Oat flour combined with flax and oat bran makes for a delicious gluten free muffin. Walnuts add a bit of crunch while maple syrup adds just a touch of sweetness. Apples not only add sweetness to these muffins, but also moisture. We all know that saying "an apple a day will keep the doctor away" and it may seem a bit of cliche but there is truth to it! Apples are packed with phytonutrients which help to regulate spikes in blood sugar. They also contain fiber which helps keep you full and satisfied. As if these other benefits are not enough, apples help fight against heart decease! Carrots also gives these muffins a boost of benefits. These orange, veggies are packed with vitamin A and carotenoids due to their orange color. Studies have shown that carrots may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular decease. We most definitely should not forget about walnuts. We may think of nuts as just something that adds flavor or texture to our foods, but they are something so much more. A recent study has shown that only 5.5 percent of adults between the ages 19-50 eat tree nuts of any kind. This very much so alarmed me since I could barely live a day without eating almonds or walnuts! If you fall into the other 94 percent, after learning about these great benefits packed inside walnuts, you might change your mind. Walnuts provide an array of heart healthy fats, they also fight against type two diabetes. In addition, walnuts are packed with vitamin E, Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium! In order to get all these benefits, all you need to eat is 1.25 ounces of walnuts, which is really not that much at all.
Hearty Gluten Free and Vegan Flax Muffins
1 cup oat flour
½ cup teff flour
½ cup almond flour
½ cup flax meal
½ cup oat bran
¼ - 1/3 cup maple syrup
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbs flax meal + ¼ cup water
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup almond milk
2 tsp cinnamon
1 ½ cups shredded carrot (about 1 ½ large carrots)
2 medium golden delicious apples shredded (or another sweet apple)
½ - ¾ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Instructions:
Pre heat oven to 350F degrees.
Combine flax meal and ¼ cup water, set aside to gel up while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
Combine dry ingredients including walnuts. In a separate bowl combine wet ingredients, almond milk, maple syrup and vanilla extract.
Shred apples and carrots and add them to the dry ingredients, toss to combine.
Add wet to dry and stir until combined, be careful not to over stir. Add more almond milk if needed.
Add the mixture to paper lined muffin tins, filling almost to the top. Bake for about 20 minutes and test with a knife to make sure they are done. Recipe makes about 14 muffins. Enjoy!