Morning Glory Muffins

**A mildly sweet, carrot cake-like muffin.  NO REFINED SUGAR (unless it's in your applesauce)!

Source: Mel's Kitchen Cafe (she calls them "Healthy Applesauce Carrot Muffins")

Yield: 12 muffins

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce  (I use homemade bottled applesauce)
• 3/4 cup finely shredded carrots (about 2-3 medium carrots)
• 1/2 cup raisins and/or chopped nuts (optional, but very good..I like raisins in my carrot cake :) )

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners (or I prefer to just lightly spray a nonstick muffin tin).
2. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt.
3. Make a small well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the butter, honey, applesauce, egg, and vanilla.
4. Stir ingredients together until just combined and there are still some spots of flour remaining.
5. Fold in the shredded carrots just until combined (don't overmix or the muffins will be dense).
6. Distribute the batter evenly among the muffin liners. Bake for 18-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.
7. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely. These muffins freeze wonderfully and keep well if covered at room temperature for 2-3 days.