The Best Beet Gingerbread Muffins

I call this my "Christmas anytime" snack. Making these instantly has me singing Christmas carols and waiting for it to snow…except I live in Texas.

Not to mention that this recipe is made with my favorite healthy food – beets. Or in this case (to make it simple), beet powder.

Now why beets? Well I answer this very question on my website because beets aren't exactly the most popular vegetable. And here is a Cliff's Notes version of the awesomeness of beets:

Great source of energy – beets contain slow burning sugar, which can keep you going for hours.
Make you happy – you can find betaine and tryptophan in beets. Betaine is used to treat depression and tryptophan eases anxiety.
They are nature's viagra – ancient Romans used beets as an aphrodisiac.
Loaded with nutrients – beets have everything – potassium, fiber, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, vitamins A, B, C, folic acid, and beta-cyanine.

Beet Gingerbead Muffins

Makes 12 muffins.

Ingredients:

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon allspice
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup of applesauce
1 large egg
½ cup plain organic Greek yogurt
¼ cup honey
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons of organic beet powder*

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, mix whole wheat flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and salt. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat the brown sugar, applesauce, and egg until smooth. Beat in beet powder, yogurt, honey, and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and mix until smooth. Pour batter into a lined muffin tin. Bake for 35-45 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in to the center.

*You can find organic beet powder in my groovy on-line health store here.