If you love flavorful baked goodies, but also want to keep your diet light, healthy, and gluten-free, then this recipe with pumpkin spice is perfect for you. The mild pumpkin puree is the secret ingredient that adds goodness to your guilt-free dessert!
Commercial baked goods are often processed, full of fats, fillers, gluten, and exaggerated quantities of sugar. This is how cakes and other desserts earned a negative reputation. But there is no need to generalize and stop yourself from eating any dessert. You can quickly make simple, delicious, and healthy desserts at home. In this way, you can control the quality and quantity of ingredients!
By using ingredients like nutritious pumpkin, fruit, spices, seeds, and high quality flours, you can easily make your own sweets, which are not only delicious but also good for your health!
Why we love pumpkin
Just like carrots and other orange fruits and vegetables, pumpkins are rich in nutrients that benefit your skin, eyes, immune system, and many other aspects of your health.
It’s a filling and nutritious food that contains 90% water, while the solid part has a high fiber content which keeps you full and supports better digestion.
If you are keeping a close eye on your weight, you will be surprised that an ingredient that brings so much richness and sweetness to your foods is actually very low in calories. You can, therefore, add it to your recipes in order to increase the mass and lower the number of calories per portion.
This plumpy fruit is good not only for you, but also for the environment. It can be stored fresh for months without going bad, and all parts can be consumed: from flowers to pulp and seeds. You can also prepare bigger batches of puree which you can store in the freezer for up to 4 months. This makes it an ideal option if you want to prevent food waste.
If you are not a fan of pumpkin, you probably haven’t found the right combination of flavors yet. Pumpkin goes well with lots of spices, as well as citrusy flavors such as oranges or lemon zest.
If you would like to find out more about the benefits of pumpkins, have a look at another flavorful recipe that we love.
The importance of high quality flour
Even though many people try to stay away from carbs, it’s important to know that carbs are not your enemy. On the contrary, they are a strategic factor in the functioning of your body – as long as you choose the right ones.
For example, whole-grain organic flours are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and protein – all of which can improve your health and give you more energy. They can assist you in controlling your weight, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, enhancing your digestion, and lowering your chance of heart disease and diabetes.
They also provide a delightful taste and boost the nutritional value of your baked products. This is why it’s crucial to use only the best quality flours in order to prepare recipes that are not only delicious, but also good for you!
✤ Gluten-free Pumpkin Spice Muffins✤
These delightful muffins are full of flavor and nutrients. They are great next to a cup of tea, for breakfast, dessert, or as a snack.
Ingredients for 12 portions:
・250g Organic Whole Grain Hermus Joep Spelt Flour
・1 tsp baking powder
・1 tsp baking soda
・1/2 cup (120ml) sunflower oil
・1 cup (260g) pumpkin puree
・3 tbsp maple syrup
・1 ripe banana, puree
・2 tbsp chopped raw pumpkin seeds for sprinkling on top
・1 tsp pumpkin spice mix:
– Cinnamon
– Ginger
– Nutmeg
– Cloves
– Allspice
– Black pepper
– Pinch of salt
– Vanilla extract
How to prepare it:
▻ Preheat the oven to 220°C. Grease or line a 12- cup muffin tin (or circular tart pan).
▻ Mix the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spice mix) in a medium-sized bowl. Set aside.
▻ Mix the wet ingredients (oil, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, pureed banana, and vanilla extract) in a large bowl and whisk until well combined.
▻ In the bowl containing the liquid ingredients, gradually add the dry ingredients and whisk until a batter forms. Stir just until combined, without over-stirring. In order to get tall muffins, you can let the batter rest at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes before scooping.
▻ Evenly distribute the batter among the 12 muffin tins (or pour it into the tart tin). Sprinkle the chopped pumpkin seeds on top.
▻ Bake at 220°C for five minutes, then lower the oven temperature to 180°C without opening the oven door. Bake for another 12 to 15 minutes, or until done. In order to test if the muffins are ready, insert a toothpick in the center – the toothpick should come out clean or with just a few crumbs stuck to it.
▻ Let the muffins cool for a short while and enjoy!
Our tips:
1. Prepare a larger quantity of pumpkin puree by baking the pumpkin in the oven and processing it with a blender. Divide it into smaller portions for later use and store in the freezer for up to 4 months.
2. If you don’t have muffin tins, you can simply bake the composition in a tart tray and slice it after it has cooled.
