Ellie Krieger's Apple Muffins

These muffins are really yummy and healthy! The muffins are even better the next day!

Apple Muffins
Food Network chef and nutritionist--Ellie Krieger
Serves 12

• Cooking spray
• 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour (I recommend King Arthur Organic Whole Wheat Flour)
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup natural applesauce
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup lowfat buttermilk
• 1 Golden Delicious apple, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4 inch pieces

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a 12-capacity muffin pan with cooking spray.
2. In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar, the pecans and cinnamon.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose and whole-wheat flour, baking soda and salt.
4. In a large bowl, whisk the remaining 3/4 cup brown sugar and oil until combined. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, whisking well after each addition. Whisk in the applesauce and vanilla.
5. Whisk in the flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with the buttermilk. Whisk just until combined. Gently stir in the apple chunks.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared muffin pan and sprinkle with the pecan mixture. Tap the pan on the counter a few times to remove any air bubbles. Bake for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of 1 of the muffins comes out clean.
7. Let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the muffins to loosen them and unmold. Cool completely on the rack.

One muffin=219 calories