Apricot and Pecan Muffins
Packed with fresh fruit and nuts, and delicately spiced with cinnamon, these homemade apricot and pecan muffins are lower in fat and sugar than store-bought muffins, and contain no trans fats or preservatives.
Number of servings : 12 muffins
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Type of meal : | Breads and muffins | Breads and muffins
Special diet : | Heart Health
Ingredients
2 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1⁄2 cup soft light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 tablespoons wheat bran
1⁄2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1 cup low-fat milk
2 eggs
1⁄4 cup reduced-salt margarine, melted
220 g ripe but firm apricots, pitted and diced
1⁄2 cup pecan nuts, chopped
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 200°C. Using nonstick cooking spray, grease a 12-cup muffin pan (each cup should measure about 6 cm across the top and be about 3 cm deep).
- Sift the flour, baking powder, sugar and cinnamon into a bowl. Stir in the wheat bran and lemon rind.
- Combine the milk, eggs and margarine in a bowl, mixing well. Pour into the dry ingredients and add the diced apricots and pecans. Stir just until the dry ingredients are moistened, leaving some small lumps of the flour mixture in the dough. Do not over mix.
- Spoon into the prepared muffin pan, filling the cups two-thirds full. Bake for 20–25 minutes or until the muffins are well risen, peaked in the centre and springy to the touch.
- Leave to cool in the pan for 2–3 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack. The muffins are best if served within a few hours of baking, but they can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days, or frozen for up to 3 months.
Cook’s Tip: Blueberries, strawberries, peaches or nectarines can also be used, but the fruit must not be too ripe and mushy or it will make the muffin mixture too wet.
Nutritional information:
