Just Baking

I suppose I can think of odder places to get recipes, but for now, this will do. During the week, my almost-five-year-old son, Nicholas, will jockey for time on my computer to play games on Nick Jr.’s website. Forget the fact that he has his very own little computer, Mom’s is obviously way cooler.

The other day, we stumbled on The Muffin Maker game from The Hey Girls of Holly Hobbie fame. Before then, I’d never heard of The Hey Girls, but maybe I’m just past my prime. He loved the game, but more importantly, the recipes that you can also print out there, namely the one for Applesauce Muffins. He printed it, colored it and copied it. Copied it several times for me in fact, lest I lose one. He asked a million times for us to make them this week, but he and I get distracted real easily and hadn’t gotten around to it yet. I felt bad, because I knew he was really looking forward to eating them (more so than making them, surprisingly enough).

Tonight the boys are out, so I thought I’d surprise Nicholas by making them. Super simple to make, they were in the oven in literally minutes. Love the perfect little dome tops. No taste report yet, since I’m waiting to eat them with Nicholas, but this might be just the recipe to share with your little one.

Applesauce Muffins
Courtesy of Holly Hobbie’s Hey Girls

2 cups flour
3/4 sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup butter (8 tablespoons), melted

Preheat oven to 375° F. Grease or line a 12-muffin cup pan with paper cupcake liners. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk to blend. Add the egg, applesauce and butter. Stir until just blended. Spoon into the muffin pan. Bake until puffed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 18-20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool for 5 minutes. Invert and cool completely.