My moist and fluffy healthy gingerbread muffins deliver big gingerbread flavor in just 30 minutes! Made with almond and oat flour and sweetened naturally with maple syrup and molasses, these festive beauts come together in one bowl and are shockingly gluten free. My kids adore these and they freeze great! Makes 12 muffins.
I just inhaled one of these with a cup o' joe and let me tell you, these bad boys be my favorite muffin recipe yet (and I have a lot).
Perhaps it's the blanket of gorgeous snow on the ground or my frequent winter gingerbread cravings, but the flavor and texture of these are my idea of PERFECTION. The most tender crumb, oodles of sweet-spicy gingerbread flavor from cozy spices and molasses...I cannot resist.
Pssst: The dietitian in me can't help but love that they're packed with healthy fats and whole grains, not to mention 4g protein each! Hubba hubba.
I learned SO much testing these
Little old me thought I could simply turn my healthy gingerbread cake into muffins. Heavens no.
I developed this recipe with the addition of oat flour for extra fluffiness (and "classic" muffin texture), so I actually landed on an entirely different recipe.
- The first time I tested these, I used a couple tablespoons more applesauce and less oat flour. While they tasted amazing, the batter sunk in the middle. Operation less moisture and better rise!
- It's kind of insane what that small tweak did--on my second test with less moisture and a slightly thicker batter, they rose beautifully and didn't sink!
- I also tested these making 10 larger vs 12 slightly smaller muffins and the results were better with 12 muffins.
- It was clear in testing that swapping butter for fruity, heart-healthy extra virgin olive oil doesn't change the flavor, so team olive oil all the way!
- A friend made this recipe with flax eggs vs normal eggs and she said they turned out amazing, so these can easily be made vegan.
Let's make 'em!
LOOK AT THAT TEXTURE! Who wouldn't love that face?!
Pretty please let me know if you make these! I can't wait for you to bake your hiney off this holiday season.
Print
Healthy Gingerbread Muffins with Almond Flour
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 muffins 1x
- Category: Muffins
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
My moist and fluffy healthy gingerbread muffins deliver big gingerbread flavor in just 30 minutes! Made with almond and oat flour and sweetened naturally with maple syrup and molasses, these festive beauts come together in one bowl and are shockingly gluten free. My kids adore these and they freeze great!
Your muffins will be taller since I live in Colorado and bake at altitude!
Ingredients
- 2 cups almond flour
- ½ cup oat flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 ½ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp allspice
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- ¼ cup molasses
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 large eggs (sub flax eggs to make vegan)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a muffin tin well with spray (I love this oil sprayer) or line with paper liners.
- Add almond flour, oat flour, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, baking soda, and salt to a large mixing bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Add applesauce, maple syrup, molasses, olive oil, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk until well-combined.
- Divide batter evenly in tin, filling each muffin ⅔ way full (I use a ¼ measuring cup).
- Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack and devour! Store cooled leftover muffins in an airtight container at room temp for 2 days then refrigerate.
Lynda says
Hello,
Interesting that you mention you live at higher altitude. I did, too, but just for a very short time. While there, I was reading that you need to make a couple of changes when you bake at higher altitude, like raising the temperature a bit, and using less leaveners. I guess that would depend on how high one's altitude is.
I'm wondering if you thought us at sea level should adjust anything when baking any of your recipes?
I appreciate any thoughts you might have.
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Nope, nothing to adjust--these have been tested at regular altitude and they work great. I publish my recipes knowing most people aren't baking at altitude, and I'm ok with mine being a bit flatter 🙂
Lynda Schiere says
Thanks so much for getting back to me.
That's great to know. I appreciate it.
Nyla says
New fav muffin! Everyone I give one to says it’s delicious. Have made many times this month so moist and nicely spiced. Subbed in 1/4 tsp each cloves and nutmeg since I didn’t have allspice.
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Awww you made my day, Nyla! So glad everyone loved them. And great idea so sub cloves and nutmeg!
Abbey Green says
These are so tasty! The gingerbread flavor is perfect, they’re easy to make, and they’re toddler approved. I subbed Greek yogurt for applesauce because it’s what I had and they turned out great.
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Oh wow I'm thrilled they worked with yogurt, thanks so much Abbey!
Erin says
These are so so good! I was just driving home on a 36 degree pre-Christmas Saturday morning, thinking I was craving something spicy with almond flour. I found this recipe and it’s perfect! Easy to put together, clean and delicious!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Yessss these are my fave this time of year! So glad you liked them 🙂
Jenny V. says
My husband loved the muffins! They are so appropriate for a healthy Christmas breakfast or snack treat! Thanks for creating this unique recipe!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Yayyy I'm thrilled to hear that your husband loved, thanks so much Jenny!
Danielle Demming says
I made these vegan by subbing the eggs for flax eggs and they turned out perfectly! What a great recipe for the holidays. Our whole family loved them!
wAlexis Joseph, MS, RD says
YESSS so happy they turned out well with flax eggs, going to edit the recipe now! Thanks so much, Danielle. XO
Andrea says
MMmmmmmmm...so delicous. Easy to make - i love a one-bowl recipe. Trying not to eat them all at once!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Hahaha you and me both sister! Thanks so much <3
Elisa says
I just made this recipe tonight and it is absolutely delicious! It is quick, easy to make, and has the whole house smelling like the holidays!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
YAYYY so happy you made them, Elisa! So festive, right?!