Gluten-free Hot Cross Muffins

A little sneak peek from our upcoming new look Easter eBook, Easter Treats. I bake a batch of these spiced muffins every Easter without fail so couldn’t help but share. Happy Easter!

Muffins

1 1/2 cups almond meal

1 1/2 cups arrowroot flour

1 tsp bicarb soda

1 tsp baking powder

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp mixed spice

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp ground cloves

pinch sea salt

2 large free-range eggs, lightly beaten

150g organic butter or 1/4 cup unrefined coconut oil, melted

2 tbsp rice malt syrup

1 tsp finely grated lemon zest

1 tsp finely grated orange zest

50g dark chocolate (90% cacao), finely chopped

Crosses

1 egg white

1/4 cup desiccated coconut

1 tsp Juice Plus+ Vanilla Complete

 

Method

Preheat oven to 180°C and use a little butter or coconut oil to lightly grease a 12-hole muffin tray. 

In a large bowl, mix together the almond meal, arrowroot flour, bicarb soda, baking powder, spices and salt.

In another bowl, whisk the eggs, butter or coconut oil, syrup and lemon and orange zest. Pour wet mixture into the dry mixture and combine well.

Add the chocolate pieces and mix through.

Transfer mixture evenly to prepared muffin dish and set aside while you make mixture for the crosses.

To make the crosses, whisk the egg white, desiccated coconut and Vanilla Complete in a small bowl. Take a teaspoon and very carefully drizzle mixture over the unbaked muffins to form a cross shape (you can use a piping bag to be extra neat).

 Bake (180°C) the muffins for about 20-25 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean and they’re nice and golden. Serve fresh from the oven or store in the fridge.

Tips

My favourite ways to eat these muffins are fresh from the oven or toasted under the grill with a little butter (regular or coconut butter) and jam.

If you would like these a little sweeter, simply add a little more rice malt syrup. I don’t have a sweet tooth, so these are sweet enough for me.

The mixture is thick and sticky before baking, but don’t worry – it’s supposed to be.

This recipe is from our upcoming new look Easter eBook, Easter Treats: 15 Healthy Easter Recipes You and Your Family Will Love from me and The Juicy Movement team. It’s free for all members of The Juicy Life Program and The Juicy Circle as part of our complete holistic package.

Thanks to Kami Ramini Media for the gorgeous recipe image.