Orange-Yogurt Muffins

This recipe was inspired by a lemon cake in Barefoot Contessa at Home. Instead of butter, these muffins use plain nonfat yogurt, which adds a nice tang. The fat comes from a little vegetable oil. As a result, these are little healthier than most muffins (one has 4 WW points). Once they come out of the oven, brush the tops with an orange simple syrup (it’s made in the microwave)—delicious and easy! I have a couple of ideas to try the next time I make them—drizzle the tops with a little chocolate ganache (who doesn’t like orange paired with chocolate?) and make a variation with grapefruit juice. Enjoy!

Orange-Yogurt Muffins
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup fat-free plain yogurt
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp. orange zest
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup vegetable oil
Orange Simple Syrup

1. Combine flour and next 2 ingredients. In another bowl, combine yogurt and next 4 ingredients. Gradually stir flour mixture into yogurt mixture until combined. Stir in vegetable oil until combined. Scoop batter into 24 lightly greased muffin cups.
2. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until done. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, and remove muffins from pan. Brush simple syrup over tops of muffins.

Orange Simple Syrup:
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

1. Place sugar and juice in a glass measuring cup. Microwave at HIGH for 3 minutes. Stir until sugar dissolves.