A good-for-you muffin that’s loaded with applesauce and oatmeal, and sprinkled with a sweet and crunchy almond topping.
I have a recipe for you today. And if you’re wondering how a recipe ties in with NEDA week and my promise to talk more about my ED/recovery, just sit tight and I’ll tell ya.
I’ve always loved to bake. Always, always, always. I have so many fond childhood memories associated with baking… From whipping up countless batches of chocolate chip oatmeal cookies with my mom (my favourite), to successfully cracking my first egg (sans eggshell), to eventually coming up with my own recipes, baking has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.
It relaxes me… being in a warm kitchen, carefully measuring out ingredients, enjoying the fruits (read: cookies, bars, muffins, breads) of my labour…
I think it’s safe to say that it’s easily one of my favourite things in the world. It’s also one of the things that became lost to me when my eating disorder hit.
Anyone who’s ever struggled with an ED, or even disordered eating habits, knows the fear that comes with eating something that has unknown calories in it. No nutritional label? No bueno. That and a fear of fats and sugars basically made all baked goods off-limits.
So I gave up baking… eventually. There was a period in my ED where I would bake indulgent desserts for my family and friends just so I could spend more time around food and indulge in the activity that I loved, but I had to stop because it became too hard to be surrounded by delicious food that I’d never actually allow myself to eat. It was basically torture…
But enough doom and gloom, let’s talk about the good stuff — let’s talk about how baking actually helped me in recovery. Remember how I mentioned that it was basically one of my favourite things in the world? Well, I missed it after a while… enough to face my fears and whip out the cookie sheets and muffin pans again. It sounds a little crazy saying it now, but no one ever said EDs made any sense.
In any case… I started off small and safe — making healthy substitutions, avoiding too much fat or sugar, and ending up with “treats” that weren’t really treats — but at least it was a start. It gave me a taste of what I’d been missing out on and sparked a craving for more. I slowly got bolder and my treats became sweeter (and edible)… and it was my passion and love for baking that really helped me every step of the way.
Moral of the story? Start small and build strength — baby steps will still get you to where you want to be. Use your passions to drive you. Oh, and make these muffins… they’re delicious 😀
I’d love to know if you make this (or any!) recipe! Tag @runwithspoons on Instagram and Twitter, and be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy and delicious recipes straight to your inbox!
Print
Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins
- Total Time: 30 mins
- Yield: 12 muffins 1x
Ingredients
Muffins
- 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 1/4 cup quick-cooking oats
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or regular milk)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted (or canola/vegetable oil)
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup raisins
Topping
- 2 Tbsp. quick-cooking oats
- 2 Tbsp. sliced/slivered almonds
- 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted (or butter)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly oil a muffin tray, or line it with 12 paper/silicone muffin liners.
- Prepare topping: In a small bowl, combine oats, almonds, and brown sugar. Add melted coconut oil and mix until well combined. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside. Beat egg in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk in applesauce, almond milk, brown sugar, coconut oil, and vanilla. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, mixing lightly until just combined. Fold in raisins.
- Divide batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups. Using your fingers, sprinkle topping onto each muffin.
- Bake muffins for 18-20 minutes, or until top is firm to the touch and toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Allow muffins to cool in pan for ~10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
Mmmm I love applesauce, so these are definitely getting made. Joe and my brother always ask if you’ve come up with new recipes to try…your baked goods are beloved in our house 😉 Eds don’t make sense is right ha. That made me laugh when I read it because it’s so true; the things I told myself when I was really struggling would make me cry if I heard them from someone else directed towards themselves…so why was it ok that I said them to me? No idea, but I’m very glad I’m where I am today. Running has been a huge role in that as has baking…you are one of the few “healthy bakers” I’ll bake from too actually. Too many times I substituted stuff or made it was too healthy, so now I’m usually about the real stuff 😛
Amanda, I really appreciate reading more about your journey. I believe allowing ourselves to participate in activities that give us genuine pleasure is an essential part of recovery.
I grew up watching my mom cook. We very very rarely ate out so most everything was from scratch. When I was about four she bought me a cookbook, Kindergarten Cooks. That night I made my first recipe, bunny salads. (Half a pear atop a leaf of lettuce with raisin eyes,slivered almond ears, and a dollop of cottage cheese for the tail.) Funny, I hadn’t thought about that in years. Thanks for being the catalyst for a good memory!
There are three things about which I am passionate: literature, theatre, and yoga. Books have been a part of my life since the get-go. I was bit by the theatre bug at age eight when I saw a production of Annie. Yoga is a new one. Compulsive exercise was a major part of my eating disorder. Yoga is a way to move my body without being compulsive and punishing. Doing yoga makes me want to be strong and serene. It helps me appreciate my body for what it is capable of, not what it looks like. When I step off the mat I have the desire to properly fuel my body and for that I am grateful.
That bunny salad sounds like the sweetest thing, Sarah 🙂 And what you said about yoga is beautiful — that’s definitely how all healthy living should feel.
Gorgeous pictures! You are very talented my dear 🙂
Applesauce muffins are one of my favorite varieties and I love your topping creation. I bet the almond crunch is perfect!
Wow these look good and super easy. Thank you as always for sharing. Food that brings back childhood memories: pancakes, poptarts, lots of homemade breakfasts and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
I will always remember baking my first batch of homemade brownies when I was five years old. Always. Needless to say, I have a passion for baking as well. It’s therapeutic, I swear. But as you said, one of the MAJOR red flags for me was when baking became a hassle for me during my ED. I would whip up and batch for things and CRY if I had too many pieces of dough (read: two) or I wouldn’t allow myself to even have a sliver of something. So, I stopped. And I believe one of the best ways to slowly overcome food “fears” is to slowly ease them back into your diet, too. I started with healthy “desserts” (read: cardboard), but (thankfully) graduated to full blown treats. Sure, you can make some healthy substitutions but fat and sugar are what makes a dessert… Well, a dessert!
<3
Were you guilty of topping your cardboard with nut butter too? ‘Cause that’s what I did all.the.time… and it was like… why not just put the extra calories INTO the baked goods instead of making them taste sub-par and then making up for it by topping them with things like AB and honey. So much logic…
Guilty as charged! It’s like you’re inside my brain 😉
Guilty as charged. It’s like you’re inside my brain or something 😉
When I had my ED, I baked ALL. THE. TIME. I never ate what I made- I was just smelling it and that was (somehow) enough for me. Crazysauce because there’s no way I can turn down a reese’s peanut butter cup cupcake now! Those muffins look soooooo good!
Lovely recipe! I just adore how applesauce makes baked goods taste SO incredibly sweet! Apple butter (no sugar added) is a mainstay in my fridge. We live near the mountains and can always get a jar of homemade mountain spiced plain apple butter. It’s the best thing I’ve ever had and so great in oatmeal and baked goods.
Baking was one way I healed my relationship with food. For years I feared food but baking actually made me love it, appreciate it, and learn to use it to nurture myself and those around me. Heck, I even love cooking for our dogs!:)
Thanks for the beautiful photos, recipe, and the inspiration!:)<3
I have a jar of apple butter in my fridge and I -almost- used it in these, but I really had no idea how to incorporate it since it’s a bit more sour than applesauce. Definitely going to have to try experimenting a bit…
That recipe sounds amazing! I substitue applesauce in a lot of my baking so this one definitely appeals to me. Of course, I love that it’s skinny friendly too!
These muffins are adorable!!! I want to pick them up and cuddle them! Uhm. That wasn’t supposed to sound creepy. I’d really like to pick them up and eat them, but sans oats and flour. So, I think – for now – I’ll just cuddle them 🙂
Looks great! I love applesauce in muffins! And all of your muffin recipes that I’ve made I’ve really loved 🙂
What an easy and yummy recipe. Thanks for sharing!
What you said surprised me actually – I love baking too and like you, gave it up when I was in the depths of anorexia but where you seem to be at ease with it now I’m still not! Nowadays when I bake I tend to binge on whatever it is I made. I’m not sure exactly why, maybe because even though I keep telling myself I can have said baked good, it’s difficult for my brain to be fully convinced I won’t get fat while eating it? I’ve come a very long way with my eating habits but baked goods (of every form) are the one item I still struggle with!
I went through a similar thing. It’s like the flood gates opened when I allowed myself to have a taste and I wanted to eat ALL the baked goods. It lasted for a while and caused me some serious grief, but when I finally stopped fighting it and truly came to terms with it, it eased up and now I’m fine eating one muffin or a couple of cookies without feeling like I need to eat the entire batch. It’s almost like our minds have a rebellious streak against even the smallest hint of restriction… I know the moment I tell myself I can’t have something, it suddenly becomes all I want.
There’s still hope then 🙂 I have to admit it’s really frustrating especially since I’ve made so much progress. Give me crisps, pizza, cheese, even sweets and I’ll be ok but baked goods? A whole other story! I guess the key is to keep trying knowing that eventually one day I’ll be ok with them!
Our stories are so similar in some ways! I also LOVE to bake! But when I was at my worst I wouldn’t dare back anything for me! I would sometimes bake for family, but never would indulge in it. I MAY have licked the spoon, but would have berated myself for it! I have embraced my love for baking again and am proud to say I typically lick the spoon with no shame 🙂
These are right up my alley! (but so are ALL your recipes) Can’t wait to try them. I love baking too but sometimes it gets clouded by anxiety because I usually end up binge eating whatever comes out of the oven. I’m still learning to achieve that balance, and healthy recipes like this definitely help a lot!
I definitely struggled with finding that balance as well, and I think what helped me the most was TRULY removing the guilt and forbidden-ness that I associated with treats. When I finally realized that I could eat it whenever I wanted and stopped beating myself up over the fact that I ate more than I felt I should have, things just kind of settled down over time.
Don’t be afraid of the baby steps!! Love it! I also find a fun, calm, and peace in the kitchen. It’s a place just for me to create, and it’s lovely!
These look great. It’s been a long time since I have made muffins. They are one of those comfort foods that I love but just never think about making. Plus I have been on a major apple kick lately so it looks like I have some work to do in the kitchen. Thanks for sharing!
Love the almonds on top!! Anything with a crumble or crunchy topping is a win in my book! And I can’t so no to that 🙂
I love to bake as well! I rarely even eat most of the items I bake- I simply give them to friends or coworkers. I just like the act of being busy in the kitchen creating masterpieces that people love! These muffins look so yummy!
I’m sure this doesn’t come as a surprise, but I absolutely love baking too! It has the same calming effect on me. Aside from exercise, baking is my second go-to stress reliever. I love baking for my family and watching them enjoy it. It makes me so happy! I think I get this from my dad – he’s the same exact way; although, he enjoys baking bread as opposed to making desserts!
As far of these muffins, they look wonderful as always! My must try Pinterest board is overflowing with recipes these days! Ha!
Oooh these look good. Definitely trying them soon!
Reading your memories of what baking was like during your ED reminds me of your first posts over at ‘seek’ when you mentioned attempting the first batch of cookies. It’s yet more proof of how far you’ve come. Proof in every baked good.
For me, not just baking but also reading everything I could get my hands on was and is a passion. Sadly, it’s one that got lost through my ED days, too, when I just couldn’t concentrate well enough anymore. I’m getting back into it and really enjoy being able to lie in bed and read without losing focus.
One dish that holds fond childhood memories for me is rice pudding. Even though my dad has a serious aversion towards it my mum knows how much I like it hence why she’d still prepare it when I asked often enough. The most special part was her method of cooking it ‘in bed’ meaning I’d come home to a perfectly cooked batch of rice pudding [‘Milchreis’ for us because the wording alone is what makes it even more comforting to me] after school. It’s been way too long since I last had it – also because it’d be just half as amazing if not prepared by my mum.
I lost my ability to enjoy books as well 🙁 I remember being in such a mental fog that I literally couldn’t read a few sentences without forgetting them. Horrible times that I’m happy to have left behind.
I absolutely love that baking helped you overcome! That is such a special story. And these muffins look delicious!
Wow! Since I’m terrible with anything that involves the oven (but I’m really good with the microwave and the blender, ok?), I would be glad if you send some of those to Brazil cause I’m craving them right now! hahaha
In exchange I can send you the best pineapple in the world that grows here 🙂
Love the idea of adding that crunch topping to these muffins. I bet that it totally makes the recipe. I truly don’t think you can go wrong with applesauce, either. Which reminds me… I have some chilling in my fridge! I can’t imagine how difficult it was for you to bake for friends and family and not be able to partake. It’s a mind battle. I’m so glad you were able to break free from that because now you can do what you love (oh, and we get to share in that, too!).
I can’t wait until I’m settled into my new place so I can go on a baking rampage! Did I tell you I made your protein granola bars last week? I froze ’em & intended to bring them to Kananaskis with me, but I keep eating them. 🙁
😆 Welcome to the reason I ended up having to make 5 batches…
Now that you are mentioning this..I remember a time when I did love baking. I recall sitting on the kitchen counter on the eve of every birthday, helping Mum decorate the rainbow colored fairy cupcakes I wanted to take to school the next day. Every year I wanted those cupcakes, and they were always a hit. I suppose the reason I don’t enjoy baking now could be due to my hidden fears..and a part of me that panics when I realize that I’m head-over-heels in love with the end product. That is a great thing, but for my ED it’s less-than-pleasant. Thank goodness for your recipes which I cannot resist 🙂
Those look crazy moist! And I love the way you topped it off yummm
Ah this is great–I’m glad you’re back to baking 🙂 I think being in the kitchen is a stress reliever for me as well and it’s just plain fun. And yes baby steps, always baby steps with everything in life I think.
Amanda – baking IS indeed relaxing and so extremely enjoyable for me too-definitely something I am passionate about! I enjoy it so much, I don’t even mind the dishes and pans and walls to clean up after! To a mom like me who is always trying to sneak in oats and healthy stuff into my daughters muffins/cupcakes – I love your use of oats in these muffins and I love how golden they are and that topping…scrumdiliumptious! 🙂
Funny thing you mentioned “chocolate chip oatmeal cookies” – I baked a whole batch last night for my daughters soccer team and the Leftovers club!
A mom’s chocolate chip oatmeal cookies are basically the best thing there is 😀
Oh girl, you know you had me at “muffins!”
Baking makes me so happy as well! So glad you’re back to backing, these look great 😀
I went through the exact same thing! I loved baking. But all of the sudden I couldn’t have the baked goods for myself. Part of my recovery process was not baking unless I was going to eat some of what I made. It helped TREMENDOUSLY. And now I’m a pastry chef and eat ALL the desserts. 🙂
I love to bake and find it therapeutic as well. In fact, while my marriage was crumbling and then throughout the divorce process, I turned to baking. I didn’t even realize I was doing it. I think it started to pass the time, it started to have something to do with my son in the afternoons when he was maybe 3 and slowly it dawned on me that I was doing it to channel my thoughts elsewhere, keep busy and well, feel calm. Not to mention, I had some serious treats to enjoy each night after dinner.
Oh my gosh, this so resonates with me. I have way too many memories of REFUSING to eat something, to even go near a food that I did not know the exact nutritional information for. The idea of going out to eat brought me to tears.
I also remember days in the summer where I would bake recipe after recipe just to occupy my time so I wouldn’t eat. Yep, I used food to make me not thing about food. Obviously I never allowed myself even a bite of whatever I made, and just passed them off to friends/family.
Waffles – those bring back some good times. My mom would make a ton at a time, and then I would pop them in the toaster for breakfasts whenever I wanted – with no regard for health/macros. It literally feels like a different life.
I was the same way with pancakes. I actually remember having pancake eating contests with my cousin when I was growing up, when we would see who could eat more. He would always win (damn guys), but I could pack away like 20 of them too 😆 Good times.
Baking definitely helped me in record too and helped lead me to be more flexible with eating non labeled foods. This recipe looks delicious. I usually use pumpkin as a recipe moistener but I’m looking to switch it up and I think applesauce would be perfect! Thanks for sharing your experience.
These look really good, and I have almost all the ingredients (I’ll sub for the coconut oil.. one day I’ll buy it!). Do you think the topping would be good without the almonds? I’m not a fan of them!
Yup! You might just have to add a couple more tablespoons of oats.
Well you know we share the same passion. There is nothing in the world that makes me happier than an afternoon spent baking (or morning, or night). Stress baking definitely happens a lot and I’m not sure how much it helps the situation but while I’m baking I honestly forget about all the BS and afterwards I have yummy treats so it’s a start. Boy am I glad you’re baking again!
p.s. check out how quick I am at bloglovin this morning. Winning!
Oh my gosh delicious- your photos are making me so hungry!
Do you think I could substitute gluten-free flour or maybe almond flour for the whole wheat?
Thank you! 🙂
Definitely! The oats are what make these muffins, so while the texture might end up a little bit different, they should still be fine 🙂
These look delicious! I think it’s great that baking was able to be a part of your recovery, especially when it’s been a life-long love of yours. I never liked cooking or baking when I was a kid, and even now I have to really be in the mood for it, so I envy your ability to just whip stuff up like this. When I was growing up, my mom would make mac ‘n cheese and put chicken and peas in it. It was so so good!