GF Apple Cinnamon Lentil Muffins + The day i became a food blogger
Mark this as the day I became a food blogger. 😂 ✌️
June 16th, 2023.
Just kidding. Maybe. 👀
If you’re really curious, go check this out.
This shows how far I’ve come. 😳
One thing you need to know about me is that I didn’t learn to cook until after I was married.
I literally only knew how to boil water and make Kraft Mac & Cheese.
Cooking was a struggle for MANY years.
As a now Classical educator to our 3 kids, I realize that a lot of my struggle stemmed from the lack of understanding the “grammar” stage of cooking — ie: the BASICS.
How I overcame that is perhaps a story for another day…
But, I want you to know that this recipe is a labor of love.
And, I’m going to spell things out that maybe you do, or maybe you don't need spelled out for you.
Because, that’s what I needed when I was figuring out how to feed my family well.
HERE WE GO…
I was looking for a recipe to use up my extra lentils after making a modified “Simple Red Lentil Curry” by Lisa Lin over at healthynibblesandbits.com.
By “extra” I mean that I didn’t really pay attention to how much dry lentils yield cooked, and also added a step of soaking them into the mix, so I had some, well…”extra.” 👀
Discovered a mama who put the lentils in muffins and I was like, “Yeah. I like that idea. I’m gonna go for it.”
The first round, I immediately modified the recipe because I needed to make it gluten free.
I used Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1 GF flour* and it was fine. My son liked them, which was a “win” for me.
The next time I made them, I used Bob’s Red Mill Paleo flour** and added 1/4 cup of hemp seeds, thinking the original recipe called for pepitas (pumpkin seeds), so this was a logical sub in my book.
This batch turned out just “okay.” Enough butter will make anything taste good. 😉
The third batch was made also with the Paleo flour, but I opted for no hemp seeds and all 3 kids liked them better, but I’m not convinced it was because of the flour…
The other difference between batch 1 and 3 was I subbed apple sauce for the avocado oil, which added a little extra sweetness.
The recipe below is from the WINNER of the 3 batches. You’re welcome. 😆
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GF APPLE CINNAMON LENTIL MUFFIN RECIPE (yields 10-12 standard-sized muffins):
Heaping 1/3 dry red lentils
2/3 cup shredded apple (ring apple shreds in cheese cloth into a cup to remove moisture + serve the juice to a kiddo…they’ll want it! lol)
1/3 cup apple sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon (or pumpkin spice)
1 tsp baking soda
1.25 cups Bob’s Red Mill Paleo Flour (or GF 1-to1 Flour)
extra cinnamon (or pumpkin spice) + sugar for sprinkling (I used organic cane sugar)
DIRECTIONS:
Step 1:
Preheat oven to 375.
Put lentils in a small pot with 2 cups water***.
Cover + bring to a boil.
Crack the lid, reduce heat, and simmer 5 min.
Drain.
You should have about 1 cup once cooked.
Step 2:
In a food processor (or Vitamix - a food processor is a better option, but if you’re a rebel like me and don’t want to clean all the parts to the food processor, you might try this), add:
1 cup cooked lentils
2/3 cup shredded apple
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup apple sauce
1 egg
Process until smooth
Step 3:
Add:
1 tsp cinnamon (or pumpkin spice)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1.25 cups flour (correctly measured using the spoon-in method)
1 tsp baking soda
Process until combined
Note: If using a Vitamix, just get a spatula or wooden spoon and stir until incorporated. It will likely not blend. Ask me how I know. 👀
Step 4:
Scoop into greased muffin tins (I use the Demarle muffin forms and I LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM!…It seems they are sold under the name Silpat now…and, are slightly different colored. I love that I don’t have to grease them and they’re SUPER easy to clean!)
Mix a little sugar + cinnamon (or pumpkin spice) in a bowl and sprinkle on top of the muffins.
Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.
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*I priced this out as of today (6/16/23) and it’s the cheapest if you can find it at Costco. I think .17/oz! However, I have linked you to Azure Standard because 1. I can’t link you to Costo and 2. Because Azure is a LEGIT way to shop. I am so grateful for Azure! The cost was around the same as Amazon, but Amazon makes you buy a case of 4 - 22oz bags to get that same price per ounce. With Azure, you’re not only supporting local families + businesses, but you can also get the same price per ounce for a 44oz bag.
**I haven’t seen this one at Costco, but I compared Azure to Amazon and Azure came out .20/oz cheaper!
***The packaging says you don’t have to soak lentils, but I totally did. And, after reading THIS, I will probably even sprout them next time. If I was new to soaking or sprouting, and that felt overwhelming, I’d probably just agree with the packaging until I was ready to take it to the next level + pay attention to what my body tells me.
(Most links are affiliate links, which means I will earn a small kickback when you use the link to purchase supplies. My family + I thank you in advance for your support. 💛 )
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OTHER NOTES + MUSINGS:
You could also NOT drain the juice from the apples and see how it goes! I read the original blogger’s comments and there was a gal who said it still worked.
Don’t be afraid to try something! Be okay with “messing up.”
It’s only ever really a “FAILURE” if you fail to learn, amiright? (I’m right. 😉)
The original recipe called for 1/3 cup avocado oil, so if you don’t have apple sauce on-hand, you can totally go that route.
I might sub 1/3 cup maple syrup next time for the brown sugar to see how it goes.
You can totally make this vegan with a “flax" egg. (Google it if you’re unsure.)
I don’t recommend “hiding” foods. Be upfront with your kids — you set the tone for your home. If you cringe at “healthy” things, they will, too. Make it normal. Make it fun. Swim upstream together. “THESE MUFFINS HAVE LENTILS! Do y’all know what makes lentils so cool?! Let’s learn together!” —> Suggestion for learning about lentils
Also…you need to know about my FAVORITE recipe importer + list app because I know you will love it!
Have you heard of ANYLIST APP?! (Not an affiliate link — listen, I rave about what I love!)
You can import recipes from blogs + then click on the ingredients you need from that recipe and it goes right to your grocery list! That’s just a taste of what all it can do. I love that I can add a photo to the sour cream on my grocery list so Hubbs knows EXACTLY what sour cream to grab 😂 — and that the app shares between our phones!
$11.99/yr is 100% worth it for our family. I even use it to keep + save vacation packing lists!
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Ok. How’d I do? Was this helpful? Overkill?
I’d love to hear when you make this recipe!
Please take a photo + tag me on Instagram!
ENJOY!!
💛 Caitlin