Healthy Carrot Pumpkin Spelt Muffins
Monday, October 25, 2010 
I'm way behind on the pumpkin bandwagon this fall. Maybe I've gotten my pumpkin cravings satisfied just by looking at delicious blog recipes over the last couple weeks. It's strange, because I love to bake with pumpkin and really do have a lot of recipes to share with you guys. In particular, my favorite pumpkin pancakes, which are probably the fluffiest pancakes ever. Bold statement, but I'm willing to risk it.
Therefore, I have a bunch of pumpkin cans stocked in my pantry for emergency baking sessions. I actually just realized, while writing this, that I've been buying about a can a week ever since I saw it return to the grocery shelves. Not intentionally, of course.
Since I usually resort to my staple pumpkin recipes during the fall, like pancakes, loaf bread, and pie, I really wanted to try something a little different. I also really wanted to try baking with another new flour. Spelt seemed like a great place to start! From my minimal research online, I learned the following fun facts about spelt.
It has more protein than regular whole wheat flour, has a slightly nuttier and sweeter taste, and is slightly easier to digest. It does contain gluten, so it's a great substitute for most baking recipes.
So I decided to pick some up at the Whole Foods bulk bin and get baking. Of course, if you aren't able to find it, you could always substitute in more whole wheat pastry flour.
This recipe was actually roughly inspired by a carrot cake recipe! I decided that pumpkin and carrot would probably taste great together and luckily my predictions came true! These disappeared incredibly quickly from my house and I think I only ate one of them in the end.
My dad doesn't even like pumpkin and he raved about them. I take that as a good sign. Here ya go:
Healthy Carrot Pumpkin Spelt Muffins
Makes 6 Large Muffins or 10-12 Regular Sized Muffins
1/2 cup spelt flour
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 heaping teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch of ground nutmeg, cloves & ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup carrots, grated (about 4-5 carrots)
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/4 cup Zante currants or raisins
2/3 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons canola oil
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
2 eggs
Directions:
- Whisk together the flours, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger. In another bowl, stir together the carrots, Zante currants, and chopped walnuts.
- Using a mixer, combine the pureed pumpkin, canola oil, and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, and continue to beat until smooth.
- Reduce speed and slowly add in flour mixture, mixing only until the dry ingredients disappear (whenever baking, you want to mix as little as possible).
- Gently stir in carrot, walnut, and currant mixture. Divide into lightly greased muffin tin.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 28-32 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. **Note: Since I used a larger muffin tin, the cooking time took longer, so if you use a traditional muffin pan, the cooking time will probably be more like 22-25 minutes**
While I know everyone is partial to Libby's, including myself, that wasn't the first canned pumpkin I saw this season. Therefore, I have had to make do with Farmer's Marketorganic pumpkin, organic pumpkin 'a la Trader Joes, and 365 Whole Foods brand canned pumpkin. I can vouch that the Farmer's Market brand is significantly darker in color and less tasty than the Libby's and 365 Whole Foods brand. As for Trader Joe's, I can't vouch for that as of yet. Though I'm guessing it's not as good.
I used the 365 Whole Foods brand pumpkin for this recipe and was quite impressed! It was also on sale for $1.29/can, which is the cheapest pumpkin I've ever seen on the shelves!
These muffins were incredibly moist. Most likely due to using both grated carrots, as well as pumpkin.
I know everyone hates that word, but there is no other way to describe them. They are probably the moistest (sorry!) muffins I've ever had, period. They taste equally as tasty the second day around. In fact, I tend to think some baked goods taste better the second day because the flavors have had a chance to settle and become more pronounced.
All in all, it was a baking-experiment success! And I'm excited to add another pumpkin recipe to my arsenal. Hope you enjoy them, as much as my family did!
- What's your favorite way to eat pumpkin during the fall?
Reader Comments (29)
Wow these look delicious. They remind a lot of a muffin I used to get all the time from Whole Foods called "Morning Glory". Those things were out-of-control good.
I love the last shot and how there's a dramatic spotlight on the muffin. I was expecting angels to be singing when I saw it:)
Oh really? I prefer that name :) I haven't tried those before. Hehe, I laughed out loud at the singing angel comment. Thanks Joslyn!
<3 Laura
those look awesome! And I love that they have carrots in them for an extra dose of nutrition. I'm obsessed with spelt flour. I use it in everything!
Favorite way to eat pumpkin in the fall is pumpkin gingerbread or pumpkin cookies!
These look fabulous!! I love anything with pumpkin, and pumpkin muffins are one of my very favorite baked goods.
One of my goals is to begin using different flours as well, so I'm glad to see a recipe that uses spelt flour. Thanks for sharing! :D
These look really good! I was trying to come up with something that I could bake and pack for the rallies this weekend, and I think these would be perfect!
Thanks for stopping by Sarah! I've been trying to experiment with more, the Whole Foods bulk bin makes that so much easier and more affordable, which I love. Quinoa flour is another one I've used quite a bit on the blog as well!
Thanks! I love experimenting with different flours too. The Whole Foods bulk bin has made it really easy and affordable. I’ve also been using a lot of quinoa flour on other blog recipes too! Really yummy.
Thanks for visiting and saying hi!
Thanks Teri! I NEED to make your pumpkin cookies, they sounded really good. I think I might become obsessed with spelt flour now too, haha.
Oooh, let me know if you decide to make them. Be careful with the cooking time if you make regular sized muffins, it will be shorter :)
Oh, these muffins look so moist and tasty! And I bet they are very healthy, considering the ingredients!
Thanks for visiting my blog, I'm happy to find yours, too! :-)
I love pumpkin muffins, or just mixing it with greek yogurt! Divine!! Those muffins look very delicious.
Thanks so much Irina!
I love mixing pureed pumpkin with yogurt too, or even making a crustless pumpkin pie in ramekins is also delicious. Thanks for stopping by and saying hi!
<3 Laura
[...] were some of the most moist and flavorful muffins I’ve had to date. (Here is her recipe!) Thank you so much Laura! I think you have a very successful career ahead of [...]
I can't wait to try these! They look fantastic :)
Love it! Hopped over from dailygarnish.com :)
Let me know how they turn out! Thanks for stopping by and saying hi ;)
xo Laura
Thanks so much!
<3 Laura
It's never too late to jump on the pumpkin bandwagon in my opinion! In fact, this recipe comes just in time because I've grown a little tired of my usual pumpkin raisin muffin recipe. I've been meaning to try something new, and these will be perfect!
That muffin sounds great--maybe we'll have to swap recipes. Thanks so much for stopping by and saying hi!
<3 Laura
Absolutely amazing muffins! I cannot believe how good something so healthy can taste. I am going to experiment with other nuts/dried fruits. Thanks so much!
<3,
Melinda
Thanks so much! I'm so glad you tried them. Let me know if you make another version :)
Update: I changed out the oil for applesauce and the carrots for apple. I juiced the apples and used the pulp otherwise it would have been way too wet. They were good but a little too sweet for me (fuji apples). I think next time I will use a more tart apples or just less sugar.
I think I will try this with pistachios and apples next!
It looks like you spend a lot of effort and time on your blog. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new posts (SOON PLEASE!). Keep up the good work!
Thanks Jake! Right now things are a bit difficult because I'm away on vacation and I'm moving in a week!! But I'm hoping to post more frequently as soon as I can! Thanks for visiting :)