Gluten-free Strawberry Apricot Muffins: A Taste of Summer

WOW!  I haven’t posted in a while.  Did you miss me?  I’m so sorry I deserted you all!  I started working full time at the beginning of June and I forgot how all-consuming full time work is; I’d been working part time for 3 years.  I am excited to work full time and to be doing something that I love, but it did take me completely away from my dear followers and group members.  Plus, my weekends have been full of errands and almost no time to do the other things I love: baking and writing about it.

This weekend was the first time I was able to check out the Mercer Island Farmers Market.  It’s a pretty cool little market!  About half of the vendors are organic and there are TWO organic berry vendors.  There’s also smoked salmon, Maninis Gluten Free, fresh made gluten-free soup, and Abu-Eden Hummus, who also makes gluten-free falafel.  I spent way more than I had planned but I came home with a full market bag: falafel & babaganoush, organic red bell peppers, smoked salmon, a flat of organic strawberries & raspberries, and organic apricots and cherries.  Maninis had apricot muffins at their booth today and I got inspired.  I was so excited to have time to bake this weekend that I went straight to the kitchen and baked up these beauties.  They taste like a summer pool party in my mouth and I think you’ll enjoy them just as much as I do.

This recipe is very versatile, so feel free to use any combination of fruit that you have on hand.  Makes 6 jumbo, 8 medium or 12 small muffins.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, preferably on the convection setting.  Grease or line your muffin tin of choice with paper liners.

6 oz gluten-free baking mix of choice (a blend of flour and starch)
2 oz quinoa hot cereal flakes
1.5 oz blanched almond meal
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp xanthan gum
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup pure maple syrup (or 1/2 cup and omit the agave nectar)
1/4 cup agave nectar (or 1/2 cup and omit the maple syrup)
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 heaping cup chopped strawberries, patted dry
1/2 heaping cup chopped apricots, patted dry

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the almond meal, quinoa flakes, flour, baking powder, xanthan gum, sea salt, and cinnamon.

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat on low the maple syrup, agave, beaten eggs, and vanilla. Once combined, add the oil.  Mix well and then add the dry ingredients.  Beat the batter until it is smooth.  Stir in the berries and apricots.

Spoon the batter into 8 or all 12 muffin cups.  Bake in the center of your preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, until the tops are golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Cool in the muffin tin on a wire rack for a few minutes before turning them out to cool completely.

Soy-free, dairy-free, corn-free, peanut-free