Almond Flour Blueberry Muffins

If you like soft and squishy muffins that are made in one bowl, naturally sweetened, and bursting with fresh blueberries – gluten free and vegan too – then I got you, friend! Just don’t send me a nastygram when you lose track of how many Almond Flour Blueberry Muffins you’ve eaten in one sitting. You’ve been warned…

This craveable gluten free breakfast or snack recipe is brought to you by my buds at Bob’s Red Mill. I didn’t realize until pulling out the ingredients to make these muffins that I’ve slowly but surely replaced all my gluten free baking products with Bob’s Red Mill brand ones. From almond flour to gluten free 1 to 1 baking flour, baking soda, baking powder, and ground flaxseed meal, I have been so impressed with not only the standards the company has in regards to producing safe gluten free products, but the quality too. I constantly hear people complaining about gritty baked goods when using gluten free flour in their recipes but I’ve never had that experience using Bob’s Red Mill products.

I could not be more tickled with how these Almond Flour Blueberry Muffins came out. All three of the kids and myself have been devouring them not just for breakfast, but snack time too. They’re so nice to have on the counter when the kids are “starving” (5 minutes after lunch) and I need something healthier to toss their way without having to get out a cutting board and knife. (Sometimes you JUST. CAN’T. Know what I mean?!) Pair with a glass of milk and you’re set!

Speaking of healthy snacks, Bob’s new Better Bars are rolling out in grocery stores across the country! I featured these low-sugar, high-protein bars with minimal ingredient lists in my 10 Purse Essentials post a few months ago and was so pumped to find them stocked at my local HyVee recently.

My boys love these soft and chewy bars and I feel 1000x better about offering them as a snack over animal crackers or heck, even an applesauce pouch because they have so much more staying power. Filling, yummy, and a great balance of protein, healthy fats, and whole grain carbs? Ding, ding, ding – we have a winner!

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Lincoln’s current favorite is the Peanut Butter Chocolate & Oats bar while Cam’s a fan of the Peanut Butter Coconut & Oats bar. To be honest, we like all of them and the bars are not only a great snack option for kids, but adults too as they’re easy to throw into a bag or purse to enjoy on the go.

Hot tip: if you’re an adult who wants to feel like a kid – try the Peanut Butter Jelly & Oats bar. It is a dead ringer for a peanut butter & jelly sandwich!

Back to these muffins though, which have become another snack time favorite. I’ve always been a person who has felt, if you’re going to eat dessert – EAT DESSERT. But if you’re going to eat a muffin, don’t eat one that has the nutritional content of a slice of frosted cake. That said, most muffins are packed with sugar and fat, though my Almond Flour Blueberry Muffins are not!

I replaced white sugar with a mixture of pure maple syrup and mashed banana, which not only contributes to the sweetness and incredible moistness (sorry) of these muffins but reduces the amount of fat you need to use too. I also replaced eggs with “flax eggs” – ie water mixed with ground flaxseed meal – which provides a boost of omega 3 fatty acids and renders these muffins vegan, in case you need that.

Since those who eat gluten free can’t use whole wheat flour, the base of this recipe is almond flour which is a great option when you desire a flour that’s a touch healthier – maybe “well rounded” is a better term – then a regular gluten free flour blend. That said, almond flour not only lends a fabulous texture and flavor to these muffins but a boost of healthy fats and fiber too.

Almond flour is also what gives these muffins their enviable tan on top – I promise, they’re not burnt and are just as soft as advertised!

How to Make This Recipe

Start by combining ground flaxseed meal with water in a small dish, then let it sit for 5 minutes to thicken. As I mentioned earlier, the combination of flaxseed meal and water creates a “flax egg” which is a common vegan replacement for chicken eggs in recipes.

I don’t find this replacement to work in recipes that require the fat and/or tackiness of a real egg like meatloaf/meatballs, cinnamon rolls, etc, but for my oatmeal bars and muffins, it works perfectly!

While the flaxseed is thickening, add mashed banana, pure maple syrup, melted coconut oil, milk, and vanilla to a large bowl then stir with a fork to combine. Add the flax eggs then stir again.

Next sprinkle in Bob’s Red Mill Super Fine Almond Flour, Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir again to combine.

Finally, add fresh blueberries then fold to combine, and then scoop 1/4 cup batter into each cup of a lined muffin tin (I use an ice cream scoop.) Pop the muffins into a 375 degree oven then bake for 17-19 minutes or until the tops are browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Since these muffins are so dense with the almond flour and flax eggs, I like to turn the oven OFF and crack the door then let them sit in the hot oven for 5 minutes.

Let the muffins hang out in the tin for 10 minutes then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely. The urge to eat these babies right away is STRONG, but I find the flavor is best when they’ve come down to room temperature.

Like I said, I ate more of these soft and squishy, perfectly sweet, blueberry-packed muffins then I care to share and I just know you’ll love them too. Whether you serve them for breakfast or as a snack, enjoy enjoy!

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