Do you find yourself waiting for circumstances to be perfect before you take action on something? Rather than just doing something, do you spend time waiting to do something until the timing is just right?
I do this all. the. time. To the point that less gets done because let’s face it, the timing is never just right.
Sometimes this blog paralyzes me because there’s so much I could do to make it better. So much to do that takes so much time that I don’t have. In the end, I wind up doing nothing. Somewhere along the line I forgot that something is better than nothing, even if that something is just a little bit.
These muffins are a small example of me waiting for the perfect circumstance. I’ve made these muffins, or a variety of them, several times since September. Each time I think, “I should share this recipe on the blog.” Yet, I never did.
Until now. This morning when I was making them I had that thought again. Several more thoughts entered my head.
“I don’t have time to take proper pictures right now.”
“This morning light isn’t right for pictures.”
“I can’t think of a creative way to set up the shot.”
“I should clean up the kitchen before I do anything else.”
Then, I stopped myself. Just do it. Who cares if the circumstances aren’t perfect? You would rather have a recipe to use than perfect pictures to look at, right?
I stopped thinking and started taking pictures.
Snap.
Snap.
Snap.
My pictures will probably never look like some of the ones you see on certain food blogs that appear they were professionally styled with amazing props and perfect lighting.
But you will always get a slice of real life here.
And hopefully along the way you’ll pick up a few good recipes your family loves. I hope you enjoy these whole grain apple cinnamon muffins as much as we do.
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Apple cinnamon crumb muffins
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 muffins 1x
Description
Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins. Whole grain and dairy-free.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 cup oat flour
- 1/2 cup coconut palm sugar, Sucanat, or light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
Wet ingredients
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk + 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (or buttermilk)
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Extra:
- 2 cups diced peeled apples
For the topping:
- 1/2 cup same sugar as used above (coconut palm, Sucanat, or light brown sugar)
- 1/3 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Oil a muffin pan or line with paper liners and spray the liners.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon until just combined. Add in the apples. Do not overmix.
- Combine all of the ingredients for the crumb topping and mix until crumbly.
- Fill each cup of the muffin pan almost to the top, and sprinkle with the crumb topping. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until the muffins are just turning golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Enjoy!
Notes
This is a versatile recipe. I’ve used diced pears instead of apples and that works well. I’ve also made them many times without the crumb topping–that yields a muffin with less sugar and they are great without it. The crumb topping just adds an extra yumminess. You can also use all whole wheat flour, but I prefer to have the oat flour in there to help lower the glycemic load. I’ve even made them with all oat flour and it works if you need them to be gluten-free. The texture isn’t as great, but they are still good. Also, I have made these with flax eggs and it does work. I prefer the results I’ve gotten from using eggs, though.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 muffin
- Calories: 266
- Sugar: 13.3g
- Sodium: 109mg
- Fat: 11.75g
- Carbohydrates: 38.5g
- Protein: 5.5g
Have a fantastic week–go ahead and start whatever you’ve been putting off!
I’m so glad you posted the photos! Thank you for your wonderful blog, too! I just found it through Kath’s and I am very excited to try your recipes. I love baking, especially when the recipes call for healthier alternatives. Thanks again!
Hi Catherine! I’m glad you found me. 🙂
Love this picture of the kids,that’s amazing that you did the table decoration yourself, you are so talented!
I literally have this conversation with myself daily- “Don’t do nothing just because you can’t do EVERYTHING” is my mantra. It’s so easy to get discouraged and I’m really an all-or-nothing kind of person so I have to remind myself that little bits add up! I can’t believe how big your kids are getting!
They are perfect! Your blog is great just the way it is. As a mum with two littlies a year apart – I am in awe. Simple, healthy and full of love. What more could a follower ask for???
You are so kind! Thank you. 🙂
I’m SO with you. I hate the pressure and stress associated with taking amazing pictures! I often have recipes I can’t post because they look totally terrible (ahem, chia pudding). It definitely shouldn’t be that way. I still use my iPhone camera for all my pictures….crazy! PS-these muffins look like perfection!
Wow–you do an AMAZING job with your iPhone! I’m impressed. 🙂
Maryea,
You know I love your blog as is. 🙂 I understand the desire to improve; it’s natural. Everything is a process, though, and a work in progress. I find that trying to embrace the journey and recognize it for what it is (LIFE 🙂 ) helps to assuage dissatisfaction and mitigate some of my impatience. Also, looking at how much progress has ALREADY been made tends to help, as well. Look at how far this blog has come and how much work you’ve already put into it!
On a completely unrelated matter, I love your “Grateful” (? I can only see the T-E-F-U-L) glass cylinders. Filling them with rice is so fitting and appropriate! I’m a huge “Harvest” (Fall/Autumnal season) decoration fan. As soon as Fall hits, all my scarecrows, pumpkins, mums, leaf garlands, hay bales and related yard stakes and lights come out. 🙂 I have almost as many Harvest decoartions as I do Christmas ones! Where did you get your printed cylinders from? Pottery Barn?
Thank you, Liz! You are totally right about how far I’ve come with blogging. I need to remember where I started when I get frustrated that I’m not progressing as quickly as I’d like! 🙂
I’m so happy that you commented on the glass cylinders–I made them! I feel like I’m horrible at DIY projects and never know if things look good or like a 3rd grade art project. 🙂 I bought the glass cylinders at the Dollar Tree, printed out a font and traced it onto contact paper, and then used acrylic paint to paint the letters on. Meghan helped, too. I love fall decorating, too.
Luke is so adorable there! He reminds me alot of my son Allan, even though he’s only 13 months old. I love your posts and your recipes and your blog is one of my favorite recipe sources.
I can totally relate to the lack of time, now that one has two kiddos, but pleeease don’t stop blogging! Yesterday I made your Three Bean Chili again and last week I made both your Vegan Lemon and Blueberry Scones and Apple Peanut Butter Bites. Delish!
This comment is just what I needed today, so thank you, Ann-Louise!
This comment is just what I needed today. Thank you, Ann-Louise!
I love your posts!! I was going to make an apple cake for an elderly friend’s birthday tomorrow but after seeing this recipe I will make these instead. That way they can freeze whatever they don’t eat and take them out as needed.
Thanks again for all your darling kid pictures and wonderful recipes!!!
Thank you so much, Kacy! I’m glad I decided to go ahead and post the recipe. 🙂