Moist, healthy, low fat blueberry muffins
I don’t even remember where I received my initial inspiration for these blueberry muffins. If it’s like most of my recipes and cooking, it probably emerged from a montage of multiple recipes. I start with ideas gathered from several sources, and then I make it my own, which means it must include cinnamon, lemon juice, coconut sugar, and other favorites. Usually, my inspirational recipes are always missing something. For example, I wanted them to be high fiber, so I added flaxseed, but still light – so I added baking soda and a little lemon juice. The result: fluffy, high fiber, gluten free muffins emerged!
Trust me, there are typically many failed tests in my experimental cooking process. I remember one batch that I used flaxseed meal instead of the actual flax “seeds”. The result, which ended up in the trash, were heavy, pasty-tasting muffins. Yuck.
But I love this process, figuring out what works and what doesn’t. It’s like a hidden mathematical equation, where I have to break it down into pieces and solve the problem. This is why I loved Algebra. However, cooking like this also feeds my creative side.
What do they say about cooking? It’s the combination of science and art. Which makes me a food geek. Yes!!
The Important Numbers
The quantities of ingredients below make 12 to 18 muffins, if using a regular size muffin pan. I estimate each muffin is approximately 250 to 300 calories, plus they are high in protein, fiber, antioxidants and yumminess!
Main Ingredients:
|
|
Topping:
|
|
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees
- Spray muffin pan with your favorite oil spray ( I like coconut) or use muffin cups.
- Cut up banana in a medium sized bowl. Add the coconut sugar and microwave for 45 seconds to one minute.
- Mash the banana sugar mixture until banana is mashed up. Sugar should melt. Set aside.
- Put all other dry ingredients in a large bowl and whisk together just til mixed – get all the lumps out.
- Set dry ingredients aside and go back to mashed banana mixture now cooled.
- Add eggs one at a time, whisking after each.
- Add oil and whisk lightly.
- Add coconut nectar, lemon juice and vanilla extract and whisk lightly.
- Add milk and whisk lightly.
- Slowly add wet mixture into dry mixture whisking together (don’t over beat).
- Use wooden spoon after whisking to make sure everything is mixed together – batter will be sticky. If too thick to mix add a little milk until it is just mixed together and sticky.
- Add blueberries and gently fold them in.
- Fill each muffin cup with batter – to just under filled (don’t over fill).
- Mix together ¼ cup coconut sugar and a tsp or so of cinnamon and sprinkle that mixture lightly over each muffin.
- Place pan on middle rack in heated oven.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes – check at 20 minutes (turn muffin tin around at 10 minutes).
- Put toothpick in middle of muffin and if it doesn’t come out clean, bake for another 2 to 5 min.
- Don’t overbake – will still be soft to touch when done (just not sticky in middle).
- Cool for 5 to 10 minutes and then use a rubber spatula to gently remove all muffins from tin.
- Add butter and enjoy (or just eat with nothing like our son Dean does!).
Why I love these blueberry muffins
I love making a batch of these blueberry muffins on the weekend, so I can grab one each morning on my way to the office. They make a great, healthy breakfast with your cup of coffee, or a perfect afternoon snack.
I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Let me know what you think after you try them!!