Mug Muffins



My husband travels a lot for work - which means we stay in our pj's a lot and eat quick and easy meals when he's gone.  Actually, if it were socially accepted, I'd keep my kids in pj's all day, every day for their entire lives.  What's cuter than a kid in pajamas?  Me, on the other hand - I'm not so cute in my pajamas, but ah well.  You win some, you lose some.

Since we do the everyone sits around the dinner table family dinners, when he's gone, I am going to admit that I tend to get a little lazy streamlined. Ahem.  I tend to choose things that are quick and easy, which can make staying healthy sort of challenging.  A lot of times quick and easy = not so good for you.  That's why I was really excited to find this fun breakfast/dessert idea from Flavorator.



You may have seen me post on my Facebook page awhile back about trying a cookie in a mug recipe that our friend Melissa at No. 2 Pencil created.  It was awesome!  So this morning, I was eyeing my overripe bananas and wondering about a banana bread/muffin in a mug recipe.  And sure enough, Pinterest came to my rescue.

After my success with the banana chocolate chip muffin, I went ahead and created a toddler approved and healthy applesauce muffin recipe for the kiddos in your life.  You're welcome!

This banana muffin recipe was adapted from Flavorator, and I added dairy free chocolate chips, but you could omit those and add nutella, blueberries, or strawberries or whatever your little heart desires.  It's ridiculously healthy, has no dairy or refined sugar and with the addition of a small handful of chocolate chips, is sweet enough to make as a dessert.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin in a Mug
Recipe adapted from Flavorator

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
  • 2 tbsp flax meal
  • 2 tbsp whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 (heaping) teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 mashed banana (mashed REALLY well)
  • 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup  **Reader comment - if using maple syrup, sweeten to taste.  Maybe start with 1 Tblsp and see how you like it.  She thought the syrup made it a little too sweet**
  • small handful of chocolate chips (I used dairy free)
Directions: 

Whisk together the dry ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside. Whisk together the wet ingredients in a small bowl. Add them to the dry. Mix until incorporated, but don't over-mix.

Spray your mug with non stick cooking oil.  Pour in the muffin mixture, and place in the microwave. Heat on high for 90 seconds.



Eat in the mug or let cool for at least 1 minute and gently drop onto a plate. 




My toddler approved recipe uses a strawberry applesauce, which does give it a little bit of a gummy texture - so feel free to use banana in place of the applesauce.  I also cut the honey in half and only used 1 tblsp.  If you haven't introduced your little one to honey yet, feel free to use maple syrup, or leave it out completely.  




Toddler Approved Applesauce Muffin 


Ingredients:
  • 2 tbsp flax meal
  • 2 tbsp whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 (heaping) teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/3 c.  strawberry applesauce, or regular applesauce (or 1 banana mashed REALLY well)
  • 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup

Directions:

Whisk together the dry ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside. Whisk together the wet ingredients in a small bowl. Add them to the dry. Mix until incorporated, but don't over-mix.

Spray your mug with non stick cooking oil.  Pour in the muffin mixture, and place in the microwave. Heat on high for approximately 1 minute 45 seconds.  Let cool for several minutes, then turn over and gently drop on plate.  

Serve!


I loved serving this muffin to Beckett - it was healthy and with no added sugars - he totally scarfed it up!


Have you tried any "in a mug" recipes yet?  How did they turn out?