I have to admit I’m not a big fan of muffins. For no particular reason, I just think there are other, not even necessarily better, cakes out there. However muffins are very popular in my family and it started some time ago, when my niece made them for the first time and felt in love with them right away. I know, you are going to say, not a big deal, but muffins were definitely not part of MY childhood, so imagine how surprised I was when I called my mom and she said “We are making muffins!” Awww 😀 My niece is 11 years old and is one of the most funny and brightest kids I’ve never known. And I say that not because she’s my niece, it’s simply a statement of fact. When she was born I still lived in the country so I could watch her grow and I still remember when I saw her for the first time- she was exactly 6 weeks old and I was so scared while holding her!! I remember those big, blue eyes looking at me, probably thinking “And there you go, another one, who is going to stare at me and keep saying how cute I am…” Well, it was true. I couldn’t take my eyes off her, because she was a stinking CUTE BABY! She looked like she was born just to be admired and adored by the whole family.
When this whole muffin madness started, I was skeptical about it, mostly because I know we as a family love pancakes for sure- so muffins, really? But almost every week I was getting text messages from my sister saying that they just made muffins with this, and muffins with that… OK! I get it! Give me the recipe! My niece has two favorite recipes and today I’m sharing one of them. I modified it a little bit, to make it more healthy, and I think the result was fantastic. It’s so simple and fast, that you can just get up on Sunday morning, when the whole house is still sleeping and make them for breakfast. Apples are part of the original recipe, and I added some hazelnuts and sunflower seeds. Also instead of normal plain yogurt, I used the goat one and also added some cream. My last modification was the orange water- to make the pastry more puffy. This is the easiest muffin recipe ever, I promise! Well, it has to be if even the 11 years old can make it 🙂
Ingredients
Makes 10 muffins, preparation time- 15 min, time in the oven- 20 min, oven temperature- 180C
- 250 g of flour
- 1 egg
- 100 g of sugar
- 80 ml of olive oil
- 250 ml of yogurt- I took 150 ml of goat yogurt and 150 ml of thick cream- my sister told me with cream these muffins are even better
- vanilla sugar
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1 apple
- a few hazelnuts- around 15-20
- 2-3 tablespoons of sunflower seeds
- 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
Method
In advance prepare the apple- chop it into small pieces and spread the lemon juice over it. Fry the sunflower seeds for a few minutes until golden and do the same with hazelnuts. Chop the hazelnuts into small pieces too.
In a big glass bowl combine all ingredients together until the pastry is smooth. At the very end add the apples and the nut mixture and make sure everything is combined evenly.
I baked my muffins in ramekins but feel free to use the usual muffin pans. Sparkle some sunflower seeds and hazelnut over the muffins. Place them in the oven- you have to preheat it, and bake them for about 20 min in 180 C. Let the muffins cool down before served. Enjoy!
Plate du Jour 
34 thoughts on “Healthy Muffins for my Niece”
~ Carmen ~
I like the addition of yogurt & lemon juice. I wish I could munch on a couple of these right now.
:] // ▲ itsCarmen.com ▲
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Ginger
They look amazing – you’d easily forget they’re healthy 😉 It’s one of the drawbacks of living abroad that you don’t see family regularly enough, especially kids. And they grow up so quickly! My cousin’s daughter turned 18 this year, but I still have albums full of pictures of her as a 7 or 8-year old. Time flies.
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platedujour
So true and a bit sad too you know. I love my sister’s kids like they were my own and I feel sorry I cannot see them more often. I wish I could.
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kunstkitchen
Thanks for stopping by the kitchen. I have been to your beautiful country and remember well the special food I had in a charming restaurant in the mountains.
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zetalicious
On my ‘to do list’!!!! 😍👌👌👌
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Fooodpost
Yumm!Oh, I love muffins 🙂 🙂
Flora
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platedujour
Flora how are you? I haven’t seen you for a while 🙂 nice to have you here xx
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Flora
Hi Marta…I’m good thank you 🙂 …T’was good visiting your blog.Looking forward to reading more 🙂
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Tandy | Lavender and Lime
I love that you made these for your niece. I have never seen goat yoghurt before but I am sure it adds a great flavour dimension to your muffins 🙂
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platedujour
Goat milk is a basic in France and Luxemburg where I live. I make these yoghurts at home very often. We also love so called brebis yoghurts and cheese of any kind made out of goat milk. It’s very good for you especially if you’re allergic to cow milk 🙂
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Food from Michelle's kitchen
I can’t resist a good muffin and these look truly yummy. I love the addition of goats yoghurt too.
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platedujour
Thank you 🙂 They were truly delicious- I think the orange flower water also makes the difference, so it’s important to use it. It’s great breakfast but I had some before dinner too 😉 sneaky me
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Ngan R.
Wow! What beautiful, moist-looking muffins! I am a huge muffin fan, but have to stay away from conventional muffins because of the sugars and other unhealthy content. This looks like a recipe I can definitely try! xx
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platedujour
Thank you Ngan. My boyfriend is a huge fan of chocolate muffins from Starbucks, and I was thinking that next time I really have to try that choco version of my niece 🙂 I had 3 of those yesterday- 1 for breakfast and 2 before my dinner!! Just couldn’t resist…
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Traditionally Modern Food
Can I grab some dear? It looks dangerously delicious
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platedujour
Aha! Next time feel invited 🙂 xx
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MyKabulKitchen
I feel exactly as you do about muffins, I am not crazy about muffins but this recipe with the apples, hazelnuts and yogurt looks like a heavenly breakfast!
Your niece is lucky to have such a creative and talented auntie 🙂
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milkandbun
Healthy and look wonderful!!! Beautiful photos and muffins! 🙂
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lapetitepaniere
They look absolutely scrumptious, Marta 🙂 I can imagine how cute is your niece. I would love to eat so many of these for my breakfast 😀 Have a wonderful week and I’m sure you are a wonderful Aunt xx
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Frugal Hausfrau
You’ve outdone yourself! Amazing.
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Pang @circahappy
Your niece seems like a lovely kid that I really love to see her photo (s) whenever you are ready to share with all of us 🙂
Also, talking about your photos, they are wonderful. I particularly love your ingredients shot, not that I don’t love the rest, which I do. What a great job, Marta. I can’t wait to see many more photos to come. xoxo
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Bonnie Eng
These look extremely delicious Marta! Your niece obviously has great taste, and lucky her since you are auntie and chef extraordinaire! My niece’s Bday is this coming up this weekend…I am in charge of making her a cake out of banana bread…hope she likes it as much as your niece likes these! 😉
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dedy oktavianus pardede
yupp, mee to
i’m not a fans of muffin, but still i making it once a while when my nieces and nephews coming by….
but i guess it nice to had a brunch with it…..
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Tasty Eats Ronit Penso
The muffins look great and the ingredients healthy indeed! You’re really a good aunt, Marta. 🙂
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platedujour
Thank you so much Ronit! Yeah…I know it doesn’t sound modest but I think I’m pretty good aunt 😀
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Dana Fashina
Aww, I love this post Marta!
It’s showing your sensitive side,
Who knew you could be so genuinely sincere 😀
These muffins are worthy of your niece and of you.
Beautiful, beautiful.
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platedujour
I know right?? Italians call it a moment of weakness!! Seriously though, of course I’m sensitive, the only thing if you work in finance you can’t really show it as often as you wish to 😀 now I can see it clearly that I should have gone for medical engineering- you guys are free like birds 😉
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Dana Fashina
Hahaha!!
We have to be, we’re awkward enough as is 😁😁
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Linda Creation
Woooow terrific
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platedujour
Thank you! I’m glad you like it 🙂
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The Novice Gardener
Healthy never looks so good, Marta! My kids love muffins and I haven’t made them in a long time! I need to get cracking. 😃
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platedujour
Thank you so much!I’m so happy to see you here 🙂 Imagine my first muffins! And we loved them at home. I have another muffin recipe to share- chocolate this time 😉
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The Novice Gardener
Chocolate muffins happen to be my kids’ fave! Can’t wait for that recipe!
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platedujour
Maybe next weekend if I can make it- the light is so bad these days. It’s impossible to work with the camera, especially during the week and I only work with the daylight so I always wait until the weekend comes 😦 I can’t wait when days get longer and brighter again!
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