Gluten-Free Coconut Banana Hazelnut Muffins
Welcome back and Happy New Year! Are you as sick of eating as I am? I don’t think I can ever eat another cookie again. At least not for a few weeks.
I’ve been thinking about the new year and I’m not a resolution person. I like little goals that I set throughout the year, the short-term works much better for me. An example….I’m going to try to eat more healthily. I’m not dieting….just making a few changes so that my body is not trying to run on refined sugar and meat. No fruits or vegetables whatsoever. Which it has been doing the past couple months.
I received some requests for gluten-free recipes and, although, I’m not ever going to follow a gluten-free diet I thought I would check out some of the products now available for those that do. First up…gluten-free flour. The package claimed it can be used “cup for cup” of regular wheat flour…and I found that to be true. However, I’m not going to lie….I think if you’re going to replace it for regular wheat flour in a recipe you will need more moisture. Without it, I found my muffins were dry and crumbly. There are several gluten-free flour blends popping up at the stores recently, I just happened to use Trader Joe’s for this recipe but you can use whatever you like.
To conquer the dryness problem, I added the mashed bananas to this recipe I developed for Coconut Hazelnut Muffins. Hence, the banana in the name now. An extra egg and coconut oil also helped keep these from drying out.
These are a great option for breakfast on the go….I would even go as far as adding a smear of homemade Coconut Butter. I haven’t tried freezing them yet so do that at your own risk.
Gluten-Free Coconut Banana Hazelnut Muffins
Makes 8 standard muffins
2 cups gluten-free flour blend (I used Trader Joe’s)
3/4 cup coconut sugar (You can use regular granulated sugar)
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup toasted unsweetened coconut flakes (I used Bob’s Red Mill)
1/2 cup roasted hazelnuts, finely chopped
2 ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
unsweetened coconut flakes for sprinkling
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, mix the bananas, toasted coconut, nuts, coconut oil, vanilla and eggs until thoroughly combined.
Add the banana mixture to the dry ingredients and mix to combine.
Coat a muffin tin with cooking spray and fill each cup 3/4 full with batter. Sprinkle with coconut flakes and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let cool in the muffin tin for 2 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.