muffin challenge #2: spiced cranberry apple

i flaked on the debya-calcy muffin challenge last weekend, despite the fact that i had three days to get it done. so this weekend, i knew i had some making up to do. come saturday afternoon, i hadn't gotten word from deb of any new muffin outings, so i thought i was off the hook. alas, she came through around 8:30. though i was out, i came home realllly late to find that i was not one but TWO muffins behind. so this is actually the recipe that was due last week and i'll be attacking my newest challenge in the next day or two.

these spicy cranberry apple muffins came out really well balanced, despite a host of SNAFUs i either encountered or caused during the first production run. i made some straight-up stupid mistakes (like, you know, not following preparation directions and creaming the sugar & earth balance, duh.) but they came out really good despite that. i've heard or read about so many people who have major baking issues and it always leaves me thinking that baking is some crazy exact science and if you stumble even the slightest bit you will end up with inedible compost on your counter. not so! i had to improvise with ingredients a little and tweak the batter to correct my mistakes, but i still ended up with a delicious wintertime muffin. i tried one when it was still warm from the oven, and it was good, but i found they're actually better after they've cooled and the flavors have time to develop a little bit. i just ate another half-muffin and it was fantastic!
next time i'll include a streusel top because that would have put these muffins on the express train to awesometown. but as they are, made with half whole wheat flour, they have kind of a healthier feel, so a topping might detract from that.

i'm now undefeated in my muffin challenge, but i'm afraid my judge will consider penalizing me if i continue to be late on delivery. my confidence bolstered, i'm ready to get a handful of raspberries and get to work on debya's next find.


(recipe veganized and adapted from somewhere on the internet, don't know where just now, but i changed it up a fair amount so i'm okay with taking the credit. or blame. as you see fit.)

spiced cranberry apple muffins
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup earth balance margarine
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup applesauce
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup chopped apples
1/2 cup chopped cranberries

preheat oven to 375 degrees and line a 12-cup muffin pan.
in a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder & soda, and salt.
in a large bowl, cream together earth balance, sugar, and applesauce. add vanilla and stir in apples.
gradually blend the flour mixture into the creamed ingredients. (if your batter is really thick, add a splash of soymilk!)
bake ~30 minutes or until they pass the toothpick test.
remove from muffin pan and cool on tray.
makes 12.