Spiced Yogurt Muffins - A Stop-Gap Breakfast Solution

More than once I've heard a friend say that they didn't have time for breakfast because they were looking after their baby. Perhaps they were feeding them and getting them ready to go out or perhaps their child was pukey or sick. Either way, missing the occasional breakfast is not an unusual thing for some parents. And let's face it, that's not a good thing - you can't expect to be at your best if you're missing meals.

So as a way to avoid missing breakfast entirely, why not keep something to hand that will tide you over and fill a gap until you can eat properly? My solution...

Christian's Spiced Yogurt Muffins

Ingredients
2 cups plain flour
1 cup light brown sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp ground cloves
3/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups plain low-fat yogurt
4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup applesauce
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tbsp granulated sugar


Cooking
Preheat the oven to 190°C. Put 18 muffin cups into suitable muffin tins. Lightly brush each cup with vegetable oil.

Put the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, cloves and 1/2 teaspoon of the nutmeg into a food processor. Pulse the mix together and place in a large mixing bowl.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, yogurt, butter, applesauce and vanilla. Then fold the egg mixture into the dry ingredients until just blended.

Divide the batter into the prepared muffin cups. Sprinkle the granulated sugar and remaining 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg over the muffins.

Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the muffins are springy and a toothpick inserted into a muffin removes cleanly. Let the muffins cool in the pans for 5 minutes, before transferring them to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

The great thing about this mix is that it is very suitable to adapting and changing as your ingredients dictate. Obviously don't add a lot of extra moisture to the mix but a few bits of fresh fruit or some dried fruit isn't a problem. Or perhaps a bit of desiccated coconut or orange peel.

Have fun and enjoy the muffins!