Lowfat Apple Banana Cherry (ABC) Mini Muffins Recipe

I've always loved applesauce banana bread but recently received a 4lb bag of dried cherries and have been trying to figure out how to go through them all (I also made homemade rum cherry ice cream).

Lucky me, I just happened to have 2 leftover ripe bananas and my snack standby -unsweetened applesauce. That's about all you need to make this easy, no-guilt muffin recipe with applesauce, bananas, and dried cherries. There's no butter and no oil in the recipe, with the only fat coming from the eggs. I added a touch of nonfat Fage greek yogurt to add a touch of richness - but that's healthy too!

I guess I could have made full sized muffins, but the mini ones are so much cuter and easier to share. Hope you enjoy these reduced fat ABC mini muffins (applesauce, bananas, & cherries) - they're a healthy snack!

Lowfat Apple Banana Cherry Mini Muffins: bananas, applesauce, dried cherries, nonfat greek yogurt, eggs, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg

Lowfat ABC (Apple Banana Cherry) Mini Muffins

Yields: 48 mini muffins (2 pans) or 12 regular sized muffins

Ingredients

• Dry
• 1 3/4 cup (219 g) all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup (67 g) brown sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp saigon cinnamon (or regular)
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg, freshly grated
• 1/2 tsp salt

• Wet
• 2 eggs
• 2 ripe bananas mashed (a little less than a cup)
• 2 tbsp nonfat Fage greek yogurt (or your brand of choice)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

• Stir In
• 1 cup dried cherries (can substitute other dried fruits like cranberries, blueberries, etc. I add a lot because I like the chew but feel free to reduce)
• (Optional - 1/2 cup nuts of your choice)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
3. Combine the wet ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Add in mixed dry ingredients and mix together well. 
4. Stir in dried cherries
5. Spray mini-muffin tins with non-stick baking spray with flour
6. Pour batter into muffin tin - about a tbsp each so that batter comes just under the edge
7. Bake for about 16-18 minutes, until toothpick inserted is clean.

Note: These muffins can be frozen and defrosted, just like your favorite banana bread recipe.