Eating Chai Spice Apple Muffins for breakfast is a given, but they are also yummy for a snack when the munchies hit or even for dessert.
These delicious muffins are made with good-for-you ingredients such as old-fashioned oats, whole wheat flour, apples, and a few of your favorite nuts. I used pecans in this recipe. You can substitute an egg with a flax egg, which is easily made with ground flaxseeds and water.
Or, you could use aquafaba which is the juice from a can of chickpeas. It acts like an egg since it has the protein from the beans. If you’ve never heard of aquafaba, here’s a list of 20 things you can make with aquafaba. You can also whip aquafaba into beautiful white peaks. Who knew?
Chai spice mix is a warming aromatic delight from India often used in tea. It’s easy to make your own mixture with ground ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and a pinch of cloves. You could also add this to your tea, about 1/4 tsp per cup.
Looking for some more snacks? Try these recipes:
- Chai Spice Apple Muffins
- Banana Bread with Maple Glaze
- Blueberry Lemon Coconut Bars
- Carrot Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Chickpea Cookies
- Oil-Free Almond Cherry Muffins
There’s a touch of maple syrup in this recipe BUT if you’re staying away from sugar, you could substitute stevia, 1 tsp powdered stevia or 6-9 drops of liquid stevia. Here’s a stevia conversion chart that may come in handy.
You’ll love the wonderful smell of chai spice floating through your house while these chai spice apple muffins are cooking and you may even want to make a double batch because they’ll disappear in a flash.
I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments below for this Chai Spice Apple Muffins Recipe! If you have a photo, post it on my Instagram page, tag me using the hashtag #plantbasedcooking in your caption, and I won’t miss it!
Chai Spice Apple Muffins
Equipment
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseeds
- 3 tbsp water
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp chai spice mix (see recipe below)
- 1/4 tsp salt (optional)
- 1 medium banana mashed
- 1 cup applesauce
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup non-dairy milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1-2 medium apples peeled, cored and chopped
- 1/3 cup pecans or other nuts like walnuts
Chai Spice Mix
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp Ceylon cinnamon*
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
Instructions
- Mix the ground flaxseeds and water in a small bowl and set aside to thicken.
- Preheat over to 350°F.
- If not using a non-stick muffin tray, spray lightly with oil.
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: oats, oat flour, baking soda, all of the chai spice ingredients, and salt
- In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients: apple sauce, non-dairy mik, mashed banana, vanilla extract and flax egg.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until just combined.
- Place a dollop of muffin mixture into each muffin tin and top with a sprinkling of chopped apples.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes. The muffins are done when a toothpick inserted into one comes out clean.
Notes
non-alcoholic vanilla extract preferred *I recommend using Ceylon cinnamon, which has a sweeter, more delicate flavor, because the most common cinnamon, cassia, contains coumarin, a naturally occurring compound that may be toxic to the liver at doses of 1 teaspoon per day for adults and 1/4 teaspoon for children a few times a week. See reference from nutritionfacts.org.
Hello
In the preparation you mention “Mashed banana” – how much do you use. There is no mention of banana in the ingredients.
Thanks
Wendy
Hey Wendy, thanks for catching that. I’ve added the banana to the ingredients.
So many of the plant based recipes do not follow the guidelines that I was taught. Whole wheat flour is processed. Coconut oil is processed and also extremely high in saturated fat.
Where can I find another definition of plant based. We were taught, off a tree, off a bush or in the ground.
Thanks, Gail
Hi, eating as close to what nature provides is correct, a diet that emphasizes high-nutrient, whole plant foods that supply abundant amounts of micronutrients. This would include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and some nuts and seeds (as recommended by Dr. Fuhrman and Dr. Campbell). It would exclude added oils and any animal foods.
Whole grains such as whole grain brown rice, barley, oat groats would be better to eat than if they’re refined and turned into flour with the bran removed. Tofu and soymilk are recommended but not soy protein, for another example.
However, technically, some of the foods recommended by proponents of a whole food plant-based diet, including Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Dr. John McDougall, and Dr. T. Colin Campbell, to name a few, are somewhat processed. Foods such as soymilk, tofu, whole grain bread, or old-fashioned oats. Here’s a list of breads recommended by Dr. McDougall.
The idea is to make this way of eating doable and one that people stick with and these variations, such as whole grain pasta, are acceptable. So stick with the least processed and you’ll be good to go. As for coconut oil, I agree that it is not recommended and I have removed it from this recipe. Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I hope that helps clear it up a little.
I love this website! Currently making chocolate and peanut butter brownies and will make these Apple muffins over the weekend. I’ve mad your lemon and blueberry bars in the past and they went down a treat with everyone! Thanks for sharing all these amazing recipies 💓
Sarah, you’re so sweet to say!! 🌷 Thanks for the feedback and hope you enjoy the recipes. It’s sometimes a challenge to make sweets without oil/fat and much sugar.
Oats are now considered to contain a virus that causes cancer. Do you have a sub for them as I have stopped using oats altogether.
I think I did read something but it was about the pesticide, glyphosate (from Roundup)? Apparently organic can help, but, if you’re like me, you’d really like none of it in your food. And, other grains can be contaminated, as well. Grains such as barley, buckwheat, and millet. Unfortunately, at this time, I don’t have a substitute. Perhaps you’ve already investigated but here’s an article that lists which products are the best. Scroll down about half way to see the list. It’s really sad and I hope growers and companies start paying more attention!