Blueberry-Maple Muffins

 It's amazing how many different ways you can make a blueberry muffin.  Is it even possible to have yet another favorite?  Absolutely!  I always says it depends on what you're in the mood for-I never like anything too sweet first thing in the morning.  Just a hot cup of coffee and a scone or some oatmeal.  Those sweeter muffins, loaded with delicious cinnamon streusel and studded with blueberries, are perfect for dessert.  This is one I would place in the 'healthy, great for breakfast' category.  The combination of maple syrup and orange juice, cinnamon and the orange zest-the aroma in my kitchen right now is incredible!  They taste wonderful too!  And the best part?  They only have 1 gram of saturated fat!  (okay, the best part is that they taste wonderful, but I feel good about them being so low in fat!)


1 cup whole-wheat flour (I used whole-wheat pastry flour)
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
1/4 cup canola oil
2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest
1 tablespoon orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups fresh or frozen (unthawed) blueberries
1 tablespoon sugar

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Coat a 12 cup muffin tin with cooking spray.  In a large bowl, combine both flours, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; whisk well to blend.  In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs and maple syrup until smooth.  Add buttermilk, oil, orange zest, orange juice and vanilla.  Whisk until blended well.  Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients; mix with a rubber spatula just until moistened.  Fold in the blueberries.  Scoop the batter into prepared muffin cups.  Sprinkle the tops with the 1 tablespoon granulated sugar.  Bake about 15 to 25 minutes, until tops are golden brown and spring back when touched lightly.  Let the muffins cool in pan 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack.   12 muffins  

 Adapted from EatingWell