Apple Spice Muffins
These moist and delicious apple spice muffins are loaded with chunks of apple, warm spices, oats, flax and maple syrup. The apple sauce, apples and spices sweeten up this traditional recipe naturally resulting in light yummy tasting muffins with numerous health benefits. These are an excellent way to start your day or to have mid morning or afternoon to curb your appetite. It will nourish the body, provide satiety and energy.
This recipe uses a flax ‘egg.’ Until this year I had never heard of a flax egg, have you? It is a combination of ground flaxseed and water that becomes thick and gelatinous and can be used in place of eggs in baking. It’s amazing how well it works in baking. The flax seeds have a nutty flavour that compliments these muffins very well. Flax seeds are an excellent source of protein, fiber, health-promoting oils, nutrients, enzymes, vitamins and minerals. Using flax in your baking is one excellent way to reap its benefits. This is an excellent alternative for anyone, especially individuals with allergies to eggs. It’s a great tip to keep in mind and try.
These moist and delicious apple spice muffins are loaded with chunks of apple, warm spices, oats, flax and maple syrup. The apple sauce, apples and spices sweeten up this traditional recipe naturally resulting in light yummy tasting muffins with numerous health benefits. These are an excellent way to start your day or to have mid morning or afternoon to curb your appetite. It will nourish the body, provide satiety and energy.
This recipe uses a flax ‘egg.’ Until this year I had never heard of a flax egg, have you? It is a combination of ground flaxseed and water that becomes thick and gelatinous and can be used in place of eggs in baking. It’s amazing how well it works in baking. The flax seeds have a nutty flavour that compliments these muffins very well. Flax seeds are an excellent source of protein, fiber, health-promoting oils, nutrients, enzymes, vitamins and minerals. Using flax in your baking is one excellent way to reap its benefits. This is an excellent alternative for anyone, especially individuals with allergies to eggs. It’s a great tip to keep in mind and try.
Ingredients:
(adapted slightly from chelsey’s delicious recipe)
1 cup 100% whole grain spelt flour
1 cup large flake oats
1 tsp baking soda
¾ tsp unrefined sea salt
1 ½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp each cloves, aniseed and all-spice
¾ cup almond milk
½ cup apple sauce (gala apples used)
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 flax egg (1 Tbsp ground flax seed + 3 Tbsp water, let sit few minutes until thickened)
1 apple, diced
(adapted slightly from chelsey’s delicious recipe)
1 cup 100% whole grain spelt flour
1 cup large flake oats
1 tsp baking soda
¾ tsp unrefined sea salt
1 ½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp each cloves, aniseed and all-spice
¾ cup almond milk
½ cup apple sauce (gala apples used)
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 flax egg (1 Tbsp ground flax seed + 3 Tbsp water, let sit few minutes until thickened)
1 apple, diced
1. Prepare flax egg in a bowl and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Place oats into the food processor and process until oats become a fine powder or oat flour. Mix oat flour, spelt flour, baking soda, sea salt, cinnamon, cloves, aniseed and all-spice.
3. Combine wet ingredients and mix in thickened flax egg.
4. Pour wet mixture into dry and mix until combined. Gently fold in diced apple. Pour into greased muffin tins and bake 18-20 minutes. Makes 12 muffins.
Note: This muffin also tastes great with only cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg if you don’t have the extra spices on hand. Feel free to add extra ingredients, such as almonds, walnuts, pecans, raisins, currants or coconut.
Enjoy!
2. Place oats into the food processor and process until oats become a fine powder or oat flour. Mix oat flour, spelt flour, baking soda, sea salt, cinnamon, cloves, aniseed and all-spice.
3. Combine wet ingredients and mix in thickened flax egg.
4. Pour wet mixture into dry and mix until combined. Gently fold in diced apple. Pour into greased muffin tins and bake 18-20 minutes. Makes 12 muffins.
Note: This muffin also tastes great with only cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg if you don’t have the extra spices on hand. Feel free to add extra ingredients, such as almonds, walnuts, pecans, raisins, currants or coconut.
Enjoy!
Whole Food Sneak Peak:
Flax seed
Flaxseeds, also known as Linseeds, are a plant native to the Mediterranean that has been used as a food item for well over 5,000 years. They are shaped like sesame seeds but are a little bigger with a hard, smooth and shiny shell. The two varieties are golden or brown. Flaxseeds flavour is warm and earthy with a subtle nutty taste. Flaxseeds are usually consumed ground and not whole to enhance their digestibility and nutritional value.
Flaxseeds are an excellent source of the omega-3 essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), as well as phytoestrogens known as lignans. They are a very good source of dietary fiber, magnesium, potassium and manganese. They are also a good source of minerals, such as phosphorus, iron and copper.
A diet with a daily dose of flaxseed (approximately 1 Tbsp, ground) will allow the body to more efficiently burn body fat as fuel. Flaxseeds have anti-inflammatory properties. As a whole food and a complete protein it retains its enzymes, allowing the body to absorb it easily and then utilize it to improve immune function.
Flax seed
Flaxseeds, also known as Linseeds, are a plant native to the Mediterranean that has been used as a food item for well over 5,000 years. They are shaped like sesame seeds but are a little bigger with a hard, smooth and shiny shell. The two varieties are golden or brown. Flaxseeds flavour is warm and earthy with a subtle nutty taste. Flaxseeds are usually consumed ground and not whole to enhance their digestibility and nutritional value.
Flaxseeds are an excellent source of the omega-3 essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), as well as phytoestrogens known as lignans. They are a very good source of dietary fiber, magnesium, potassium and manganese. They are also a good source of minerals, such as phosphorus, iron and copper.
A diet with a daily dose of flaxseed (approximately 1 Tbsp, ground) will allow the body to more efficiently burn body fat as fuel. Flaxseeds have anti-inflammatory properties. As a whole food and a complete protein it retains its enzymes, allowing the body to absorb it easily and then utilize it to improve immune function.
Flaxseeds contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. The soluble fiber helps control insulin levels, prolongs energy and gives the body a sense of fullness, while the insoluble fiber is important for digestive system health. Insoluble fiber plays a cleansing role by ensuring toxins don’t build up.
Flaxseeds major health benefits are derived from their ALA and lignan content. Some benefits include reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer and improving blood lipid profiles.
The plant lignans have been shown to bind to estrogen receptors and interfere with the cancer-promoting effects of estrogen on breast tissue. Dr. Paul Gross, director of the breast cancer prevention program at the Princess Margaret Hospital and the Toronto Hospital, has reported that flaxseed in the diet may shrink breast cancers. His study involved 50 women who had been recently diagnosed with breast cancer. The women were divided into two groups while they waited for surgery; one group were given a daily muffin containing a little less than 2 Tbsp of ground flaxseed and the other group an ordinary muffin. The investigators found that women who had received the flaxseed muffins had slower-growing tumors.
Flaxseeds major health benefits are derived from their ALA and lignan content. Some benefits include reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer and improving blood lipid profiles.
The plant lignans have been shown to bind to estrogen receptors and interfere with the cancer-promoting effects of estrogen on breast tissue. Dr. Paul Gross, director of the breast cancer prevention program at the Princess Margaret Hospital and the Toronto Hospital, has reported that flaxseed in the diet may shrink breast cancers. His study involved 50 women who had been recently diagnosed with breast cancer. The women were divided into two groups while they waited for surgery; one group were given a daily muffin containing a little less than 2 Tbsp of ground flaxseed and the other group an ordinary muffin. The investigators found that women who had received the flaxseed muffins had slower-growing tumors.
Flaxseeds can be purchased whole or already ground. Store whole flaxseeds in an airtight container, in a dark, dry and cool place (ie. Fridge). They will keep fresh for several months. It is highly recommended to buy ground flaxseeds that are in a vacuum-sealed package or have been refrigerated since once they are ground they are much more prone to spoilage and oxidation. Storing ground flaxseeds in a tightly sealed container in the fridge or freezer will prevent them from becoming rancid.
Flaxseeds have a relatively mealy texture with a potential hint of crunch depending upon how fine they are ground. They can be sprinkled onto your hot or cold cereal; added to muffins, cookies or bread recipes; shake/smoothie or over vegetables.
Flaxseeds have a relatively mealy texture with a potential hint of crunch depending upon how fine they are ground. They can be sprinkled onto your hot or cold cereal; added to muffins, cookies or bread recipes; shake/smoothie or over vegetables.
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