Paleo Pumpkin Muffins

It doesn't have to be fall to enjoy these delicious treats!

Zach has been begging me to make these muffins for a few weeks now. I offered to make apple muffins, but you should have seen the look on his face... lol So! Pumpkin muffins it is! I am completely ok with it because these things are amazingly delicious. They are about the perfect bit of sweet AND they are easy to bake! You probably already have most of the ingredients in your cupboard!

PREP: 10 minutes

Cook time: 20 – 35 minutes

Total: 30 – 45 minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups almond meal

3/4 cup canned pumpkin

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/8 tsp salt

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

3 eggs

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup pecans (optional - we did not use any this time but you would add them in the mixture)

Unsweetened coconut flakes (optional - adds great texture)

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees 

Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl – I put the canned pumpkin in last to lessen the possible mess

Get your muffin tin ready! I bet you didn’t know that you have a couple options for baking!

- You can use the paper/foil cupcake cups (that's what we used)

-  Forget the paper cups and use a little bit of coconut oil (solid- don’t worry about melting it) and rub it in the muffin slots

- You can put a little bit of water in the muffin spots (Side note- I have never done this but the original recipe person did do it this way – so it must work out ok - see the bottom left picture)

friskylemon.com/2010/09/20/paleo-pumpkin-muffins 

After you fill the muffin slots ¾ full with the mixture, ** put the tin in the oven

** If you are using unsweetened coconut flakes, now’s the time to top your muffins off. Put as much as you’d like!

After about 20 minutes, check your muffins with a toothpick – make sure you take the muffin tin out of the oven when checking!

(Another side note: They will have a little bit of muffin on them when you pull out the toothpick- this is normal because of the canned pumpkin. You can be the judge on whether you think they are done enough for your taste)

If you aren’t sure, put them back in the oven for another 5-10 minutes.  

Let cool – not all the way! They are best when still warm :)

Enjoy!

All the best --

My picture came out dark, so I found this one 
friskylemon.com/2010/09/20/paleo-pumpkin-muffins