I enjoy making muffins. Muffins are low-key, self-satisfying little cups of deliciousness that store well, trot along in a knapsack for later and fit perfectly in kid-type hands. An adventurous parent can easily decrease the sugar and increase the fruit content to produce something more nutritious than the traditional store-bought version. A few years ago I threw some ingredients together from my eclectic pantry, substituting sunflower seeds for walnuts, (school-safe) applesauce for oil, and when the aroma from the oven filled our little home with warmth, I knew I had the morning glory muffins I had always wanted.
I don’t like to think of myself as picky, (I prefer ‘particular’) but one such particularity is that I do not like nuts in my baked goods. Incidentally, our local schools are all nut-free and so with this in mind as I compiled this list of delectable muffins. At the bottom of the list is a recipe from the very lovely Karina Allrich, a gluten-free blogger who creates some of the most inspiring recipes I have ever seen. It is for this reason I have included her Gluten Free Almond Cherry Muffins. Why not surprise your little people with an extra special after school snack and have a chat about your day over warm muffins?
Almost Morning Glory Muffins
- 1 cup whole-wheat flour
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 3 ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ cup sugar*
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp ginger
- ¼ cup oil
- ½ cup applesauce
- 2 eggs
- ¾ pineapple juice
- ½ cup crushed pineapples
- ½ cup raisins
- ½ sunflower seeds
- 4 small carrots, shredded
Preheat oven to 400º.
1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients including spices.
2. In another bowl or large mixing cup, mix together oil, applesauce, eggs and pineapple juice (this is the juice from the can).
3. Pour the liquid mix over the dry ingredients and stir until they come together and it’s lumpy. Add the remaining ingredients.
4. Spoon into a greased muffin tin and bake for 20 minutes (a bit longer if you are using regular sized muffin tin).
A few more muffin recipes for you to try!
- Apple Coffee Cake Muffins by Baked by Rachel
- Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins from Karen at Chasing Tomatoes (original recipe from Whining and Dining)
- Whole Wheat Molasses Bran Muffins from MMMis for Mommy
- No Sugar Banana Branners from Katie at The Muffin Myth
- Gluten-free Almond Cherry Muffins from the Gluten Free Goddess – These beauties are also dairy free!
Enjoy your kitchen escapades, the kids will love stirring and mixing and that is a sure way to get them eating and showing an interest in their food.