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What Are the Different Types of Low-Fat Muffins?

Lori Kilchermann
Lori Kilchermann

Low-fat muffins can still be rich in flavor by using fruits and flavorings that are both tasty and low in fat. Blueberries, pineapples and bananas can add flavor to low-fat muffins while only adding minimal amounts of fat. Other options for creating tasty, low-fat muffins include using ingredients such as nonfat dry milk, low-fat yogurt and whole-wheat flour.

Blueberries provide plenty of flavor without adding a lot of fat to muffins. Low-fat blueberry muffins are made using whole-wheat flour, quick-cooking rolled oats and baking powder. They are flavored with buttermilk, pineapple-orange concentrate and unsweetened blueberries. Blueberry bran muffins are made with oat bran cereal, brown sugar and low-fat yogurt. They are flavored with honey, lemon peel and blueberries.

Applesauce can be used as a substitute for butter or oil some recipes.
Applesauce can be used as a substitute for butter or oil some recipes.

Bananas are relatively low in fat, so they are often used to create low-fat muffins. Low-fat banana muffins feature white, all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour and baking powder. They also are made with canola oil, sweet milk and mashed bananas. Cocoa-banana muffins are made using oats, brown sugar and unsweetened cocoa. They are flavored with mashed bananas, low-fat milk and vanilla.

Many people like to add raisins to muffins.
Many people like to add raisins to muffins.

Oat bran and whole-wheat flour are used in many recipes for low-fat muffins. Low-fat oat bran muffins are made with oat bran, brown sugar and raisins. They also feature egg whites, honey and applesauce. Whole-wheat low-fat muffins feature whole-wheat flour, light brown sugar and baking powder. They also include peach or raspberry cereal, nonfat milk and unsweetened applesauce.

Whole-wheat white flour is becoming a popular ingredient in low-fat muffins.
Whole-wheat white flour is becoming a popular ingredient in low-fat muffins.

Cranberries and pineapples are featured in some recipes for low-fat muffins. Low-fat cranberry muffins feature flour, bran and baking powder. They are seasoned with light sour cream, an orange and fresh cranberries. Mexican fruit muffins feature crushed pineapple, flour and sugar.

Some low-fat muffins are topped with a glaze. Glazed lemon muffins feature low-fat lemon yogurt, grated fresh lemon peel and egg substitute. The glaze is made with lemon juice and sugar. Apple muffins are flavored with maple syrup, chopped apple and melted butter. Their glaze features powdered sugar and maple syrup.

Oats can be used when making low-fat muffins.
Oats can be used when making low-fat muffins.

Low-fat muffins often feature low-fat yogurt and non-fat dry milk as ingredients that help keep the fat content in the muffins at a minimum. Diet pumpkin muffins are made with pumpkin, pumpkin spice and cinnamon. They also feature grated carrots, raisins and vanilla. Pumpkin bran muffins are made with non-fat dry milk, eggs and pumpkin. Yogurt muffins are made with low-fat yogurt, skim milk and blueberries or grated apples.

Discussion Comments

gravois

I originally started making whole wheat muffins for the health benefits but I came to love the flavor and now I eat them with whole wheat flour almost exclusively.

nextcorrea

One thing to point out is that almost all muffins will be healthier and have a lower amount of fat if you make them yourself rather than buying them from a store or in a package. This is true for almost all foods but especially for baked goods. The ones they sell in stores are supposed to be so over the top and decadent that they stuff them full of as much fat and sugar as they can.

Making muffins in your own oven from good, simple straight forward recipes will always produce something that is better for you and probably tastes a lot better.

whiteplane

Applesauce muffins are one of my favorite kind of low fat, low calorie healthy muffins. They use applesauce to substitute for some of the sugar and fat. And seeing as applesauce is so much healthier than sugar or oil, the muffins turn out much better for you.

It is pretty easy to find a recipe online or in most cookbooks. 40 or 50 years ago they probably would have been thought of as hippy food but substituting applesauce for sugar is pretty widely accepted now.

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    • Applesauce can be used as a substitute for butter or oil some recipes.
      By: rimglow
      Applesauce can be used as a substitute for butter or oil some recipes.
    • Many people like to add raisins to muffins.
      By: Dionisvera
      Many people like to add raisins to muffins.
    • Whole-wheat white flour is becoming a popular ingredient in low-fat muffins.
      By: Jultud
      Whole-wheat white flour is becoming a popular ingredient in low-fat muffins.
    • Oats can be used when making low-fat muffins.
      By: eAlisa
      Oats can be used when making low-fat muffins.
    • Yogurt can be used to bake low-fat muffins.
      By: Colinda McKie
      Yogurt can be used to bake low-fat muffins.
    • Low-fat muffins often feature dried fruit or vegetables like carrots.
      By: Berna Şafoğlu
      Low-fat muffins often feature dried fruit or vegetables like carrots.