Applesauce Muffins

I am almost ashamed to say that these are from... gasp... Martha Stewart. I will say this, she does cuten-up food and can decorate like nobody's business. And, apparently, she can do muffin recipes. Or at least somebody on her staff can.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups store-bought applesauce
• 1 cup pecans, chopped

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
2. Measure flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cloves together into a medium bowl. Set aside.
3. Put 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, the granulated sugar, and 1/2 cup brown sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes.
4. Mix in eggs, one at a time on medium speed.
5. On low speed, mix in applesauce and then flour mixture.
6. Stir in nuts by hand.
7. Divide batter among muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters full.
8. Bake until a tester comes out clean, about 20 minutes.
9. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Makes 12 big or 15-18 medium size muffins (depending on how high you fill the cups)