Vegan Hazelnut Muffins

If you have seen my post on nut milk, you will now know what to do with the left over pulp.   Don't let the word "vegan" scare you off please, these are just as good if not better than the conventional muffin.  These muffins are so incredibly moist, not to dense and packed with protein and fiber. There are plenty of variations with them too. I used hazelnuts as I had made hazelnut milk. However, any nut should work just fine I am sure. Try it and let me know how it is!

Hazelnut Muffins
Recipe adapted by www.onegreenplanet.org

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups hazelnut milk pulp
• 1 cup hazelnut milk (or any milk will do)
• 1/4 cup  walnut oil
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup Sucanat or light brown sugar, not packed
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup  semisweet chocolate chips or raisins (optional)
• 1 1/2 cups  whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 tablespoon  baking powder

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a standard muffin tin with paper liners.
2. Combine pulp, milk, oil, vanilla, Sucanat or sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a blender. Blend until smooth.
3. Combine raisins or chips, flour, and baking powder in a large bowl.
4. Fold wet ingredients into dry, being careful not to over mix.
5. Divide batter into prepared muffin tin.
6. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.
7. Let cool on a wire rack for a few minutes before transferring muffins directly onto rack.
8. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge, for up to 3 days.

Banana Nutella Bran Muffins

OK, these are the BEST bran muffins you will ever have. Ever. I first discovered Nutella in Ireland while visiting one of my best friends, Suzanne, who was going to grad school in Dublin. Once I had my first bite of Nutella on toast, I died and went to heaven. I don't buy it often because I could sit down and eat a whole jar in a sitting. I haven't actually done this...but I know I could, and that would NOT be good for the waist line. So, when I do buy it, I savor it.

OK, enough about the best stuff that has ever come out of a jar...on to the recipe. As soon as I saw this recipe on line I knew I had to make it.

Banana Nutella Bran Muffins
Recipe by www.bakingbites.com
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup oat bran or quick-cooking oatmeal
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp vegetable oil
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup mashed banana (about 2 med.)
6 tbsp Nutella
1 cup buttermilk
additional Nutella for topping

Preheat oven to 375F. Line 16 muffin cups with paper liners.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, bran (or oatmeal), cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
In a medium bowl, whisk together vegetable oil, brown sugar, eggs, mashed banana, Nutella and buttermilk until very smooth, making sure all egg has been well-incorporated. Pour into flour mixture and stir just until no streaks of flour remain.
Divide batter evenly into prepared muffin tin, filling each just about up to the top. If desired, add 1-2 tsp Nutella to each muffin cup and swirl in with a toothpick.
Bake for 13-15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the top springs back when lightly pressed.
Remove muffins from tin and cool on a wire rack before serving. Store in an airtight container when cool.
Serve with additional Nutella.

PB & J Muffins

I saw this in a new cookbook that Adam got for me this Christmas, and I had to make them for Owen (and myself of course!). They were easy and fun for Owen to help. They have a healthy amount of protein and whole wheat so I don't feel as bad giving them to him to start his day. I am certain these will be a favorite of his while growing up

Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins

Recipe adapted from Cooking Light's Way to Cook Vegetarian

1 Cup AP flour

3/4 Cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup rapadura sugar (or any granulated sugar would work)

1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

1 Tb. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/4 Cup milk

1/3 Cup creamy peanut butter (I used chunky, but either is fine)

1 egg

2 Tb butter, melted

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 cup fruit preserves (or banana slices would be pretty yummy too, since bananas and PB is one of our favorite household snacks).

Preheat oven to 400

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and stir with a whisk. Make a well in the center of mixture. Combine the wet ingredients and pour into the well and stir just until moist.

Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling each cup half way full. Spoon one teaspoon of jam into each cup. Spoon remaining batter on top to cover jam. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes or until muffins spring back when lightly touched in center. Let cool in pan 5 mins. Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.

makes 1 dozen

Strawberry Muffins

We went to breakfast last week at Max's and had some amazing homemade strawberry muffins fresh out of the oven. Since strawberries are in season right now and the farmer's markets are over flowing with them, I couldn't wait to go home and make my own! Ironically I got an email from, you guessed it, weelicious.com for strawberry muffins with no white sugar the same day! I made them minutes after seeing her blog post.

Lately my muffins have been on the dense side and have tossed them after a few days when even Owen won't eat more than 2 bites of them (I don't post those recipes : ). But THESE muffins were absolutely perfect! Light, airy, sweet, but not overly sweet and FULL of fresh strawberries. I made 1 dozen and they were all gone the next day! Please do yourself and your family a favor and make these muffins!

Strawberry Muffins (Makes 12 Muffins)
Recipe from www.weelicious.com
2 Cups All Purpose Flour
3 Tsp Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp Salt
1 Large Egg
3/4 Cup Milk (low fat or whole cow’s milk, almond, rice or soy milk will work)
1/4 Cup Vegetable or Canola Oil
1/2 Cup Honey or Agave Nectar (I used a 1/4 cup of each)
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Tsp Lemon Zest
1 1/2 Cups Strawberries, chopped (I added 1/2 cup more and did not regret it)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a bowl, combine the first 3 ingredients.‬
3. In a separate bowl, whisk egg and add milk, oil, honey, vanilla, and lemon zest and stir.‬
4. Using a standing mixer or hand mixer, slowly combine the dry ingredients with the wet until incorporated (try not to over mix the batter).‬
5. Add the strawberries to the batter and slowly combine.‬
6. Line or grease muffin tins and fill 2/3 of the way with batter.‬
7. Bake for 25 minutes or until toothpick tester comes out clean.‬
8. Cool and serve.‬

Southwest Corn Muffins

I hope Catherine McCord from www.weelicious.com is flattered and not annoyed that I always post her recipes, but I use them a lot and they are so good! I want to put them on my blog so I remember my favorites and can share with friends what we have tried, tested and approved!

Muffins are so easy to make and even easier to grab for a snack on the go. I made a few adjustments to this recipe to include a little less fat (cheese) and more protein, (black beans) but still plenty of flavor. They are super moist, slightly salty and delicious!

Southwest Corn Muffins
Recipe adapted by www.weelicious.com
1 Cup All Purpose Flour
1 Cup Yellow Cornmeal
2 Tsp Baking Powder
1/4 Tsp Salt
1 Cup Buttermilk
1 Egg
5 Tbsp Butter, melted and cooled
2 Tbsp honey or agave nectar
3/4 Cup Cheddar Cheese, grated
1/2 Cup Frozen Corn Kernels, thawed (I used frozen roasted corn kernels)

1/4 Cup Black Beans, drained and rinsed.
2 oz Diced Pimentos or mild green chilies, drained (about 2 tbsp)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Sift the flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt into a large bowl.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the buttermilk and egg and whisk to combine.
4. Add the butter and agave to the buttermilk and egg mixture and whisk thoroughly.
5. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the liquid ingredients incorporating a little at a time until thoroughly combined (make sure not to over-mix the batter).
6. Stir in the cheddar cheese, corn kernels, beans and pimentos or chilies.
7. Pour into greased or lined muffin cups and bake for 20 minutes.
8. Cool on a rack and serve. Owen couldn't wait to get his hot little hands on these as soon as they came out of the oven!

Pineapple Carrot Muffins

These muffins are delicious! They are moist, have no refined sugar, still sweet and full of good stuff! Owen helped me put all the ingredients in (except the eggs) and we "mix, mix, mixed." 20 minutes later, Voila, we had yummy muffins fresh out of the oven. Adam packed them up as part of Owen's snack at the zoo today. They were a hit! Enjoy!

Pineapple Carrot Muffins (Makes 18 Muffins)

Recipe by www.weelicious.com

1 1/4 Cup All Purpose Flour
3/4 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
2 Tsp Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
1/2 Tsp Salt
1/2 Cup Butter, melted
1/2 Cup Agave Nectar
2 Eggs
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 Cup Pineapple, chopped fine and drained well OR 1 8 oz Can Crushed Pineapple, drained well
1 Cup Shredded Carrot (about 2 Large Carrots) I put mine in the food processor.
1/2 Cup Walnuts, optional

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees,
2. In a large bowl combine the flours, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. In a separate bowl combine the butter and agave using a whisk or an electric beater to combine.
4. Add the eggs and whisk to combine.
5. Add the vanilla, pineapple, carrots and walnuts (if using) to the butter mixture.
6. Stir in the dry ingredients, making sure not to over mix.
7. Pour the batter into regular size, paper lined muffin cups.
8. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
9. Cool and serve.