Apple and Banana Muffins

Hi all

At my place of work, everyones on a bit of a health drive. Its all part of working towards the Better Health at Work Award. We have been getting employees involved in fitness classes, encouraging staff to walk a mile a day (something I am personally involved in organising, I do them three times a day to get the routes planned!) and putting posters up in toilets every month about a different subject. It's not without it's critics, but it seems to be having a good effect, which can't be a bad thing!

I came across a Change4Life Supermeals book, which contained some really good recipes (one of which we are having for main meal tonight) and thought i'd share a great one with you, but not before trying them out for myself, Apple and Banana Muffins.

Makes 12

Ingredients

• 150g plain flour
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• 50g caster sugar
• 100ml semi-skimmed milk
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 40g reduced fat spread, melted
• 1 small apple, peeled, cored and chopped
• 1 small banana, mashed

What to do

Preheat the oven to 200°C, fan oven 180°C, gas mark 6. Put 12 paper bun cases into a bun tray.
Sift the flour and baking powder into a mixing bowl, then stir in the sugar.
In a jug, beat together the milk, egg, vanilla extract and melted low-fat spread. Add to the dry ingredients with the apple and mashed banana and stir until just combined. Do not over-mix.
Spoon the mixture into the paper cases and transfer to the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes until risen and golden. Cool on a wire rack.

Here are mine (what's left of them anyway, they are very popular) vs the picture in the book. Not perfect, but not 'why doesn't mine look like that?!' bad either. It might be worth noting that I added a teaspoon of cinnamon as well for some extra flavour, however it isn't essential.

 

I'll definitely be making more of these in the future. Not only do they taste really nice, but in keeping line with the healthy theme we have going on, they are quite healthy too, at only 100(ish) calories each and 1.8 grams of fat.

 

Stay tuned for the next update. Happy baking!