Apple Cider Muffins.

I have two healthy things to share this morning - a race discount for a 10k coming up this weekend in Chicago, and a new muffin recipe using beautifully tart fall apples. Apple Cider Muffins are perfect for breakfast or a snack any day of the week.

First up, the race!

{Image courtesy of Women's Health}

Women's Health is hosting the RUN 10 FEED 10 10k race in Lincoln Park this Sunday, October 19th. RUN10 FEED10 is a partnership with the FEED Foundation, a non-profit organization fighting hunger and malnutrition around the world. As part of each race registration, ten meals will be donated to those going hungry in the local community. This will be my first experience participating in RUN10 FEED 10, and I'll post a re-cap after the race. Fingers crossed for sunny weather!

If you're interested in running this local 10k, you can get a $5 discount on registration by entering the code R10F10PR. Click here to register for the Chicago race. If you want to be part of this race but don't live in Chicago or another host city, you can still participate by registering on Run10Feed10.com and using the RUN10 FEED10 training app, created by WalkJogRun, to plot your own course and run a 10K anytime. 

Now let's talk breakfast. I had an itch to bake on Sunday, and this recipe is one I've been thinking about for a few weeks. I had apple cider and tart apples that were just waiting to be made into something delicious. The result is a batch of healthy muffins packed with apple flavor, with no butter in sight. Applesauce is substituted for most of the oil, and maple syrup for a portion of the sugar.

Extra apple flavor comes from the special ingredient apple cider and two chopped McIntosh apples. My favorite way to eat a muffin is crumbled on top of yogurt - am I the only one who does this? For this muffin, the Dreaming Cow Maple Ginger flavor is a perfect combination.

Apple Cider Muffins
Makes 17 muffins.

Ingredients~
1 1/3 cups all-purpose {white} flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup apple cider
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
2 tart apples, chopped
2 eggs
2 Tablespoons pure vegetable oil
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

How to~
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients - flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients - eggs, applesauce, cider, maple syrup, oil, and vanilla, until smooth.
*Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Fold in the chopped apples.
*Spoon batter into muffin cups or a greased muffin tin.
*Bake for 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

These came out at 130 calories per muffin, using the SparkRecipes calculator. Enjoy these muffins for breakfast or a healthy snack!

{Adapted heavily from Eating Well's Spiced Apple Muffins}

{I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own. I received a free race registration from Women's Health to run the RUN 10 FEED 10 10k race in Chicago.}