Full of protein and fiber and sweetened with a touch of honey, these almond flour muffins will quickly become one of your go-to recipes. These delicious gluten-free muffins can be personalized in a myriad of ways, by adding various ingredients and mix ins. It's the perfect master muffin recipe!
Add your favorite nuts, berries, citrus zest, and/or dairy-free chocolate chips. In short, you can make these healthy muffins exactly the way you want them!
8-10 years ago my brother's family went on the GAPS diet. During that time period, there were a handful almond flour recipes that I developed for them, like my Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies, and tucked away. These paleo muffins were one of those recipes, so I'm happy to be sharing it with you today!
Almond Flour Muffins Mix-In Ideas
I don't know about you, but I really love master recipes like this one, that I can personalize depending on what I have on hand (i.e. fresh berries).
My family's favorite mix-in combination is 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract + ½ cup dairy-free mini chocolate chips, for almond flour chocolate chip muffins.
Chopped Nuts- almonds, pecans, walnuts, peanuts
Berries- blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries (or a combination of berries!)
Spices- cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, allspice
Citrus Zest- lemon zest, orange zest
Extracts- vanilla extract, almond extract
Chocolate Chips- I use dairy-free chocolate chips, but you can use any that you have on hand
Important Note- Do not add an acidic citrus juice to this recipe (like fresh squeezed lemon juice, or orange juice), which could destroy the leavening of the muffin. Instead, opt for a citrus zest, or an extract.
Tips for Baking with Almond Flour
- When measuring almond flour, you want to gently pack the flour in the measuring cup (kind of like you would when measuring brown sugar), and then level off the measuring cup with the back of a butter knife.
- Don't overmix or overwork your flour. Remember, almond flour is ground almonds. If you overmix it, the natural oils start to come out, like when making almond butter. The trick is to mix it just enough to get the muffin batter smooth, but not any more than that.
- When finished baking, muffins made from almond flour will appear significantly more golden brown on top than a muffin made with gluten-free grain flour. The natural oils from the almonds cause this additional browning; it's completely normal. The almond flour muffins should not burn if your oven is calibrated correctly, just turn a deep golden brown.
Blanched Almond Flour vs. Unblanched Almond Flour
Blanched Almond Flour- Blanched almonds have had their skins removed, so blanched almond flour contains no almond skins.
Unblanched Almond Flour- Unblanched Almond flour is made from almonds still containing their skin, so this flour is a bit darker in color and not quite as smooth as blanched almond flour.
I prefer to bake with finely ground blanched almond flour, as it provides a lighter, tender crumb. That said, you can certainly use unblanched almond flour in this recipe if that's what you prefer. The skin of almonds contains a high amount of fiber, so from a health standpoint, you really can't go wrong using the unblanched.
Almond Meal vs. Almond Flour
Depending on the brand of almond flour you buy, it could be more of a meal (grittier) than a finely ground flour. While almond meal tastes great, I prefer the texture of the finely ground flour (they equal in flavor). Either will work in this recipe. It just depends on what you prefer.
I have used and recommend the following brands of blanched finely ground almond flour:
- Kirkland
- Blue Diamond
- Anthony's
- Honeyville (though I find them more expensive, so definitely price check before you buy)
Are Almond Flour & Coconut Flour Interchangeable?
One of the questions I get most often on my blog is, "Can I use coconut flour as a substitute for blanched almond flour?". The answer is no - coconut flour is not a suitable substitute for blanched (or unblanched) almond flour, or vice versa; they are not interchangeable. Almond flour is incredibly moist, while coconut flour is extremely dry; they are two very different beasts, so don't substitute one for the other.
How To Store Paleo Muffins
Unlike most baked goods made from gluten-free grain flours, baked goods made with almond flour will stay moist for days. In fact, they stay so moist that I normally store my almond flour muffins in a gallon-sized storage bag left partially open on the counter. This way, air can circulate in the bag, and will prevent too much moisture/humidity from building up in the storage bag.
Just keep in mind, I live in Alaska, so normally our humidity levels aren't high, nor is it generally super hot here. If you live in a hot, humid climate, it is possible you'll need to store your Paleo muffins in the refrigerator.
Other Almond Flour Recipes:
Almond Flour Tortillas
Paleo Chicken Tenders
Almond Flour Pancakes from Detoxinista
Almond Flour Thumbprint Cookies from Kristine In Between
Almond Flour Muffins Recipe
Almond Flour Muffins
Full of protein and fiber and sweetened with a touch of honey, these almond flour muffins will quickly become one of your go-to recipes. These delicious gluten-free muffins can be personalized in a myriad of ways, by adding various ingredients and mix ins. It’s the perfect master muffin recipe! Add your favorite nuts, berries, citrus zest, and/or dairy-free chocolate chips. In short, you can make these healthy muffins exactly the way you want them!
Ingredients
- 3 cups finely ground blanched almond flour, gently packed
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup olive oil (or melted coconut oil)
- ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F).
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the blanched almond flour, baking soda, and sea salt.
- Add in the eggs, honey, olive oil, and almond milk, and stir until the muffin batter is smooth.
- Stir in the desired mix-ins (see recipe notes for ideas).
- Divide the batter into 12-14 paper lined muffin tins, filling each ¾ of the way full.
- Bake 22-26 minutes, or until the tops of the muffins are golden and a toothpick, when inserted into the center of a muffin, comes out mostly clean (a few loose crumbs are okay).
- Let cool in the muffin tins for about 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Mix In Ideas:
Chopped Nuts- almonds, pecans, walnuts, peanut
Berries- blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries (or a combination of berries!)
Spices- cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, allspice
Citrus Zest- lemon zest, orange zest
Extracts- vanilla extract, almond extract
Chocolate Chips- I use dairy-free chocolate chips, but you can use any that you have on hand
Important Note- Do not add an acidic citrus juice to this recipe (like fresh squeezed lemon juice, or orange juice), which could destroy the leavening of the muffin. Instead, opt for a citrus zest, or an extract.
Recommended Products
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
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NOW Foods, Pecans, Raw and Unsalted, Halves and Pieces, Natural Source of Essential Fatty Acids, Grown in The USA, 12-Ounce
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KitchenAid KSM155GBSR 5-Qt. Artisan Design Series with Glass Bowl - Sugar Pearl Silver
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Enjoy Life Semi-sweet Chocolate Mini Chips, 10 Ounce, Pack of 2
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Pure Vanilla Extract, Certified Organic
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Anthony's Almond Flour Blanched (2lb) Batch Tested Gluten-Free, Non-GMO & Vegan
Don’t forget to snap a pic and tag me on Instagram @allergyfreeak and #allergyfreealaska with your gf muffin pics!
Lynn says
I adore those muffins, they look so pretty and delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe! I will definitely try it soon.
Mēgan says
Thank you, Lynn! I hope you enjoy them!
Lola Osinkolu | Chef Lola's Kitchen says
Looks super healthy and delicious!
Mēgan says
Thank you so much!
Catherine Hall Brooks says
Turned out amazing!!! I used 1/3 coconut flour and added ground flaxseed.... needed more almond milk due to coconut flour is very dry. Thanks!
Mēgan says
Coconut flour is VERY drying. If you change the amount in the recipe (as you found out), you'll certainly need to compensate in other areas.
Jason says
I made this recipe adding the pumpkin and cinnamon to the batter omitting any sweetener and topping. Light and fluffy. Absolutely delicious!!
I am making a second bat h with bacon, cheddar cheese and jalapeno. I can’t wait to try them!
Mēgan says
I'm glad to hear it still all worked out with your subs! 🙂 Thanks for coming back and leaving me a note and sharing that. I appreciate it!
Jenna says
Megan, I have had so much fun trying out all your recipes over the last couple months- started with the pop tarts (amazing). These almond flour muffins are a weekly staple in our house- and I love sharing them with friends and neighbors because everyone loves them! I added fresh blueberries this week and they were delicious! I also like to add 2T sesame seeds and 2T flax to the batter to add extra iron for my celiac growing boys! Thank you so much for putting out such quality ‘made from scratch’ gluten free recipes. You’re a huge asset to the gluten free community!
Mēgan says
Awe, Jenna! Thank you so much for leaving me this sweet comment. It's so nice to hear! 🙂 Very happy you've found my recipes helpful!
Barbara Salvini says
Has anyone tried to make this as a loaf?
Mēgan says
Hi Barbara,
I have not tried that yet! If you do try it, please come back here and share your results! Thanks!
Trish says
I'd love to try this recipe but I prefer to bake by weight, especially for large amounts. How much does your 3 cups of "lightly packed" Almond Flour weigh in grams? Thank, Trish
(sorry, I left a "review" by mistake - please delete!)
Mēgan says
Hi Trish, I'm not quite sure as I don't bake by weight, or if I do, it's very rare.
Lori says
Can you use flaxseed “eggs” in place of eggs? (1 Tbsp flax seed mixed with 2-3 Tbsp water)
Mēgan says
Hi Lori,
Three eggs is too many to replace in this recipe. I wouldn't recommend trying a substitute. I think you're better off looking for an already written egg-free recipe.
Darlene Anger says
Could I use maple syrup instead of honey?
Mēgan says
Absolutely!
Haileigh says
These are DANGEROUSLY good. I made mini muffins, so I baked them at 350 for 16 minutes. Came out perfectly. Probably won't make them again anytime soon because I ended up waiting, like, ten of them this evening, but I do highly recommend the recipe!
Mēgan says
What an awesome comment - you totally made my day! Thanks, Haileigh. I'm happy you enjoyed them!