How To Make Easy Carrot Muffins

Reminiscent of carrot cake, these low-calorie muffins can double as either an on-the-go breakfast or a sugar-free dessert.

Desserts made from carrots are becoming more popular with the high interest in healthy eating. Delicious cakes, pies and even puddings use carrots as a main ingredient for delicious flavor and texture.

Carrots can be a rich source for getting carotene into your diet. When you eat carotene, you body converts it into vitamin A. So not only are these muffins a deliciously welcome treat, but they are a healthy snack or even breakfast food that your family will love eating.

Ingredients:
¾ cup unbleached flour
¾ cup whole-wheat flour
¼ cup oat bran
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
¼ teaspoon grated orange peel
¾ cup orange juice
1 lightly beaten egg white
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons honey
1 medium carrot, shredded

Spray 10 muffin cups with no-stick spray (or line the cups with paper baking cups); set aside.

In a medium bowl, stir together the unbleached flour, the whole­-wheat flour, the oat bran, the baking powder, the cinnamon and the allspice.

In a small bowl, combine the orange peel, the orange juice, the egg white, the oil and the honey. Add this mixture to the flour mixture and stir together just until combined. Next, stir the carrots into the mixture. Spoon the muffin batter into the muffin cups, filling each cup about three-quarters full.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the centers comes out clean. Remove the muffins from their pan. Cool these muffins completely on a wire rack.

To store: Individually wrap each baked muffin in heavy freezer wrap and freeze them until ready to serve.

To serve: Thaw the muffins overnight (wrapped) at room temperature. Or thaw them and reheat each muffin in a microwave oven on high power (100%) for 15 to 20 seconds.

When you have extra zucchini from the garden, shred it and use in place of the carrots. Your kids will never know that they are eating that dreaded vegetable, zucchini, and loving every bite.