Healthy(er), Moister Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins-Low Glycemic

Before I was diagnosed with diabetes I didn’t like making muffins, because it is so hard to keep them from tasting like cardboard.  Well, my new trick to make them healthier and tastier is to replace a lot of the flour with almond meal.  I like the kind that includes the dark skins, because it has more fiber.  You can find it next to flour in the bulk bins at Sprouts.  Today the kids and I adapted my favorite pumpkin cranberry coffee cake recipe and it came out SO good!  Here’s the recipe:

1 1/4 Cups Almond Flour

1 Cup Flour (I use Pamela’s GF)

2 Tsp Cinnamon

1/2 Tsp Nutmeg

1/2 Tsp Ginger

1 Tsp Baking soda

1/2 Tsp Salt

2 Eggs

2 Tsp Vanilla

1 Cup Xylitol (try to find it minimally processed)

2/3 Cup Agave Syrup

1/2 Cup Coconut Oil

1 Cup Organic Canned Pumpkin

1 Cup (or more) Dried Cranberries

1 Cup (or more) Pecans or Walnuts

Prepare two muffin tins by either greasing them or putting the liners in.  Preheat the oven to 350.  In a large bowl combine almond meal, flour, spices, baking soda, and salt.  Using an electric mixer whisk the eggs, then add xylitol, agave, vanilla, oil, and pumpkin.  Fold in the cranberries and nuts.  Fill each muffin cup about 3/4 full (should make about 20-22), then sprinkle with extra cranberries.  Bake for 20-23 minutes, until they spring back when pressed in the middle (or you can do the toothpick thing).  It’s best to put the muffin tins on top of cookie sheets, because the almond meal tends to cause the muffins to burn at the bottom quicker than normal muffins.  Eventually I’d like to try this recipe without any flour…just almond meal.  I’d also like to try it as a bread.

I think it’s important to teach our kids that eating healthy does not mean deprivation and disgusting food!  Honestly, I like the flavor of this muffin better than I liked the original recipe.  I also like the texture better…moist, soft, and not overly dense.  The difference is that it has significantly less sugar, and significantly more fiber, protein, healthy fat, and other nutrients (nuts have lots of minerals).  Yes, there are more calories because of the almond flour, but what a good way to get your child to eat the healthy fat that comes in nuts!