Healthy Spiced Carrot Muffins [Gluten Free] - Robust Recipes (2024)

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This recipe was originally published on Robust Recipes in 2016. It has been updated for a better user experience. Enjoy.

Onward to Easter inspired recipes!!!

Who else can’t get enough of carrot cake inspired recipes this time of year?!?!

These spiced carrot muffins were a popular recipe I shared back in 2016. It was time for a glow up.

Spiced carrot muffins are soft and tender, moist, and packed with carrots, warming spices, and juicy raisins. They are made healthy by using wholesome ingredients, and are refined sugar free. They are great as a snack, or as part of a breakfast, or brunch.

I updated the original recipe, keeping the flavors, and the nutrient dense ingredients the same, but improving on the texture. Unfortunately the original muffin recipe was a bit on the crumblier side.

I have learned a lot about baking in general, but especially gluten free baking since 2016, so I added my knowledge to the recipe and came up with what I think are the perfect gluten free, healthy spiced carrot muffins.

Ingredients for spiced carrot muffins:

• old fashioned rolled oats – turned into flour – so easy to make! I love using oat flour for a breakfast recipe. Oats are a complex carb, meaning the carbohydrate will slowly release in your body keeping you fuller longer, and not give you a blood sugar spike, followed by a crash.
• corn starch – this helps bind the muffins, and give it a starchier texture that gluten free baked goods often lack.
• xanthan gum – if you’re not familiar, this is a binder that is commonly used in gluten free baking. I don’t often use it myself, but sometimes we just need a little help to achieve a non-gluten-free-like-texture. Don’t skip it, without the xanthan gum these muffins are pretty crumbly.
• baking soda and baking powder – our leveling agents, for a nice fluffy muffin.
• kosher salt – salt helps bring out all the flavors, even in baked goods.
• warming spices – cinnamon, ginger, ground cloves, and nutmeg – for that lovely warming spice that goes so well in carrot cake recipes.
• raisins – they get juicy and plump and add a nice sweetness. If you’re not a fan of raisins, no worries, you can swap them for walnuts, pecans, shredded coconut, or just leave them out.
• eggs – eggs are another important ingredient to help bind these muffins, and add rise.
• coconut sugar – for our refined sugar free sweetener. A little kinder on blood sugar levels.
• coconut oil – a healthy oil that gives moisture and good texture to the muffins.
• unsweetened applesauce – to help us cut back on some of the oil.
• zest of an orange – purely for a hint of flavor
• vanilla extract – again, for flavor.
• milk – for a little extra liquid to thin things out. Any kind of milk you want to use will work.
• shredded carrots – the star of the show!!!

That’s all you need to make some super delicious carrot muffins!

Who is ready?!?!

How to make spiced carrot muffins:

1. Make the oat flour – to make oat flour all you do is run some rolled oats in your food processor until you have a flour.
2. Mix the dry ingredients – to the oat flour, still in the food processor, you add the rest of your dry ingredients, give everything a good pulse to mix together.
3. Stir in the raisins – remove the blade from the food processor and use a spoon to stir in the raisins. This helps to prevent the raisins from sinking as they bake. See, we’re saving on dishes here!
4. Mix the wet ingredients – in a separate mixing bowl whisk together the eggs and coconut sugar. Whisk in the coconut oil, applesauce, orange zest, vanilla, and milk. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet.
5. Shred the carrots – Shred the carrots by using the shredding attachment of your food processor (no need to clean it after making the flour). Or, you can use a box grater to shred your carrots. Mix the carrots into the batter.
6. Bake – Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until a cake tester is removed clean from the center of the muffins.
7. Cool – Allow the muffins to cool in the tin for at least 20 minutes. Remove.
8. Enjoy – These muffins are great when they’re still warm. They’re also delicious at room temp, and when they’re leftover. Really, you can’t go wrong.

When to enjoy spiced carrot muffins?

Like I said, these muffins are nutritious enough for part of a breakfast.

I also love them for a snack.

They would also make a great addition to any brunch party, or gathering you have.

Make them for Easter, which is when I think about carrot cake. But, they would also be delicious during the fall, or winter.

Basically anytime you want the carrot cake vibes without all the effort of making an entire cake. OR for when you want something a little healthier.

Reasons you will love these spiced carrot muffins:

• They’re easy to make.
• They’re packed with nutritious ingredients. Hello oat flour and carrots.
• They’re delicious – a fluffy, perfectly sweet muffin packed with raisins and carrots.
• They’re gluten free – yet, they don’t taste gluten free one bit. Even if you don’t need to eat gluten free, you will love these muffins!
• They’re dairy free – as long as you use non-dairy milk these muffins are easily made dairy free
• Great for sharing – since they’re gluten free, and dairy free you can feel good about sharing them with a crowd.
• You can freeze them – YES, they freeze beautifully, making them a great option for meal prep.
• Makes the soul happy – baking warming, cozy muffins just feeds the soul…and the stomach!

Do I HAVE to use xanthan gum?

Yes.

I tested this recipe several times, without the xanthan gum the muffins were super crumbly and just in general didn’t have as good of a texture.

With xanthan gum they held together, were springy, and perfect. It’s really worth buying the extra ingredient.

Can I freeze these muffins?

Yes.

Here is how: Place them on a baking sheet, so they’re not touching. Freeze for a few hours. Once frozen wrap each individual muffin in plastic wrap. Then, store them together in a freezer safe bag.

When you want to pull out a muffin, simply, unwrap as many as you want and defrost them at room temp. Or, microwave one on high for 20 to 30 seconds, and enjoy warm.

They will keep in the freezer for 3 to 5 months. YAY for meal prep muffins!!!

I hope you enjoy these spiced carrot muffins as much as we did. We are just in love with how tasty and comforting they are.

Now, excuse me while I go microwave one from my freezer stash that I have left from testing them a million times.

It’s a tough job, tasting all those carrot muffins, but someone has to do it! LOL! 😉

More carrot cake inspired recipes for you try:

• no bake carrot cake balls
• gluten free carrot cake

More muffins for you to love:

• healthy spinach muffins with apricots and raisins
• gingerbread pear muffins
• healthy pumpkin muffins
• cranberry orange muffins
• lemon poppy seed muffins

When you make this recipe don’t forget to leave a comment down below, along with a star rating. This really helps to keep my blog running. Thanks friends, I appreciate you being here and making my recipes. Enjoy.

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