Better Blueberry Muffins

By Hklbrries

"Maybe it's our imagination, but have blueberry muffins ballooned recently? Given that these oversize bakery treats weigh in at around 500 calories each, you may as well be eating a chocolate cupcake, buttercream frosting included! But since we all love an occasional indulgence, food writer Julie O-Hara created a guilt-free version that will satisfy your sweet tooth and keep you svelte. 'Instead of relying on butter and lots of sugar to get a tender mixture, you can use whole-wheat pastry flour, buttermilk, and a small amount of oil,' she says. 'Because these ingredients keep the muffins moist and light, you won't believe just how healthy they are.' Besides saving you more than 300 calories and 12 grams of fat, our recipe revamp uses 100 percent whole grains and is lower in sugar. So tap into your inner Rachael Ray - you'll never be tempted by the pastry case again."

Ingredients

• Muffins:
• 1 1/2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tsp sugar, divided
• 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats (not instant)
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp lowfat buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 2 tbsp canola oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups fresh blueberries washed and dried
• Topping:
• 1/4 cup blueberry all-fruit spread
• 24 fresh blueberries, washed and dried

Details

Servings 12
Adapted from shape.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Combine flour, 1/2 cup of the sugar, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk buttermilk, egg, oil, and vanilla. Toss blueberries with flour mixture. Pour wet ingredients into flour mixture and stir gently.

Line a 12-count muffin pan with paper liners (or spray a nonstick pan with cooking spray). Divide batter evenly; sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until tops are just set. Remove pan from oven; top each muffin with 1 tsp fruit spread and 2 blueberries. Bake 3 to 5 minutes more or until golden. Cool in pan for 10 minutes and serve.

Nutrition Information:
Per muffin
173 calories
4 g fat
Less than 1 g saturated fat
31 g carbohydrates
4 g protein
3 g fiber
46 mg calcium
1 mg iron
215 mg sodium