Nourishing Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Ah... Autumn in Vermont and an abundence of Apples right off our trees! As I stand here in my Kitchen amazed by these baskets of Apples my mind begins to spin a web of Apple Pies, Apple Scones, Apple Bread Pudding, Apple Sauce and Baked Apples. But one of my favorites needs to be made tout de suite! Apple Cinnamon Muffins laced with Vermont Maple Syrup! 
    

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Dry Ingredients:

2 cups Organic Unbleached White Flour

2 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Sea Salt

1½ tsp Cinnamon

Local Apples

Wet Ingredients:

1/2 cup Soy, Rice , Almond or Coconut Milk.

1/2 cup Rice, Maple, or Agave Syrup

1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar 

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1/4 Cup Sunflower, Safflower, or Coconut Oil

1½  Cup Diced Apple

Diced Apples

Method:
In one bowl whisk together dry ingredients to be sure they are thoroughly blended
In a Second bowl add all wet ingredients including the diced Apple and whisk together to ensure blending
Spray Muffin Tin or Spring Form Pan with Oil Spray
I love to using Muffin Liners and always line my Cake Pans with Parchment to ensure easy removal
Then pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients using a stir/fold type movement mix 
DO NOT over mix, a few little lumps will give the muffins character
Spoon into Muffin Tin or a seven or eight inch Spring Form Pan (this will make a lovely Breakfast Cake)
Then dot with a few Chunks of Apples these will add texture too the Muffins or Cake
Place in the oven on middle rack
Bake muffins for 30 minutes and cake for 40 to 45 
Test with skewer for doneness or tap with fingers and they should feel firm.

Remove cool and enjoy!

Now a few ideas on Ingredients:

I like Eden Brand Soy/Rice Beverage. Should you choose Coconut Milk I would not use canned, instead try So Delicious Brand. Vanilla flavored is divine and usually found in the Dairy Case at most Natural Food Stores. It's only drawback is that it contains Cane Sugar and not everyone wants that in their diet.

I use Rice Syrup for a mild sweetening experience. Rice Syrup will also enters the  bloodstream much slower then simple sugars so you will not have a blood sugar level crash thirty minutes after eating. Rice Syrup along with the addition of Cinnamon will keep your blood sugar levels balanced.

When considering Maple Syrup as an ingredient in any recipe remember it does add another dimension to the flavor. This can be favorable depending on the other ingredients. 
Try Toasted Walnuts, Apple and MapleSyrup, or Maple, Pecan and Peach! Oh! Raspberry, Coconut with Coconut Milk and Coconut Oil is a great combo as well! The beauty of this recipe is that you can have fun being creative. 
I hope you enjoy this recipe and please post comments and questions. I look forward to hearing from you!