Morning Glory Muffins

These muffins are a carrot cake made into a muffin, complete with all the optional add-ins: coconut, nuts, and raisins. Because they are muffins and not cake, they are drier and not as sweet. In fact, as I look over the recipe I see that they are relatively low in fat and low in sugar compared with a lot of other muffins and quick breads. I did not do this today, but I would imagine you could easily substitute half whole wheat flour without a significant change in taste or texture. Be careful not to overbake them.


I find that when I make muffins I prefer to use the mini muffin size. However, when Todd saw that I was going to make muffins today he asked me to make "train muffins." Anne gave us this specialty muffin/cupcake pan from Williams-Sonoma for Christmas 2006. We have actually gotten more use of it than I would have expected. It is a treat for the boys that does not take much more effort on my part.
The engine was already claimed and half-eaten before this picture could be taken.



Morning Glory Muffins
Source: Good Housekeeping?


1/2 cup flaked sweetened coconut
1/4 cup hulled sunflower seeds
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups shredded carrots (2 to 3 carrots)
1/2 cup dark seedless raisins


1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease twelve muffin-pan cups or line with paper baking liners. On jelly-roll pan, toast coconut and sunflower seeds 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until coconut is golden brown. Cool.
2. In large bowl, stir flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. In small bowl, with wire whisk or fork, mix yogurt, sugar, oil, and egg. Stir egg mixture into flour mixture just until flour is moistened. Stir in carrots, raisins, coconut, and sunflower seeds until combined.
3. Spoon batter into prepared muffin-pan cups. Bake 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center of muffin comes out clean. Immediately remove muffins from pan; serve warm, or cool on wire rack to serve later. Makes 1 dozen muffins.