Healthy Pumpkin Bread Batter for Muffins or Loafs

This is a nice healthy recipe using one of my favorite switcheroos- substituting the oil for applesauce. Making pumpkin bread is probably my favorite way to use that trick. The bread comes out more moist than with oil, in addition to being tastier. I feel that the apples enhance the rest of the flavors in the bread.

This recipe is adapted from the one my mother made when I was growing up. I have many fond memories of eating slices of this bread, warmed with a little butter, on Christmas morning. She still makes it when we come to visit around the holidays.

Healthy Pumpkin Bread
makes 24 cupcake sized muffins

What You'll Need:
1, 16 oz. can pumpkin
1 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup applesauce (unsweetened)
2 tsp vanilla
4 eggs
3 cup flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup walnuts or raisins (optional, not calculated into Points+)

 The Process:
Preheat oven to 350°. Grease your cupcake tin or line with cups. Combine all wet ingredients. Stir in dry ingredients until well combined. Pour into pan and bake for 22 minutes, using a toothpick to check for doneness. If using a muffin tin, increase baking time to 30 minutes. Cool for fifteen minutes before removing from pan.

Without any substitutions necessary, you can also simply divide this batter into two greased loaf pans and make bread instead. I usually do it this way, but I wanted something a little more portable so I could take them on the go with me. Just bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes instead.

No matter the form you chose, it can be kept wrapped in plastic at room temperature for 4-5 days, in the refrigerator for 10 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. I put a little over half my muffins in the freezer for later.

Just keep in mind that using this applesauce swap is only suitable for baked goods, and you have to use unsweetened applesauce, or else reduce the amount of sugar you put into the recipe.

Here's the Points+ breakdown, for each way you could make it:
Cupcake size: 3 Points+
Muffin size: 7 Points+
Whole loaf: 40 Points+