Lightened Christmas Coffee Cake (Printable)

Tender muffins featuring cinnamon swirls and crunchy streusel, delivering festive flavors with fewer calories.

# 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 light brown sugar
16 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Streusel Topping

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

# Method:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Lightened calories for a guilt-free treat
  • Festive cinnamon swirl and crunchy streusel topping
02 -
  • Contains wheat (gluten), eggs, and dairy (milk yogurt butter)
  • Check all packaged ingredients for potential allergen cross-contamination
03 -
  • Do not overmix batter to keep muffins tender and moist
  • Gently swirl the cinnamon mixture with a toothpick for perfect marbling
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