Chai-Spice Oatmeal Muffin Recipe

My youngest child, George, loves muffins.  Several mornings a week, he requests muffins for breakfast.  And he wants variety.  Sometimes I make banana-tahini muffins, sometimes blueberry with streusel topping, sometimes molasses spice muffins.   Thanks to G’s desire to be surprised with new types of muffins, I am always working up new recipes.

We have a lot of chai tea mix leftover from the holidays, so I have been working up a recipe for Chai-spice muffins.  Our chai mix contains powdered milk, black tea, sugar, cinnamon, clove, cardamon, anise, and ginger.  Over the past week I’ve baked several revisions and the kids gave me their honest feedback of every attempt.  Here’s the winner:

George’s Chai-Spice Applesauce-Oatmeal Muffins

1 1/2 C old-fashioned oats, uncooked

3/4 C spelt flour (you can substitute whole wheat)

3/4 C unbleached flour

1 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

2 Tbsp chai tea mix

1 C applesauce (unsweetened)

3/4 C firmly-packed dark brown sugar

1/2 C whole milk

1 egg

3 Tbsp oil (I use hazelnut, but you can use vegetable)

3/4 C chopped dark chocolate or chocolate chips

Optional: sprinkle tops of the muffins with brown sugar before baking.  

Directions:

1)Preheat oven to 400 F.  In a large bowl sift together dry ingredients

2)In a separate bowl, whisk together applesauce, brown sugar, milk, egg, and oil.

3)Fold wet ingredients into dry until just combined, then fold in chopped chocolate.  Be careful not to overmix.

4)Fill lined muffin tins with batter.  Tins will be nearly full to the top.  Sprinkle with brown sugar if desired.

5)Bake at 400 F for 22-24 min, rotating halfway through.  Let muffins rest for 5 min before removing from pan and cooling completely on a rack.  Makes 12 muffins.

I am behind on my blogging, but it has been for good reason (and for once, that reason isn’t roller derby!).  I’ve joined the blogging/writing team at Azure Standard, and have been busy working on my first two pieces.  Keep an eye out for my posts in Azure’s new Healthy Living blog.  I’ll be writing about gardening, permaculture, beekeeping, poultry keeping, and sharing LOTS of my original, healthy recipes.