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    Home » Recipes » the daniel plan

    Zucchini Applesauce Muffins

    Published: Aug 17, 2014 · Modified: Mar 17, 2022 by Sally Cameron · This post may contain affiliate links · 9 Comments

    778 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Zucchini in muffins? Yes! Zucchini applesauce muffins. If the thought of that throws your family, don’t tell them. Once they have gobbled down one of these soft and moist golden goodies, then tell them.

    Zucchini Applesauce Muffins | AFoodCentricLife.com

    What to do With Too Much Zucchini: Make Muffins!

    I got a little carried away buying zucchini at the market and then I realized I would home alone for the next week. Ooops. While I grill zucchini and sauté it to eat over brown rice and even turn it into noodles, I wanted to do something else. Baking sounded good.

    Zucchini Applesauce Muffins

    Zucchini, like all vegetables, contain a lot of water. To bake with zucchini, grate it on the large holes of a box grater, then place grated zucchini in layers of paper towels or a clean kitchen towel and squeeze it dry.

    Zucchini Applesauce Muffins|AFoodCentricLife.com

    About the Flours

    I used GF flours for these muffins. I baked several batches using both an all-purpose gluten-free blend (Bob’s Red Mill) and my do-it-yourself blend. Then I used a recipe from Gluten-Free Baking for Dummies. It’s the whole grain flour mix, a good substitute for whole wheat flour in many recipes. The blend uses brown rice flour, sorghum flour, millet flour and sweet rice flour.

    Working With Gluten-Free Flours

    When baking with gluten-free flours, weigh them using a digital kitchen scale. Weighing dry ingredients (especially gluten-free flours) gives you the best results and is faster. Metric measure (grams and kilos) is more accurate than Standard American Measure (cups, ounces and pounds). Digital scales allow you to do both. And a scale is an inexpensive and terrific investment if you don’t have one.

    Zucchini Applesauce Muffins|AFoodCentricLife.comA Few More Tips

    • Use light colored metal muffin pans to bake, not the dark ones. It makes a difference.
    • Skip paper liners and spray wells with non-stick or oil with coconut oil
    • Remove the baked muffins from the pan right after baking. They will be soft, so handle gently. You don’t want them to steam in the pan. Cool on a wire rack.
    • To easily remove muffins from pan, try a mini off-set spatula. It is a handy and inexpensive too for many things in the kitchen.
    • For another great gluten-free baked treat try my Gluten-free banana bread.

    📖 Recipe

    Zucchini Applesauce Muffins | AFoodCentricLife.com

    Zucchini Applesauce Muffins

    Sally Cameron
    These golden, moist gluten-free muffins are hard to resist. Smear them with coconut butter and enjoy. For the flour blend I used the whole-grain flour mix recipe from Gluten-Free Baking for Dummies. It’s a good substitute for whole wheat flour in many recipes. I also tested these muffins with Bob’s Red Mill all-purpose gluten-free flour blend with good results.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 32 mins
    Total Time 47 mins
    Course Breakfast, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 muffins
    Calories 385 kcal

    Equipment

    • Light colored 12-cup muffin pan

    Ingredients
      

    Gluten-free flour blend (see notes below) Yield 16 ounces

    • 150 grams brown rice flour 1 cup + 2 teaspoons
    • 150 grams sorghum flour 1 ⅓ cups + 1 tablespoon
    • 100 grams millet flour ⅔ cup + 3 tablespoons
    • 70 grams sweet rice flour ⅓ cup + 2 ½ tablespoons

    Muffins

    • 285 grams of the flour blend 2 cups, or use an All-Purpose Gluten-free blend
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¾ teaspoon Chinese Five Spice or cinnamon
    • 1 ½ teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 ½ cups unsweetened applesauce 13 ounces
    • ½ cup mild honey
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 large orange zested
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ⅓ cup coconut oil melted if solid
    • 8 ounces zucchini 1 ⅓ cups after grating a squeezing dry
    • ¾ cup chopped walnuts optional

    Instructions
     

    • Pre-heat oven to 325ºF. Blend flours: Weigh flours in a bowl on a digital kitchen scale. Whisk together well to combine completely. Place in an airtight container and label.  You will use part for the muffins and have extra for another baking project.
    • Add 285 grams (2 cups) of the flour blend to the bowl, then add in salt, spice, baking powder and soda. Whisk well to combine.
    • In a separate bowl, stir applesauce honey, egg, zest, vanilla, and oil. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Using a hand electric mixer, beat on medium high for 1-2 minutes.
    • For zucchini, trim off ends and grate on the large holes of a box grater. Place grated zucchini on layers of paper towels or a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out as much moisture as possible. You want dry zucchini. Next, fold zucchini and walnuts into batter.
    • Spray a light colored standard size muffin pan with non-stick spray. Portion batter evenly into the wells. Bake for approximately 32 minutes or until muffins are golden brown and firm to the touch, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
    • Remove pan from oven and carefully remove each muffin to a wire rack to cook as quickly as possible. Don’t let them sit in the pan and steam. Enjoy warm or cool completely and store at room temperature in a zip bag. Muffins will keep for a few days.

    Notes

    Gluten-free Flour and Tool Tips: Because you get the best results weighing gluten-free flour, I’ve listed the flour blend in grams for the best accuracy. Use a digital kitchen scale. They have both metric and American Standard measurements, plus what is called a “tare” function. This makes for faster measuring. Place a bowl on the scale and zero out it’s weight. Add a flour to the correct amount, then zero out it’s weight and repeat with the other flours.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1muffinCalories: 385kcalCarbohydrates: 64gProtein: 7gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.002gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 190mgPotassium: 244mgFiber: 5gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 105IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 78mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Olga says

      January 12, 2021 at 2:27 am

      Can't wait to try these!! Could I use plain flour, or spelt flour, instead of the mix? I like things simple and can tolerate flour, wheat and gluten quite well.

      Reply
      • Sally Cameron says

        January 12, 2021 at 2:27 pm

        Hi Olga, as I bake gluten-free I've never tried it with wheat flour. It might work but not sure. The simple way to make them is to use Bob’s Red Mill all-purpose gluten-free flour blend. The one I've been using lately is in the blue bag, called 1:1. It's widely available. You don't have to blend your own flour if that a hassle. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    2. Ordinary Blogger says

      August 23, 2014 at 8:08 pm

      I have SO MUCH zucchini right now and this looks like a lovely alternative to zucchini bread. Thanks for the inspiration!

      Reply
      • Sally says

        August 23, 2014 at 9:06 pm

        Try the grilled zucchini and the zucchini gratin. I love zucchini too!

        Reply
    3. Marion Tinney says

      August 22, 2014 at 12:20 pm

      Instead of grams, how many cups of flour are needed?

      Reply
      • Sally says

        August 22, 2014 at 3:33 pm

        Marion, I did not list cups because gluten-free flours really need to be weighed, or you might not get the same results. Do you have a scale? They are such fantastic tool, and inexpensive too. I have to make them again Sunday for a client. I will figure it out and make a note, ok?

        Reply
      • Sally says

        August 25, 2014 at 9:32 am

        HI Marion. I've updated the recipe with cups! Made a batch this morning. Hope this helps. Happy baking, Sally.

        Reply
    4. Madonna/aka/Ms. Lemon says

      August 17, 2014 at 8:17 pm

      These look delicious Sally. Love the use of 5 spice.

      Madonna

      Reply
      • Sally says

        August 18, 2014 at 9:17 pm

        Five spice is so fun and just a little different. Great affinity for chocolate too! Ever tried that?

        Reply

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