Really healthy, kid-approved, blueberry muffins

Waking up in Minnesota on this very snowy, Sunday morning, what could be better than warm, blueberry muffins? How about warm blueberry muffins that the kids gobbled up, AND have protein, fiber, low-sugar, low-fat? Coupled with the antioxidants in the blueberries and potassium in bananas, these are a home run. This batch made us 12 regular muffins and 10 mini muffins (in a 12-spot mini muffin tin, just put water in the spots that don't have batter to avoid burning/spotty baking). 

The base of this recipe came from Gina's SkinnyTaste.com; thank you!

• 1 1/2 cups Quaker old-fashioned rolled oats (quick oats work too, but are a bit more processed)
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or skim milk); I actually used coconut milk for this recipe and turned out really good.
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 tbsp agave (or sugar, honey)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce; if you don't have this, use 1/2 c. banana (about 1 large)
• 2 egg whites
• 1 tbsp oil 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp seasalt
• Optional: toss in 1Tbsp of chia seeds and/or flax with the flour mixture for added benefits
• 1 cup fresh blueberries (or frozen; just don't stir much to avoid a Barney-like purple batter. 
• baking spray or muffin liners/papers (or  just drizzle a little olive oil onto a paper towel and wipe down the tins)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°. Line a muffin tin with liners and lightly spray with oil.

Place oats in a food processor or chopper and pulse a few times. Soak oats in milk for about 30 minutes.  

In a medium bowl combine brown sugar, agave, apple sauce (or banana), vanilla, egg whites, oil and mix well.

In a third bowl combine whole wheat flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and whisk to combine.

Combine oats and milk with sugar, applesauce/banana mixture and mix well. Slowly add in the dry ingredients and mix until just incorporated. Fold in blueberries.

Spoon into the muffin tin and bake for 22-24 minutes. Enjoy!!