Whole Wheat Cinnamon Crumb Muffins

Today I took my main muffin mix recipe and changed it up a bit. Filled with whole wheat heartiness and heart healthy oatmeal, these delicious muffins are bursting with cinnamon. As a small treat I threw in a few chocolate chips but they would still be yummy without them. Here I share this awesome recipe and hope you can enjoy these vegan treats just as much as I do. My dog Olive loves them too!

Muffin Mix
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup white unbleached flour
- 1 cup oats
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup almond milk (or soy)
- 3 tbsp earth balance butter
- 1/4 cup applesauce
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
*add 1/4 cup of chocolate chips after all is mixed together

Crumb Topping
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white unbleached flour
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 4 tbsp earth balance butter

1. Mix all ingredients for muffin mix & then make crumb topping.
2. Fill cupcake tin with 6 liners.
3. Fill each one with a spoonful of batter then crumb topping & repeat until all is used.
*Use your hands to add the crumb topping and press it gently into the batter.
4. Bake at 375 for about 15 min or so *check with toothpick: they are done when it comes out smooth*
5. When done, take out and let cool on a cooling rack for a few minutes.
6. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top.
7. Eat up while they are still warm and enjoy!

Get Creative in the Kitchen

I came across a blueberry muffin recipe in Real Simple that inspired me to get baking. There were a few things I wanted to change so I switched a few ingredients out for vegan substitutes and didn't include some others. I also took some tips from another recipe from Kim Barnouin's cookbook and combined everything together. Boy did they come out awesome!

Always remember that you can take recipes apart and make them your own. This time I used blueberries but in the future I can add just about anything I want. From chocolate chips to nuts to other types of fruit - they will all taste great. The one thing that is important to me besides having something taste good is to use organic, natural ingredients that are healthy and vegetarian. I don't use dairy in any of my baked goods and you don't have to either. Even if you're not vegan or vegetarian, its smart to be as healthy as possible. The fact that you can enjoy a sweet treat and have it be healthy is such a amazing thing.

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

After some time experimenting with recipes I created this one for the yummiest chocolate chip cookies ever. And they are vegan! I have to share it because everyone will love them and you will look like a rockstar. So get baking and eat them up!

MIX:
1/2 cup of Earth Balance butter
1/8 cup of sugar
1/4 cup of brown sugar

ADD:
1/4 cup of applesauce
1 tsp of vanilla
1 1/8 cup of flour
1/4 tsp of baking soda
1/4 tsp of salt
1/2 to 1 cup of vegan chocolate chips

Roll batter into little balls about 1 inch thick and lay on baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
Let cool for 5 minutes and BAM - eat up!