Carrot, Golden Raisin, and Pecan Muffins
This month’s Muffin Monday challenge was to work with an ingredient you’ve never worked with before so I made Carrot Muffins. I chose “healthy” – I know it’s kind of funny but I have never really worked on a purely healthy recipe before but I had several incentives: First, Mr. Picky Eater’s new boss lady brought him some shredded carrots and I wanted to do something nice for her. Second, several of the ladies at Mr. Picky Eater’s new office have some dietary challenges and I wanted to remain within the parameters of that as well. I got to work on a plain muffin recipe that could handle some carrots as well as other goodies like a replacement for the oil generally used in them. I came up with a good recipe on the very first try! One of the ladies said they really liked them and would be happy to eat any more that I would care to make – I feel like that’s a good sign and it also keeps Mr. Picky Eater popular with his co-workers!
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups carrots, peeled and finely grated
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all – Purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon or nutmeg
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350
- Line a muffin tin with liners – spray lightly with non stick spray
- In a bowl, mix the pineapple juice, carrots, walnuts and raisins together allowing to soak for about 30 minutes.
- In another bowl, mix the sugar and applesauce until well blended.
- Add the eggs, one at a time until fully incorporated.
- Add the vanilla and continue mixing for about 30 seconds.
- In a large bowl combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Add the wet ingredients to the flour and stir until combined.
- Drain the juice and add the carrots, nuts and raisins to the mixture stirring to combine.
- Fill each muffin liner about 3/4 full and bake approximately 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I and the folks at Mr. Picky Eater’s office did – and they are good for you! I enjoyed using healthy ingredients. I might do it more often now. Enjoy! Now check out everyone else’s muffins for Muffin Monday!
- Berry Mango Swirl Muffins from Farm Fresh Feasts
- Brown Sugar Pistachio and Garam Masala Muffins from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Carrot Cake Muffins from Kelli’s Kitchen
- Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins with White Poppy Seeds from The Spiced Life
- Marmite Muffins from Passion Kneaded
- Prawn and Curry Leaf Muffins from Food Lust People Love
- Spinach Bacon and Cheese Breakfast Muffins from A Day in the Life on the Farm
#MuffinMonday is a group of muffin loving bakers who get together once a month to bake muffins. You can see all our of lovely muffins by following our Pinterest board.
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