Healthy Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins

These are currently our favorite healthy muffin!  I have made them too many times to count, and we all love them.  They are delicious... and healthy.  They freeze wonderfully.  I often stick them in the freezer, and then my husband Anthony can grab a couple and take them to work for a quick breakfast. I also found these at Mel's Kitchen Cafe.

Ingredients

• 1 cup rolled/old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 tablespoons butter or coconut oil, melted (I have tried it with both, and we love both.  When I use coconut oil, I use extra virgin coconut oil, and it give the muffins a slight coconut taste.)
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins, optional (I have never added them.)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners or grease the muffin cups. Set aside..
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the oatmeal, applesauce, milk, egg, vanilla, butter and sugar. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt (and cranberries or raisins if using). Make a well in the center and pour in the applesauce mixture. Stir until just combined (Don't overmix or the muffins will be dense and dry). The muffin batter texture might be a bit different than other muffin batters.
4. Distribute the batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups. Bake for 15-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Don't overbake or the muffins will be dry.