Snow Day - Baking Day

Last week my three-year old daughter came up to me and asked if we could bake something.  After I spent a few seconds attempting to control my excitement over having a daughter that likes to bake, I answered  a resounding, "YES!"

We went into the kitchen and decided to make one of my favorite recipes, "Muffins that Taste Like Donuts" or as I like to call them "Cinnamon Donut Muffins".  I was able to sneak in a few pictures in between cleaning up the flying flour and thought I would share the recipe with you.

You start by combining the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.  You then set that aside and in another bowl, combine the oil, milk, egg and sugar.  Stir until the sugar is dissolved.  Take the wet ingredients and add them to the dry ingredients - but only stir them enough to combine them.  If you stir them too much, they just don't taste the same.  Then, using an ice cream scoop to regulate the muffin size ( I love mine!) scoop the mixture into your muffin tin.  Which my daughter helped me with . . .

Pretty good job for a three year old huh? 

At this point she became totally disinterested and ran out of the room . . . and so I got some more pictures . . . muah ha ha. :)

So I melted 1/4 pound of butter . . . 

And mixed together 1/3 cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon . . . 

And savored the amazing aroma while I waited the remainder of the 20 minutes for the muffins to come out of the oven.

Now comes the best part.  I took the muffins out the pan and dipped them first in the butter . . . 

. . . and then in the cinnamon.

making sure completely cover the top with cinnamon sugar goodness.  Is your mouth watering yet?  No?  Then let me elaborate . . . 

They aren't as low in sugar as most of my treats, but they do taste like those donuts you get at a cider mill that are covered in cinnamon sugar . . .for only two carbs.  So for those of you who are on the low-carb diet and would like to occasionally enjoy one of those snacks that simply reminds you of fall weekends apple picking in New England . . . these are for you!!  

And if you are wondering if they taste as good as they look, let me assure you with a simple fact . . . all eleven were gone by noon the following day and I didn't eat a single one! :)

I hope you have as much fun making them as I did.  Adding a cute, baking three year old to the recipe certainly helps!!

Happy Baking!!

Cinnamon "Doughnut" Muffins

1 3/4 Cup Flour 1 1/2 tsp Baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/3 cup oil 3/4 cup white sugar 1 egg 3/4 cup milk Topping 1/4 cup butter 1/3 cup white sugar 1 Tbsp cinnamon

1 Combine flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. 2 Combine oil, sugar, egg and milk. Add dry ingredients and stir only to combine. 3 Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a bowl. Combine the white sugar with the cinnamon in another bowl. 4 Shake muffins out while still hot. Dip muffins in butter, then into the sugar/cinnamon mix. Let cool.

Servings: 12

Cooking Times Preparation Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Nutrition Facts Serving size: 1/12 of a recipe (2.4 ounces). Percent daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet. Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients. Amount Per Serving Calories 239.42 Calories From Fat (40%) 94.89 % Daily Value Total Fat 10.76g 17% Saturated Fat 3.63g 18% Cholesterol 26.89mg 9% Sodium 172.21mg 7% Potassium 51.89mg 1% Total Carbohydrates 33.54g 11% Fiber 0.92g 4% Sugar 18.9g Protein 2.99g 6%