So it’s almost spring and here I am posting a recipe about a craving I had for a fall treat. Apple donuts. You know, those highly-processed goodies coated in cinnamon sugar you get at the apple orchard every fall? Yeah. I needed to have one of those. Stat! So I went to work trying to figure out a real food version. Here’s what I came up with:

I wanted to make something closer to Pioneer Woman’s French Toast Breakfast Puffs, but somehow I was able to rally some restraint and back off tossing these in butter and coating them entirely in sugar. I compromised by just brushing the tops lightly with melted butter when they came out of the oven, and sprinkling a bit of cinnamon and sugar on top. They were much loved by both my kiddos and were a quick breakfast accompaniment throughout the week. I hope you like them, too!

Ingredients

• 2 cups sprouted whole wheat flour (Why I use sprouted wheat flour)
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup apple butter or apple sauce (increase the cinnamon by 1 teaspoon if using sauce)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/3 cup apple cider or apple juice (water can be substituted)
• 1/3 cup yogurt (I used plain Greek yogurt)
• 2 Tbsp melted coconut oil or butter

For the tops of the muffins (optional):

• 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/8 cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Makes 12 standard size muffins

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line your muffin pan with muffin liners.
2. In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon
3. In another large bowl whisk together the wet ingredients: egg, apple butter, honey, apple cider, yogurt and coconut oil.
4. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients until just barely incorporated (be careful not to over-mix).
5. Using a 2″ cookie scoop (or large spoon) fill muffin liners 3/4 full
6. Bake at 400 degrees for 18 minutes or until tops are brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of one of the muffins comes out clean.
7. (Optional) Melt the butter for the tops of the muffins. In a small separate bowl combine the sugar and cinnamon.
8. Using a basting or pastry brush, brush each muffin lightly with butter.
9. Sprinkle each with a light dusting of the cinnamon sugar mixture.