Almond Meal, Blueberry and Vanilla Muffins (Grain-Free)

Almond meal made from unblanched almonds is low-glycemic, nutrient-dense and readily available. And you can even make your own almond meal from whole almonds using a countertop grain mill or a food processor. Almond meal is also Paleo-friendly and naturally gluten-free, which has contributed to the recent surge in its popularity as an alternative to wheat flour.

In this grain-free muffin recipe, almond meal comes together with antioxidant-rich blueberries and pure vanilla powder to create scrumptious muffins that are sure to please. Unlike vanilla extract which contains alcohol, pure vanilla powder contains nothing but dried, ground vanilla beans. When buying vanilla powder, make sure it is pure and natural* – many vanilla powders also contain sugar and/or synthetic extracts.

Other key ingredients in these grain-free muffins include black raspberry powder, honey, overripe bananas and eggs. The black raspberry powder is used to add flavor and antioxidants to these muffins, while the honey and mashed bananas add sweetness. As these muffins do not contain any other sweeteners, it is important that you use overripe bananas which are much sweeter than their unripe and ripe counterparts. As the bananas you find in the supermarkets are usually unripe or just ripe, you might have to buy the bananas for this recipe a few days in advance and let them ripen on the countertop. Best results are obtained when the bananas have already developed black spots on their skins – a sure-tell sign that they are overripe and extra-sweet!

When making these grain-free blueberry and vanilla muffins, it is important that you handle the eggs right, or you may end up with a batch of hard, dense muffins instead of scrumptious, fluffy treats. As this recipe uses no chemical leavening agents, you'll have to separate the egg whites and yolks, and then whip the whites into a light, airy foam before adding them into the batter. This airy egg white foam is what gives these flour-less blueberry and vanilla muffins their soft, moist texture.