the dry mixture.
8
In a separate bowl, whisk together 2/3 cup of low-fat yogurt, ¼ cup of melted butter, 3 tablespoons of skim milk, and 1 lightly beaten large egg until smooth.
9
Pour the yogurt mixture into the well of the flour mixture, and stir gently just until combined. The batter will be thick.
10
Divide half of the batter evenly among the muffin cups, ensuring the apple layer stays intact. Sprinkle the reserved cinnamon-sugar mixture over the batter, then spoon the remaining batter on top of each muffin cup.
11
Dust the tops of the muffins with the remaining cinnamon-sugar mix.
12
Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
13
Let the muffins cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. To remove, flip the pan onto a wire rack; if any apples stick in the pan, simply spoon them back onto the muffins.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Healthy Upside Down Apple Cinnamon Muffins?
These are a guilt-free breakfast or snack treat that features a caramelized apple layer on the bottom, flavored with cinnamon and made healthier using low-fat yogurt and skim milk.
At what temperature should I bake these muffins?
The muffins should be baked in an oven preheated to 375°F (190°C).
How long do the muffins need to bake?
Bake the muffins for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
What makes these muffins a healthier option?
This recipe uses low-fat yogurt and skim milk instead of the large amounts of butter and shortening typically found in traditional muffin recipes.
Can I use fruits other than apples for this recipe?
Yes, you can experiment with other fruits such as peaches or apricots to suit your personal taste.
How do I prevent the muffins from sticking to the pan?
Generously spray the 12 muffin cups with cooking spray before adding any ingredients.
How do I prepare the apple layer?
Peel and chop two apples, then stir them with 2 tablespoons of honey until they are evenly coated.
What is the first step in filling the muffin tins?
Sprinkle less than a teaspoon of a sugar and cinnamon blend into the bottom of each greased muffin cup.
How much honey is used in the recipe?
The recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of honey to coat the chopped apples.
What type of flour is recommended and how should it be measured?
Use 1 1/2 cups of flour, lightly spooned into the measuring cup and leveled off with a knife to ensure accuracy.
What dry ingredients are mixed together for the batter?
The batter base consists of flour, 2 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 cup of sugar.
What is the purpose of the yogurt in this recipe?
Low-fat yogurt is used to provide moisture and a tender crumb while keeping the fat content lower.
How much butter is required for the batter?
The recipe uses 1/4 cup of melted butter.
Should the egg be beaten before adding it to the wet ingredients?
Yes, the recipe specifies using one large egg that has been lightly beaten.
What is the consistency of the muffin batter?
The batter will be thick once the wet and dry ingredients are combined.
How is the batter layered into the muffin cups?
Divide half the batter over the apple layer, sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar, then spoon the remaining batter on top.
How long should the muffins cool before being removed from the pan?
Let the muffins cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before attempting to remove them.
What is the best way to remove the muffins from the tin?
Flip the entire muffin pan onto a wire rack so the apple layer is on top.
What should I do if the apples stick to the pan after flipping?
If any fruit remains in the tin, simply spoon it back onto the top of the muffins.
Can I use skim milk in this recipe?
Yes, 3 tablespoons of skim milk are used to provide the necessary liquid for the batter.
How many muffins does this recipe make?
This recipe is designed to fill a standard 12-cup muffin tin.
What spices are used for the topping?
Ground cinnamon is mixed with sugar to create the sweet and spicy topping and bottom layer.
Is the sugar amount divided in the recipe?
Yes, 4 tablespoons are used for the cinnamon-sugar mix, and 1/2 cup is used in the muffin batter itself.
What is the purpose of making a well in the dry ingredients?
Creating a well in the center of the flour mixture helps to incorporate the wet ingredients evenly without overmixing.
How should I combine the wet and dry ingredients?
Stir the yogurt mixture into the flour well gently, just until the ingredients are combined.
Are the apples peeled for this recipe?
Yes, the instructions specify that the apples should be peeled and chopped.
Can these muffins be served for dessert?
Absolutely, their caramelized apple topping makes them a beautiful and sweet option for a wholesome treat or dessert.
How much baking powder is needed?
The recipe requires 2 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder for proper leavening.
What kind of sugar should be used?
Standard granulated sugar is used for both the cinnamon-sugar mixture and the batter.
What should I do with the remaining cinnamon-sugar blend?
The remaining blend should be sprinkled over the middle layer of batter and dusted over the tops before baking.