Incredibly fluffy paleo carrot cake muffins made with wholesome ingredients and studded with caramel-y medjool dates. Perfect for Easter, a quick healthy breakfast, or dessert! Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Refined Sugar-Free, and Grain Free.
Fluffy, moist, naturally sweetened, and perfectly spiced, these Carrot Cake Muffins don't miss a beat! Naturally sweetened with date syrup and coconut sugar and made with feel-good, wholesome ingredients that keep this recipe gluten free, dairy free, grain free, and refined sugar free. So you will stay feeling good (probably even better!!) after one or a few😉
Dress them up with a thick-n-creamy icing for more indulgence or enjoy them warmed up with a hot cup of coffee--we love a recipe that doubles as a healthy breakfast and dessert! You can't go wrong either way.
Typically, carrot cake is marbled with raisins and while we're not ones with a strong hatred for that shriveled dried fruit (no shame if you do!), we just prefer medjool dates instead. They add lovely bites of chewy, caramel-y goodness into delicious baked goods. Plus, medjool dates are a nutrient-dense superfruit, rich in fiber, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B6 to name a few!
Tips and Tricks for these Muffins
- Use finely ground almond meal to create the right texture (it will be super gritty if not).
- Make sure your eggs are at room temperature so the batter will mix evenly.
- Grate your own carrots. Avoid grabbing the pre-shredded kind at the store which aren't as fresh or moist as it will affect the texture and moisture of the muffins.
- Have fun with mix-ins! Throw in some pecans, walnuts, or even crushed pineapple for even more added texture.
Ingredients you'll need:
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- Joolies Date Syrup
- This natural sweetener is Made with only ONE ingredient: upcycled medjool dates and you still maintain all the nutrient and health benefits of a medjool date in the syrup form.
- Avocado Oil
- This neutral oil keeps our muffins moist and works with the baking powder and baking soda to create a fluffy and tender texture. You can substitute with olive oil or vegetable oil.
- Dairy Free Milk
- We went with a coconut milk, but you can use whatever floats your boat.
- Carrots
- What's a carrot cake without any carrots! You want these to be finely shredded so we recommend using the smaller side of a grater or you can achieve the same outcome with a food processor.
- Joolies Date Toppers
- Joolies California organic medjool dates chopped into bite-sized pieces with a light rice flour coating that adds moisture and little bites of caramel into our muffins.
- Eggs
- This adds structure to the muffins plus adding some more protein, healthy fat, and vitamins. We recommend using pasture raised eggs so you get that beautiful golden yolk that is full of healthy Omega-3s, choline, and good cholesterol 🍳
- Almond Flour
- This will thicken up the batter and also has a stellar nutritional profile that's rich in Vitamin E and magnesium and just like medjool dates, almond flour is a great low glycemic option!
- Coconut Flour
- This absorbent gluten free flour works in tandem with the almond flour to create the desired texture of our muffins. We love Bob's Red Mill Coconut Flour.
- Coconut Sugar
- To get the sweetness we all love, while keeping it refined sugar-free, we added a little bit of coconut sugar. We don't recommend substituting with a liquid sweetener as it will throw off the baking ratio.
- Baking Soda + Baking Powder
- Baking powder & baking soda work hand in hand together. They both are essential to getting the FLUFF by helping them rise properly.
- Spices + Vanilla + Sea Salt
- Don't forget the spice! Grab ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, to create the carrot cake flavor. Vanilla will help compliment the other flavors.
- Joolies Date Syrup
