This recipe wasn’t exactly reader-requested, mostly because the reader in question is still learning to talk: it’s the Little Mister! He loves the library. If he had his way, every book we checked out would probably be about trucks (little dude is OBSESSED). Still, I like to encourage him to widen his horizons, so at each visit one of the books we check out is always one I pick pout. This time, that book was “The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear” by Don and Audrey Wood. It was a favorite of my childhood, and I hoped he might like it too.

Friends, he DEVOURED it. We read it 6 times that first day alone, and it’s been a daily request ever since then. I’m pretty sure we’re gonna have to buy our own copy. In the mean time, I thought it would be super fun to make a strawberry recipe the Little Mister and I could munch on while reading the book, so I jotted down a bunch of ideas.

Do you ever have an idea that excites you and you just can’t shake it? That’s how I felt when I wrote strawberry muffins on the list. I try to keep his snacks pretty healthy, and I liked the challenge of developing a sugar-free, low-fat muffin that didn’t compromise on flavor. Using the coffee muffins from my cookbook as a rough starting point, I set to work cutting the unhealthy components. I nixed the sugar, of course, and also cut half the butter, subbing in applesauce instead. I supplemented the strawberries’ natural sweetness with honey and added a mashed banana in lieu of an extra egg. In the end, we had a fluffy, naturally sweetened muffin that the Little Mister can’t get enough of. His daily battle cry has become “Mo cake!”. I’m more than happy to let him have some, and with these muffins’ healthy goodness, there’s plenty of room for a generous schmear of cinnamon honey butter! 😉

 A

Healthy Strawberry Muffins with Cinnamon Honey Butter

“The big, hungry bear can smell a red, ripe strawberry a mile away…especially one that has just been picked.“

— The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear

 

 

INGREDIENTS:

• For the Muffins
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 banana, mashed
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup strawberries, chopped
• For the Butter
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

      

Makes 12 muffins

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. 1. FOR THE MUFFINS: Preheat oven to 375°. Melt the butter in a microwave, set aside, and allow to cool. Fill a muffin tin with cupcake liners and set aside.
   2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt with a fork. Add the honey, milk, applesauce, mashed banana, egg, vanilla, and melted butter. Whisk until combined. Stir in strawberries with a spoon.
   3. Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full and bake for 25 minutes or until muffins are golden on top and spring back when firmly tapped with a finger. Transfer to a wire rack to cool
   4. FOR THE BUTTER: Stir all ingredients together until well combined.
   5. Serve to a little mouse…be sure to hide them from the Big Hungry Bear!

      

 

 

Try more strawberry recipes! 🙂

Twelve Dancing Princesses Strawberry Ballet Slippers

Shepherd Book’s Stuffed Strawberries from Firefly

Poirot’s Breakfast

Badger Set Salad Bites from the Borrowers

 

Want to suggest the next Book of the Month? Email me here!