Look through my recipes. See a trend? Well, yes. They ARE all healthy and delicious. Thank you for noticing! However, none of my recipes involve baked goods. It’s not that I don’t love delicious baked goods. I do! But honestly, baking is not my forte.
Just about every time I bake, the delicious goodness sticks to the pan. I’m just not good at baking. Serious props to those great-grandmothers who master baking when just walking across the kitchen floor caused a cake to fall. I don’t know how you did it, but if you’re listening, you didn’t get enough respect.
It’s All in the Muffin Pan
However, this week, I got a Keliwa Silicone Muffin pan. I had never cooked in silicone before but became a pretty good fan after using silicone ice trays to make my homemade veggie broth. And, I use silicone oven mitts and trivets, so I know it stands up to heat well. Since the company offered me a free pan, I figured it was worth the effort to at least try. See the results for yourself.
Boring Breakfast Routine
David’s felt bored with our typical breakfast choices and, frankly, so have I. And, I didn’t want to break-in my new pan with something as unhealthy as muffins or cupcakes. And I wanted something quick and easy.
Even though these delicious “muffins” contain a sweetener, they are not the typical overly sweet oatmeal muffins you find at your local coffee shop. Since they contain no flour, they are more like baked steel cut oatmeal.
Since they contain no flour, they are more like baked steel cut oatmeal. These robust dynamos have a nutty, earthy flavor with a light sweetness.
David compares them to granola bars – only better. The consistency isn’t hard, crunchy, chewy or too soft, but is firm and holds together.
The Birth of Nature Muffins
When my son took one look at the pan of baked steel cut oatmeal, he dubbed it “Nature Muffins.” We thought the name fit well, so it stuck.
I used a hearty non-GMO steel cut oatmeal (McCann’s) for the base. And an organic fruit and nut mix with pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, dried fruits, almonds and brazil nuts (which I chopped) for the filling and the topping. My favorite mix comes from Nuts.com.
Also, I also used agave syrup, but feel free to substitute honey. Agave has a lower impact on blood sugar than honey, so it’s my preference.
To make them last longer, store them refrigerated in a zippered bag. When you are ready for breakfast in the morning, just heat one up for breakfast with a cup of coffee and a Greek yogurt – and you’ve got a complete meal!
Come to think of it; these muffins are almost like a bowl of oatmeal on the go – without the sticky mess you’d get if you spilled it in your car. Yuck. I don’t want to think about cleaning that up!
Nature Muffins (baked steel cut oatmeal muffin)
Yields: 12 muffins |
Make these delicious Nature Muffins (baked steel cut oats) on Sunday and enjoy a quick, ready to eat, healthy breakfast every morning during the week. These muffins refrigerate well. Just heat and enjoy.
- 1 overripe banana, mashed
- 1/2 cup pear sauce (substitute unsweetened applesauce)
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 1/2 cups soymilk (substitute your favorite here. Coconut milk is great!)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 1/2 cups quick cooking steel cut oats (I used McCann's Quick Cooking)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup agave
- 140 grams of your favorite trail mix, divided.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients, except nut mix.
In a separate bowl, combine all the wet ingredients.
Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix very well.
Fill each muffin tin about 1/3 with oatmeal mixture.
Divide 1/2 the nut mixture between each muffin cup.
Fill the cups with the remainder of the oatmeal.
Sprinkle each muffin with the other half of the nut mixture. Gently press each with the back of a spoon. This helps ensure it sticks to the muffins as it bakes.
Bake for 30 minutes until liquid is absorbed.
Nutrition
- Calories: 179
- Fat: 3 grams
- Carbs: 36 grams
- Protein: 3 grams
Alicia Taylor
We enjoy hosting parties and my husband and I are both avid gamers. You can find me on PS4 as SunshineFlaGirl. We also play tabletop RPGs and eurogames.
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20 Comments
Stylish Cravings
December 20, 2017 - 2:28 pmLove healthy easy to make muffins like these! I can totally see myself grabbing one on the way out the door in the morning!
Tiffany Khyla
December 20, 2017 - 9:43 amI’m not a huge fan of some of the ingredients included in this recipe, but my boyfriend loves to eat healthy and would probably devour these.
Adriana Martin
December 19, 2017 - 11:15 pmwow love those nutty muffins they really looks like a great snack. The nuts provide so much flavor and added crunchiness this is definitely a treat I will like to make soon.
andawnn
December 19, 2017 - 7:47 pmOh my yum!!! These muffins look absolutely delicious! I need a new pan too! Definitely checking this one out!
Lois Alter Mark
December 19, 2017 - 5:58 pmI’ve never been a huge fan of the consistency of oatmeal but I absolutely love the taste- these muffins would be the perfect balance! Plus, they’re way healthier than the breakfasts I usually have. Will definitely give these a try!
Family Around The Table
December 19, 2017 - 4:17 pmSo much good stuff in this muffin! I have just about everything in my pantry and need to use up my steel oats. Can’t wait to try them.
What you need to know about CBD Hemp Products • TaylorLife
March 30, 2017 - 5:06 pm[…] CBD Hemp oil comes in a variety of formulations. It is available in both oils, creams, and lotions. You can use the oils just like liquid vitamins: dissolve them in a beverage, stir them into your food, or drop them under the tongue. Some people even mix them into their post- or pre-workout smoothies, mix them into salad dressings, or bake it into goodies. I would love to try this baked into my Nature Muffins! […]
Six Ingredient Swaps that Slash Calories • TaylorLife
September 14, 2016 - 4:18 pm[…] out my recipe for Nature Muffins in which I used a mashed over-ripe banana as an oil replacement. This lower calorie food […]
Kimberly C Dickerson (@kimcdickerson)
July 18, 2016 - 10:23 pmI love to bake so I’m always happy to find new recipes to try. Steel cut oatmeal is awesome by itself so I’m sure these taste delish with the added ingredients.
Alicia Taylor
July 19, 2016 - 11:41 amYou can literally make this with anything you would normally put in your oatmeal. It’s like hand heald oatmeal – without the mess.
Renz
July 18, 2016 - 8:38 pmBaking is not my forte either. It requires a patience I don’t have apparently lol. I have those silicone pans too… These look really good. My mom loooves using steel oats.
Shanéy Vijendranath
July 18, 2016 - 5:00 pmThis looks so delicious! I’d love to make a batch for afternoon tea. 😛 I love my tea,… Want to try making them with coconut milk though.
Alicia Taylor
July 19, 2016 - 11:42 amCoconut milk (or almond milk) would be delicious! Or if you’re wanting something sweeter – chocolate almond milk!
Gloria Duggan
July 18, 2016 - 4:39 pmThese sound so healthy. I love steel cut oats…the texture is great and the taste is so nutty.
tiarasandtantrums
July 18, 2016 - 11:48 amI’m not a great baker either! My grandmother was amazing – but me, I don’t think I take time to bake as baking is all about correct measuring and I’m all about just pouring! ☺These muffins look so delicious though!
Alicia Taylor
July 18, 2016 - 12:56 pmThey are – and very easy – even for the baking-impaired!
Shauna S
July 18, 2016 - 7:40 amThese look super healthy. I never used soy milk before. The silicone pan seems great. I like that it doesn’t stick at all.
Alicia Taylor
July 18, 2016 - 10:22 amYou can use regular milk, or coconut milk, if you prefer 🙂 They are healthy and delicious – and the pan is wonderful!
Nicole
July 18, 2016 - 7:32 amThese look amazing! I have never cooked with steel cut oatmeal before. These are a perfect breakfast for those busy mornings!
Alicia Taylor
July 18, 2016 - 10:23 amI prefer steel cut oats because they are less processed than regular oats. And, yep – perfect for busy mornings.