Mini Chai Tea Muffins

The weather is absolutely gorgeous today.  It is the first day that we have hit over 60 degrees and spring is in the air.  In my book, good weather means a good mood and good moods tend to mean baking.  I was home this weekend and I got to reunite with my stand mixer.  Some people miss their pets, some miss their beds, others miss showering without shoes...I miss my mixer.

I made these great mini chai tea muffins for study night.  It was a ton of fun and I loved that the recipe incorporated such great spices and was pretty light.  I made large ones to leave at home for the family and they said they were great!  I can't wait to try the mini ones :)

Typically I bake on Tuesdays, the night before study night, but now that I already baked, I am not sure what to do with my time.  I did have tons of homework, but I was able to work on most of it while at work.  Plus the fact that it is so nice out is making me really want to throw something together tonight just for fun...


It is Oreo's 100th birthday...maybe I'll have to do some cookies and cream bars or something. Anyone else celebrating one of the greatest cookie's birthdays?


Anyways, here is the recipe for my lovely little chai tea muffins (they were originally cupcakes, but I decided to nix the frosting and just enjoy them the way they are):

Mini Chai Tea Muffins (from Cooking Ala Mel)

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 eggs
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup skim milk
4 chai tea bags

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare mini muffin tins.  This recipe will make about 5 dozen mini muffins (I made 4 dozen and then 6 large muffins).
2. Heat milk over medium-low heat until it simmers.  Turn heat off, put in tea bags, and let it seep for 10 minutes.
3. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and the 4 spices.
4. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs one at a time until well combined.  Mix in the applesauce.
5.  Mix in 1/3 of the dry ingredients, then 1/2 of the milk, then 1/3 of dry, 1/2 milk. and final 1/3 of dry. For each addition, mix until just incorporated.
6.  Fill cupcake holes about 1/2 full and bake for 10-12 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Enjoy :)