A delicious way to start out any day should include Applesauce Muffins as part of breakfast. I would say “part of a complete breakfast” but that’s so cliche! I’ll just stick with delicious.
In reality, these Applesauce Muffins with Cinnamon Spiced Icing are a source of conflict for me. They seem to push the boundaries between muffins and cupcakes.
I was in a dilemma. What should I call this recipe? Applesauce Muffins or Applesauce Cupcakes?
So I went to Wikipedia to do a little research.
Here’s what I found.
- Generally fit into the palm of an adult hand
- Meant to be eaten in one sitting (or one bite…whatever you prefer)
- Similar in shape to cupcakes but generally not as sweet and generally do not have icing (whoops!)
- Designed to serve one person
- Usually baked in a small, thin paper
- Usually has frosting and sprinkles
Obviously I think names are really important but this is one time where I’d like to go on the record as saying the name doesn’t really matter. Not at all! I’ve seen some cupcakes without icing and some muffins that do. So as the famous saying goes, “I don’t care what you call me, as long as you don’t call me late for dinner!”
And that’s the beautiful thing about these Applesauce Muffins with Cinnamon Spiced Icing – you can eat them just about any time…night or day!
Just don’t be the last one to show up late for dinner…
Applesauce Muffins with Cinnamon Spiced Icing
Ingredients:
- 1 ¼ cups applesauce
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 banana, mashed
- 3 tablespoons soymilk
- 2 cups flour, (I used 1/2 whole wheat)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup pecans, chopped
Directions:
Heat your oven to 350F degrees and lightly coat muffin pan with cooking spray.
In a large bowl mix together the applesauce, sugar, oil, mashed banana and soymilk.
In a separate, smaller bowl mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and salt. Then add pecans and add to wet ingredients. Mix until just combined.
Drop batter into prepared loaf pan, filling them until they are 2/3 full.
Bake for approximately 20 -25 minutes. You can test for doneness by inserting a thin piece of spaghetti (I hate toothpicks) into one of the muffins to see if it comes out clean.
These muffins are delicious, but if you like to guild your lilies, you can add this icing:
Cinnamon-Spiced Icing
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup dairy free margarine, softened to room temperature
- 2 -3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon soy milk
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Directions:
Mix together the margarine and powdered sugar. Add the soymilk until you get the consistency you’re looking for. Add the cinnamon. Cover each muffin with icing. Enjoy!
Other sites with Applesauce Muffin recipes:
- Oatmeal Blueberry Applesauce Muffins by Honey, What’s Cooking?
- Applesauce Muffins by VegWeb
- Vegan Raspberry Applesauce Muffins by Simple Math Bakery
- Applesauce and Honey-Glazed Applesauce Muffins by Honey & Jam
Ah, the great muffin/cupcake debate! I think it’s all about context. If I eat it for breakfast, it’s a muffin. If I eat it at a birthday party, it’s a cupcake. These would definitely fit the bill as muffins or cupcakes! Yum.
October 28, 2010
12:52 pm
Oh, context is good!
October 31, 2010
1:19 pm
Muffin or cupcake, that’s a good problem to have:) I like this recipe, they look absolutely delicious.
October 28, 2010
6:53 pm
Whatever you call it, it looks delicious! It’s funny — earlier today I was reading about the difference between cupcakes and muffins. I still don’t understand what the difference is, but if it’s got applesauce and cinnamon, I will love it.
October 29, 2010
4:27 pm
Synchronicity!!!
October 31, 2010
1:16 pm
I don’t care what you call them….I want some!
October 29, 2010
7:05 pm
I’ll be making some for you here soon!
October 31, 2010
1:16 pm
I’d be happy to eat this all day long.
October 29, 2010
8:34 pm
Often times I will take classic muffin recipes and turn them into cupcakes by just adding frosting. I agree that the name doesn’t really matter…as long as you enjoy them! Thank you for sharing, and I’m sorry if I’ve been a bit sparse here…we are going through such a trial. Thank you for all your kind words.
October 30, 2010
12:05 am
You’ve put your applesauce to good use, these look marvellous! I bet your house smelled delicious while they were baking.
Happy Halloween Marly
October 30, 2010
1:44 am
Yes – I have to get busy using all that applesauce I made!!
October 31, 2010
1:15 pm
We love muffins at our house, but I rarely make cupcakes. So I’m glad you called them muffins! I’m sure they’re fabulous.
October 30, 2010
9:36 pm
Maybe we should create some new kind of name for them. Muffincakes? CupMuffins? Or Mup Muffins?
October 31, 2010
1:15 pm
whats not to love about applesauce muffins!! and your cinnamon icing sounds like a wonderful addition, taking it over the top!
October 31, 2010
7:11 am
Dennis – it’s true. I don’t think they would be quite the same without the icing. Oh, who am I kidding? They’re great either way!
October 31, 2010
1:14 pm
Apples and cinnamon. A good classic combination! These muffins are looking really good!
October 31, 2010
12:33 pm
They are! And they make wonderful gifts to give to people. I took some to a friend who was moving yesterday. Love doing that!
October 31, 2010
1:13 pm
Yummerz! I’m going to put frosting on my muffins from now on… Oh, and still call them muffins:)
October 31, 2010
2:20 pm
Namelymarly…
[...] something about namelymarly[...]…
January 8, 2011
4:56 am