Under 200 calories per serving and a good source of fiber, these filling muffins make a great on-the-go breakfast. This recipe uses fresh, sweet dates and shredded carrots to cut down on the amount of added sugar. Unsweetened applesauce eliminates the need for oil while keeping them tender and delicious.
Tips for the cook: The coconut topping goes well with the carrot but is optional. You can bake the muffins without a topping or substitute the coconut with heart-healthy walnuts or sunflower seeds for crunch.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 muffin (1/6 recipe)
Amount Per Serving
268
Calories% Daily Value
6%
Total Fat 3.6g8%Saturated Fat 1.6g
Trans Fat 0g
23%
Cholesterol 69mg13%
Sodium 300mg18%
Total Carbohydrate 54.8g21%
Dietary Fiber 5.8gTotal Sugars 35.2g
24%
Includes 12g Added SugarsSugar Alcohols 0g
Protein 6.1g
Alcohol 0.1g
2%
Vitamin D 0.4mcg11%
Calcium 138mg9%
Iron 1.7mg8%
Potassium 372mg21%
Vitamin A 189.5mcg3%
Vitamin C 2.7mgThe % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
49 Net Carbs Per Serving
Yield: 6 muffins
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Baking time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 10 fresh dates (such as Medjool dates)
- 1 cup shredded carrot (about 2 small carrots)
- ¼ cup raw sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ¾ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup white whole wheat flour
Topping
- 2 tbsp unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut
- 2 tbsp raw sugar
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 6-muffin baking pan or half of a 12-muffin pan with olive oil or non-stick cooking spray.
- Add the dates to a small food processor and pulse until finely chopped. You can also chop them finely with a knife. Add the dates to a large mixing bowl.
- Add the carrots and the raw sugar to the mixing bowl. Stir the mixture, breaking up the dates so they are evenly distributed throughout the shredded carrot. Stir in the egg and applesauce and mix well. Add the vanilla extract.
- Next, stir in the baking powder, cinnamon, and salt until the ingredients are combined. Slowly stir in the flour until all ingredients are incorporated.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared muffin pan. Fill each of 6 muffin slots with about ½ cup of the batter.
- In a small bowl, stir together the coconut, sugar, and cinnamon. Top each muffin with about two teaspoons of the mixture. Press it into the batter so it sticks to the muffin top as it bakes.
- Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of each muffin comes out clean. Allow 5 minutes to cool. If necessary, gently slide a knife around each muffin's outside edge to loosen it, and then remove the muffins from the pan and transfer them to a cooling rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.