Reduced-sugar Green Monster muffins

1.5 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
1 single serving applesauce (or 1/2 cup)
1 cup PACKED, triple washed baby spinach, chopped by food processor into small bits (see photos above)
3 tbsp canola oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 – 1 tsp lemon zest

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F and prepare a 12 cup muffin tin with non-stick spray.
Add dry ingredients into a medium bowl and whisk together.
Whisk to beat egg and sugar together till light (I did this by hand for just a couple minutes).
Whisk in the rest of the wet ingredients.
Pour dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredient mixture, add 1/4 cup walnuts if desired, and stir gently just to combine – do not over-mix.
Pour muffin batter into muffin tin cups – about 3/4 full each. If using walnuts, sprinkle walnuts on top of each muffin.
Bake for 14-17 minutes until centers set or a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.
Cool at least 10-15 minutes before serving.

Number of Servings: 12

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user BZOOTY.