Healthy Muffin Monday: GF Hazelnut Chai Muffins with Butterscotch Chips
The more I make muffins gluten free, the better they get. I keep learning tricks to make them more moist and soft, and less like cardboard ;-). One trick I learned is using xanthan gum. It comes in a powder in the flour and oats section of places like Sprouts and Whole Foods. If you guys aren't familiar with the role gluten plays in food, it is actually what holds bread and pasta together, and gives it its elasticity. It is a protein that can cause gastrointestinal inflammation and damage in some people to the point where they have to eliminate it from their diet. Xanthan gum replaces gluten as a binding agent in food. For every cup of GF flour you use in your muffins, add 3/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum. That's it! Of course with any of my recipes that are GF, you can choose to use regular flour in place of whatever GF flour I use. You won't need the xanthan gum if you do this.
I have been thinking about making a chai spiced muffin for awhile now. I decided to try adding hazelnuts to these right as I was making them, and the butterscotch chips were just a last minute bonus idea. The combination turned out to be incredibly good!
Do you guys like my muffin cups? They have little footballs on them! (And soccer and basketballs, but only footballs really matter this time of year, right?) If anyone finds Purdue, Louisville, or Colts muffin cups, please get them for me. I'll pay you back!! You can't find stuff like that out here.
Butterscotch is one of my absolute favorite flavors. I've been hoping to integrate it into a recipe for the fall. I was hesitant to even buy butterscotch chips due to my tendency to eat half-bags at a time. By the handful. They scream at me from inside my pantry! Then they disappear one measly bit at a time. They're so heavenly I can't even explain it to you guys....
I wonder how butterscotch hot chocolate would be?? Salted butterscotch popcorn? Ideas ideas.....stay tuned guys, 'cause you never know what I'm going to think of next!
I'm telling y'all, you won't regret making these! Neither will your neighbors and coworkers!
Here's what you'll need:
1.5 cups flour (if GF, add about 1.25 tea xanthan gum)
1/2 cup rolled oats (I used GF)
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tea cinnamon
2 tea baking powder
1/2 tea salt
1.5-2 tea chai spice (if you can't find one, I'll be posting a recipe for one soon)
1 tbsp maple syrup, honey or agave nectar
2/3 cup milk (I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk)
1 egg + 2 egg whites lightly beaten
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1tbsp coconut oil
1 tea vanilla extract
1/4 cup hazelnuts or hazelnut pieces
1/4 cup butterscotch chips
The method is simple. Combine dry ingredients using mixer. Combine wet ingredients in separate bowl. Slowly add wet ingredients to dry ones in the bowl, and combine using standing mixer until uniform. Fold in hazelnuts and butterscotch chips, then separate into 12 greased muffin cups.
Bake at 400 degrees F for 18 minutes. That's it!! Definitely have new while they're still warm. Perfection!
I think I want to try one with Nutella on it. This might have to be my afternoon snack. I owe it to you guys to test it out first, right??? :-D
****Fast forward to later in the day:
This was my afternoon snack, and it rocked! Yes-put Nutella on them and you'll be a happy snacker!
I hope you guys enjoy this recipe! Let me know if you decide to try it! It's cooling down here in AZ and becoming more like fall. It's only 90 today!! Yay for fall!
Happy Trails!
Stacey
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