Sweet strawberry muffins with beets for color and nutrition! We used very little sugar, no oil, and 100% whole wheat, so moms and kids can agree on these colorful strawberry beet muffins.
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I wanted to make something special. Something pink, red, sweet, and delicious. But also healthy because we all know there’s enough decadence on this holiday as it is!
I came up with a beautifully festive pink-battered muffin: strawberries + beets. A match made in heaven. The batter is just beautiful! I wish they stayed as beautifully pink when cooked, but at least they remain nutritious!
I seriously love these muffins because a) they taste like strawberries, b) they’re light, fluffy, and moist, and c) they’re pretty much guilt-free!
Even my husband liked them, and he’s a self-avowed beet hater (they’re one of two things he doesn’t like) – you can only taste beets if you’re looking for them.
What makes strawberry beet muffins good for you?
Where do I start with these? Strawberries – they’re high in vitamin C, manganese, and antioxidants. Plus, they’re just beautiful and oh so delicious. A ripe strawberry is one of my favorite things.
And then the beets! I’ll admit it – this is actually my first escapade into the world of beets. My husband hates them and I never grew up eating them. But after doing my research I think I’m converted!
Beets are amazing because they have lots of folate! This is super important for expecting moms, but also for kids. Folate is necessary for growth because it helps with cell division, and a lack of it can lead to anemia. Beets also contain manganese and potassium, as well as high amounts of anti-inflammatory antioxidants.
And don’t throw away those beet greens! They’re not only edible, but incredible! They pack in super high amounts of K, A, and C, as well as copper, potassium, vitamin B2, and so many others. Eat them raw like lettuce, saute them in a little olive oil, or throw them in a soup. Next time I think I may blend them up into the muffin mixture itself!
Speaking of which the muffin mix is pretty great too because it’s 100% whole wheat with only 1/2 cup of sugar for 30 muffins. Plus, we used applesauce instead of oil, so these are nice and light. They have a wonderfully perfect texture even without oil!
Homemade strawberry beet whole wheat muffins
Let’s prep first. Preheat the oven to 350* F and line or grease a muffin tin. Rinse and dice a 16 ounce package of strawberries so that you have nice small pieces.
Clean your beets well and remove stems. Don’t throw them away! These are edible and really nutritious – save them for salads or to throw in soups or smoothies. Peel beets (the skin tastes extra earthy) and then grate them. They’re rather hard, so I found grating at an angle worked best for me.
Now in a medium sized bowl combine all dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
Combine wet ingredients in a large bowl: applesauce, eggs, vanilla, and sugar. Now stir in the cup of grated beets and most of the diced strawberries – reserve about 3/4 cup of strawberries for topping later. Mix well, squishing strawberries to release juice as you go.
Slowly add the dry ingredients into the large bowl with wet ingredients. Mix well. Drop large spoonfuls into prepped muffin tin, filling about 3/4 full. Top with a sprinkling of reserved strawberries.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick comes clean out of the center. Err on the side of a little more done if you plan to save these – the fruit ingredients moisten them as they sit, so the tops of mine got a little soggy since I usually pull mine out on the early side.
Store in an airtight container for a few days, and freeze the ones you don’t get to for later!
Whole Wheat Strawberry Beet Muffins
Ingredients
- 3 cup strawberries
- 1 cup beet
- 3 1/2 cup flour, whole wheat
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 cup applesauce, unsweetened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350* F. Grease or line a standard muffin tin.
- Rinse and dice a 16 ounce package of strawberries into very small pieces. Rinse, peel, and grate 1 cup of fresh beets (be careful, they stain!).
- Mix dry ingredients: flour, baking powder and soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a large bowl, combine applesauce, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in 1 cup beets and all but about 3/4 cups of the strawberries (this is reserved for topping later). Smashing the strawberries as you mix is a great way to release their juices into the batter.
- Slowly add dry ingredient mixture into the applesauce mixture.
- Spoon mixture into muffin tin, filling each about 3/4 full. Top with sprinkles of set-aside strawberry chunks. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool to room temperature before eating.
Nutrition
www.superhealthykids.com