Lightened Christmas Coffee Cake (Printable Version)

Tender festive muffins with cinnamon swirls and streusel topping, lighter in calories and rich in holiday flavors.

# What You'll Need:

→ Muffin Batter

01 - 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
04 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
06 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
07 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
09 - 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
10 - 1/2 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
11 - 1/4 cup light olive oil or melted coconut oil
12 - 2 large eggs
13 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
14 - 1/4 cup low-fat milk

→ Cinnamon Swirl

15 - 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
16 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Streusel Topping

17 - 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
18 - 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
19 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
20 - 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, diced

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or lightly grease with nonstick spray.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg until evenly mixed.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together applesauce, Greek yogurt, oil, eggs, vanilla extract, and milk until smooth.
04 - Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined; avoid overmixing to maintain tenderness.
05 - In a small bowl, blend light brown sugar and ground cinnamon to create the cinnamon swirl mixture.
06 - Fill each muffin cup halfway with batter, sprinkle approximately 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon swirl on top, then cover with remaining batter. Use a toothpick to create a gentle swirl in each cup.
07 - Combine flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. Cut cold butter into the mixture with a fork until crumbly. Evenly sprinkle streusel over each muffin.
08 - Bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
09 - Allow muffins to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Lightened recipe with fewer calories
  • Perfect festive flavor with cinnamon swirl and streusel topping
02 -
  • For extra festive flair add 1/4 cup chopped dried cranberries or walnuts to the batter
  • Substitute whole wheat flour for half of the all-purpose flour for added fiber
03 -
  • Do not overmix the batter to keep muffins tender
  • Use cold butter for the streusel to achieve a crunchy topping
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