Healthy Carrot Muffins

Zucchini Muffins,  Carrot Cake, Spinach Ice-cream, Sweet Potato Bread...

These are just a few examples of the many ways vegetables are creeping their way in to the world of sweets.  While all of these are great options for veggie-packed desserts, today I decided to take inspiration from one of my favorite vegetables, the nutrient-packed carrot, and create a healthy, delicious sweet treat.  I was going to make a carrot bread, but my muffin tins looked a little sad and lonely... hey muffin tins have feelings too!   Anyway, I decided to go ahead and use this great batter for muffins, making it a quick an easy snack or light dessert. However, this batter would also be delicious in a bread, slathered with some creamy earth balance or vegan butter... erhgg now I'm hungry, so without further a due..

Healthy Carrot Muffins
 (Makes 16 muffins or 1 loaf of bread)

Ingredients:

Dry: 

-1 cup oats, processed into flour(use food processor or blender)

- 1 cup flour (I used a mixture of 2/3 cups white whole wheat flour and 1/3 cup brown rice flour)

- 1 tbs coconut flour

-1 tsp cinnamon

-1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

-1/4 tsp salt

-1/2 tbs baking powder

-1/4 tsp baking soda

Wet:

-1 cup unsweetened almond milk

-1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce or mashed banana

-1 tsp apple cider vinegar

-2 flax eggs (2 tbs flax + 6 tbs water, let sit 5 minutes)

-2 tbs orange marmalade

-1/4 cup maple syrup

-1 1/3 cup packed, grated carrot(about 3 medium sized carrots, pat with paper towel before adding to batter)

Add-Ins

-1/4 cup chopped nuts(I used walnuts)

-1/4 cup shredded coconut

-1/4 cup finely chopped dates(adds sweetness-you could use raisins)

Process oats into a fine powder, whisk with rest of dry ingredients.  In a separate bowl, whisk wet ingredients.  You may need to heat the marmalade up a little to help it incorporate.  Add wet to dry, and fold in add-in ingredients.  Pour into muffin tins or a loaf pan.  Muffins: Bake at 375° for about 20 minutes.  Bread: Bake at 350° for about 30- 40 minutes.

Let cool about 15 minutes before eating, as it allows the muffins to set.  

Yum, yum, yum....

Variations:

-Omit dates and coconut, add 1/2 cup-1 cup vegan chocolate chips

-Replace carrot with zucchini for zucchini muffins, omit coconut (you could add chocolate here too!)

Food For Thought

What's your favorite veggie-packed dessert? 

I would say my favorite veggie-filled dessert has to be either carrot cake or chocolate chip zucchini muffins.