Lightened Christmas Coffee Cake (Printable)

Tender festive muffins with cinnamon swirls and crunchy streusel, lighter yet flavorful for holiday mornings.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Muffin Batter

01 - 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
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

# Directions:

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

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Lighter in calories yet full of holiday flavor
  • Festive and easy to make muffins perfect for breakfast or dessert
02 -
  • Contains wheat gluten eggs and dairy milk yogurt butter
  • Best served warm for optimal flavor and texture
03 -
  • Add 1/4 cup chopped dried cranberries or walnuts for extra festive flair
  • Substitute whole wheat flour for half of the all-purpose flour to boost fiber content
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