Grain-free cherry-flax muffins

I don't bake as often as I used to now that we've cut out refined sugar from our home, but I do still bake--just with healthier ingredients.   The recipes over at Elana's Pantry have been especially inspiring, mostly because I can make things for my kids that are a little indulgent but still high in protein and healthy fats.  Sometimes with preschool-aged kids that's about all I can hope for, since mine seem to be going through spurts of picky eating at breakfast time. This week I baked some muffins with sweet, dark cherries that have been languishing in my freezer, having been intended for use in smoothies that never ended up being made. These muffins have a bit of sugar from honey (approximately 7.5 grams per serving  not including the sugars from the cherries), but are still far lower in sweetness factor than most grain-based recipes. I have no reservations giving these to my family at breakfast or for a tea-time snack.



cherry-flax muffins (makes 6)

120 g almond flour

30 g flaxseed meal

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp sea salt

45 g raw honey*

3 large eggs

1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup frozen cherries, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 350F.  Liberally grease six muffin cups or line a tin with paper liners; set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the almond flour, flaxseed meal, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.  Make a well in the center, and add the honey, eggs, and vinegar.  Mix until smooth; then fold in the cherries.  Spoon into the prepared muffin tin.  Bake for 20-22 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.  Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

*A quick note about honey:  Please, if you use honey regularly, source locally and buy raw. (Or, buy raw non-local honey from a reputable source.)  There has been a lot of information lately about some companies cutting honey with other ingredients such as simple syrup and HFCS (ugh). Not only that, but most commercial honey is produced by bees that have been transported hundreds--if not thousands--of miles to pollinate crops and are suffering greatly from die off. Raw, preferably unfiltered, honey also has been shown to have therapeutic effects with its anti-microbial properties. I always keep some around both for baking and for medicinal purposes. 


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Shared at Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays 9/6.