Make your mornings glorious with these easy, healthful muffins
"If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself" is an adage that certainly applies to a more healthful muffin. Whenever I've purchased one - as I have a multitude of times - all hopes of deliciousness were shot after that first rubbery, sawdusty bite. So, I took matters into my own hands, and the result is as close to muffin heaven as I can imagine.
A bite into one reveals a cinnamon-scented, moist, tender crumb that boasts the scrumptiousness of cake rather than a baked good that screams "healthy." That quality is owed, in part, to the soft, fine texture of the whole wheat pastry flour, though a mix of all-purpose flour and regular whole wheat flour will give you a similar result.
These muffins also deliver a full "morning glory" flavor experience, with a compelling texture from shredded carrot, coconut and apple, plus sweet, plump raisins, a hint of pineapple and a crunch of walnuts. All that, and they are so much better for you - chock full of produce, made with whole grain instead of refined, oil instead of butter, and a modest amount of added sugar. It's the kind of recipe that reminds you of the rewards of home cooking, and because these muffins freeze well, you can bake them once and enjoy the payoff for months to come.
• Ellie Krieger is a registered dietitian, nutritionist and author who hosts public television's "Ellie's Real Good Food." She blogs and offers a weekly newsletter at www.elliekrieger.com.