Skinny White Chocolate Cranberry Muffins
These Skinny White Chocolate Cranberry Muffins are tasty, indulgent and good for your waist line. They are everything you should be having for breakfast.
Before we start with these skinny white chocolate cranberry muffins, I need to confess. We are all friends here right? This is a no judgement zone. After all, we share our deepest love of chocolate, chocolate peanut butter cake and salted caramel here. So don’t judge me when I tell you I believe in silly superstitions. Yes, I am the first one to tell you they are silly but I just can’t help myself because they are so ingrained in me. It’s the African in me I suppose and we have a million superstitions that just stick with you for the rest of your life. Seriously.
You can’t sweep at night otherwise you sweep away all your good luck. (I don’t risk it, EVER). You shouldn’t place your hand bag on the floor because you will be eternally broke. I make this mistake once in a while and probably explains my constant lack of funds (or could that just be my Pier 1 addiction? It’s hard to tell). You should never speak out loud your goals for fear they might not be achieved. Again I try to keep good with this. But see even though I think they are silly, a few of these remain with me that I practice/ avoid doing since I don’t want to find out whether the consequences are true or not.
A week ago on Monday, as I walked out of my apartment building, the first thing I saw was a black crow. I stopped in panic. Black crows are just a bad omen. They say (by they, I mean folks that come up with these rules and superstitions) seeing black crows early in the morning is a sign of death. Morbid I know. Especially for a Monday morning. Of course that did not make getting into my car and driving to work especially easy and less terrifying.
Luckily, I have heard no bad news to that effect (knock on wood) but my Monday was horrible in lab and that cloud has been over my head all week long. Everything just seemed to go wrong and get worse. It will pass I know but I just still can’t coincide my religious faith and scientific mind with these superstitions. Conflicted soul here. (Meanwhile, my husband thinks I’m crazy but what’s new?)
Anyways, one thing I am not conflicted or confused about are these skinny white chocolate cranberry muffins. I’ve been craving a new muffin recipe lately and since we are all in the mood for lighter sweets these day, I decided to go for something ‘skinny’ but indulgent to make any morning cheerful.
I used white whole wheat flour in these muffins as I did in this banana coconut bread last week. I don’t know why it took me so long to discover this flour, but it makes for a hearty healthier substitute to all-purpose flour. The muffins are moistened with homemade applesauce and greek yogurt and sweetened with maple syrup. The tartness of juicy fresh cranberries are balanced with the sweetness of creamy white chocolate chips!! Pure indulgence and they say chocolate are anti-oxidants so they are healthy right?
Skinny White Chocolate Cranberry Muffins
These Skinny White Chocolate Cranberry Muffins are tasty, indulgent and good for your waist line. They are everything you should be having for breakfast.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups white whole wheat flour
- 1⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup maple syrup (or agave)
- ½ cup dark brown sugar
- ½ cup Greek Yogurt
- ½ cup applesauce
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup almond milk, room temperature
- zest of 1 orange
- 1½ cup cranberries
- ½ cup white chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease muffin tins and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- In a small bowl, mix the maple syrup and brown sugar until sugar is smooth. Add in yogurt, applesauce, egg and vanilla extract. Mix until combined. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and gently mix until combined. Slowly add the milk and mix until mixture is thin. Fold in orange zest, cranberries, and white chocolate chips.
- Divide batter into prepared tins. Bake until lightly brown and a tester inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 12-15 minutes. Let muffins cool completely.
Zainab, I SO believe in superstitions! The whole crow thing, I truly believe. Here’s something personal, but I think you’d understand it. The day I said my good byes and left my best friend’s house. As I was leaving, there was a crow sitting on her roof and just being so noisy! To say the least, that was the last time I ever got to say good-bye to her. (She passed away the next day.)
Another crow (short) story… this one a happy one– When my husband and I was first dating, I will never forget how we were walking back to my truck in a parking lot and noticed a huge flock of crows JUST on MY truck! The tale is that a family is forming… and we are now married, bla, bla, bla….
But, we could share so many of our superstitions!
Now to these muffins, my friend! They look amazing …and moist! Thank you for sharing your creative muffins with us at the SSS party! Have a fabulous weekend! xo
Oh my Gosh!! I’m so glad I am not the only one here. Crows are just evil. I’m so sorry to hear about your best friend 🙁 Superstitions just scare me and I try to adhere to the ones that I can to avoid the evil eyes lol! Hope you are having a great week dear 🙂
Talk about superstitions!!! You and I are in the same boat Zainab! Especially with that ‘do not talk about your goals aloud’ I’ts happened on SO MANY occasions that I don’t even tell my own family about developments until it has completely been achieved! Is that crazy? 😀 Weekend is just around the corner and I hope you get your rest! 🙂 🙂 These muffins, btw, TOTAL WINNERS!!!!!!!! Love the flavour combo and they’re healthy! What more can anyone ask for!!!!
I’m so glad I am not alone here!! The goals thing just give the creeps too because it is not about you not achieving the goal but really that others with ill-intentions will try to prevent you. So crazy! Thanks for liking the muffins, they are delicious!!
I’m so sorry your week wasn’t great – that stupid black crow! Superstitions are definitely funny, but I think we all have some…I know that I do! Love this muffin recipe. I love skinny muffins – applesauce and greek yogurt are my favorite ways to lighten things up! Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Thanks Cate! This week is much better 🙂
We all need some skinny muffins in our life at the moment. My biggies at the moment are carrot ones.
Ooooo, I have yet to try one! Thanks Bintu!
The muffins look delicious and I hope your luck turns for the better and you have an amazing week!
Thanks Tonia! The week is going much better 🙂
I’m also really superstitious, so I totally don’t think you are crazy. These muffins look amazing, and I can’t believe they are healthy. I’m a big fan of white whole wheat flour, as well as whole wheat pastry flour. They are great healthy substitutes!
These muffins are beautiful Zainab! I love how healthy they are too! Pinned!
Thank you so much Trish!!
Oh my gosh! Those superstitions explain a lot of problems in my life!!! Haha! These muffins look amazing so I’ll just go stuff my face in them and ignore all my problems caused by not listening to superstitions!
Hahhah Julie, I’m glad I could help with some explanations lol! They are too silly though so keep ignoring.
I’ll definitely be avoiding putting my purse on the floor now! These muffins look delicious – with the extra plus of being healthier! Thanks for linking to the In and Out of the Kitchen Link Party. Hope to see you next week.
I love hearing about people’s superstitions. I have two or three big black crows in my trees every morning and while I don’t hold the same superstition as you I really do not enjoy seeing them first thing in the morning. They are just so ominous looking.
I love cranberry and white chocolate together. What a great breakfast or afternoon snack!
Crows are just creepy to look at in general. Shoo them away next time lol!
Dear Zainab, These certainly are a healthy version of muffins. I bet they are perfect with morning coffee or tea.
Blessings dear. Catherine xo
I’ve seen this floating around Pinterest! P.S. the handbag thing has stuck with me too, they use it here in Jamaica. Personally I hate placing my bag on the floor and avoid it at all costs, but also, I don’t want to be broke!! LOL. These muffins look so delicious and love that they are healthy!
Thanks Jessica!! I tell you it could help save some few pennies lol! Plus we pay so much for those purses anyway they shouldn’t be on the floor.