Behold, there exists a muffin as delicious as it is nutritious and you’re going to LOVE them. I just had to share this totally Gluten Free/Paleo recipe with you, so trust me when I say you need to make these already!
Jam packed with nutrients, this muffin makes an ideal breakfast food or pre/post workout snack to fuel your body. They’re a fantastic ‘good to go’ food to have on hand and they also freeze really well.
Let me just review some of the ingredients to give health cred where credit is due:
IMG_0423Carrots- high in the antioxidant beta carotene which converts to vitamin A for healthy skin. Also rich in alkaline elements which purify and revitalize the blood while balancing the alkaline/acid ratio of the body. High in fibre, so good for digestion, plus the carotenoids help to regulate blood sugars. It’s not a myth that eating carrots will help your eye health. Overall cell renewal and detoxification comes from eating this orange root veggie, so skin, hair and nails benefit too.
Cinnamon- I try to use this anti-inflammatory spice daily in as much food and drink as I can. It tastes great in coffee which I must say makes a perfect pairing with this muffin. Just make sure your coffee is organic and GMO free. Did you know cinnamon is good for treating muscle spasms and is also anti-bacterial so it helps to fight cold and flu germs? There is evidence to support it has blood sugar lowering benefits as well.
Coconut Flour- Using this flour makes the muffin gluten free/paleo which we know is best to help our bodies to function optimally. Rich in fibre, beneficial fats, and packed with protein, this flour is safe for those with celiac disease and diabetics because of it’s low glycemic rating.
Coconut oil- contains a unique combination of fatty acids with powerful medicinal properties. The medium chain triglycerides are metabolized differently and go straight to the liver where they are used as quick source energy or turned into key tone bodies which have therapeutic effects on brain disorders like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s. This special kind of fat actually helps you to burn more fat and calories and helps to satiate hunger, thereby reducing your appetite.
Honey- possesses powerful antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Also helps minimize seasonal allergies if you consume honey collected from the area in which you live. All the more reason to buy locally!
Eggs- You may be surprised by the number of eggs the recipe calls for, but the amount of protein makes these muffins ideal for breakfast or between meal fuel. Remember to use free range, organic and Omega-3 enriched eggs for both ethical reasons and for the highest nutritional quality. Loaded with nutrients, this superfood is pretty much the perfect food. With 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of healthy fats, they contain a little bit of almost every nutrient we need, including: Vitamins A, B5, B6, B12, B2, D, K, Folate, Phosphorous, Selenium, calcium and zinc.
These are so yummy on their own, but if you want to jazz them up to pass off as mini carrot cakes for dessert, you can make icing simply by blending cream cheese (WARNING: non paleo ingredient) and maple syrup together.
So put on your apron and get baking these today!
Paleo Carrot Spice Muffins
6 eggs
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup honey
2 TBSP vanilla
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup coconut flour
2 cups organic carrots, shredded
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease muffin cups using coconut oil or use muffin liners.
Combine eggs, coconut oil, honey and vanilla in large bowl.
Add in salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.
Sprinkle coconut flour over mixture and then whisk into batter.
Mix until smooth, fold in the shredded carrots.
Use ice cream scoop to divide batter evenly.
Bake approx 22 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Enjoy!