Ingredients

1/4 cup raisins

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup dried fruit peel

1 cup port (or orange juice)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 cup natural applesauce (unsweetened)

2 teaspoons vanilla

-1 cup almond flour (or any nut flour - soy flour or oat flour are also good substitutions)

-3/4 cup all-purpose flour

-1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

-1 teaspoon baking soda

-1/4 teaspoon salt

-1 teaspoon cinnamon

-1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

-1 cup grated carrots (about 3 average sized carrots)

-1/4 cup grated coconut (use natural unsweetened coconut - not the flaked stuff)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Sift all the dry ingredients into a large bowl.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, blend sugar and egg together until well blended, about 3 minutes.

Add half of the dry ingredients. Mix until well blended. Add the applesauce and vanilla. Mix until blended. Add the rest of the dry ingredients. Mix until well blended.

Using a rubber spatula, fold in carrots, dry fruit and coconut until thoroughly combined.

Spray muffin pan with non-stick spray or use paper muffin cups. Fill muffin pan about 2/3 fill with batter and bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

I use mini muffins tins to help control the size of the muffin and a great way to use portion control for us adults to control our caloric intake. These are not the HUGE muffins you get in deli’s and bakeries.