Strawberry Mini Muffins

What is more fun than a pretty pink bite of strawberry sweetness?   I can think of nothing, especially  since there are going to be absolutely no guilty feelings after I eat the bite!

Last Saturday, an exciting group of women met to talk and eat at the Creative Connections breakfast.  I was recruited to make "breakfast treats" for the group and I baked these muffins.  It was a privilege to contribute to this beautiful spread including the following: flowers by Petalicious,  dishes by The Vintage Table Co., printing by The Pomegranate Basket (see label below),  cake truffles by Sweet Little Cakes by Donna, and cupcakes by Kaitlyn's Kupcakes.

It turned out to be a pretty day in the park and a great gathering of creative women, not to mention the many delicious treats.  Now you, too,  can take a few minutes to bake the muffins and bite into one.

Strawberry Mini Muffins

1 3/4 cups unbleached flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
6 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons canola or other mild oil
1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 ounces fresh strawberries, pureed in blender or food processor

Frosting:
1/4 cup Neufchatel or light cream cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons butter
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon strawberry extract (use vanilla if you have no strawberry - frosting will not be pink)

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Coat mini muffin pans with nonstick spray or line with mini cupcake papers; set aside.

In mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and baking soda. In separate small bowl, stir together applesauce, oil, vinegar, and vanilla.  Add liquid to dry ingredients and stir until just combined, then gently stir in strawberries.

Fill muffin cups with batter about half full.  Bake muffins 17 minutes, or until top of one springs back when gently touched.  Cool completely on wire rack before frosting.

To make frosting, put Neufchatel and butter in mixing bowl.  Beat with electric beaters, then add powdered sugar and extract and beat until smooth.  Spread a thin layer on each muffin or make them fancier by placing frosting in plastic sandwich bag, cutting a tiny corner off, and piping decorative squiggles on each muffin.

Makes about 43 muffins, 1 point plus and 57 calories each.

Note:  Be sure and go over to Chez Mukweto next week for a little summer fun.  I will be sharing something there on Wednesday, June 29.