Vegan Carrot Muffins

Today I’m revisiting one of our lunch-box favorites! – Vegan Carrot Muffins. In the grand scheme of things I don’t have as much time in the kitchen as I would like, so I tend to try new things more often than I go back and remake the same recipes over and over. Especially things like muffins. Muffins are easy to change up and try out new combinations. But this recipe is one the kids request all.the.time. They taste like carrot cake and are nut-safe so the kids can take them to school – which they like. And they are vegan – which I like. And… well, carrot cake. If there was ever a good reason to bake, it’s carrot cake.

The first time I posted this recipe it was three years ago and this guy was starting Senior Kindergarten.  He just turned 9 last month and sent me a text message from his ipod.. from school. This was a first and it was the cutest thing ever and then I remembered he is not this kid anymore… he’s nine, and growing, and… still wearing breakfast on his shirt 3 out of 5 days a week.

We are in back to school mode around here and for Gav and he is now going to school ever-y-day. Which should be fine, better even. But every day for Gav is feeling like a monumental ordeal for me. The lazy me was okay with leaving one of the school bags unpack, notes from the teacher unread and unanswered. Letting one of my kids sleep in from time to time. Less lunches and fewer baths.I refuse to send him to school in a state of complete little boy grubbiness more than two days in a row.  Anything more than that, and the teachers may think I don’t bath him at all. But it’s hard to keep this kid clean. When the teachers only saw him every other day, I figured they wouldn’t notice that he had the same smuggy dirt spot on his right cheek.  But this year is different, they will notice. There is just too much pressure to keep this dirty, grubby little boy clean.

These Carrot muffins made it into the lunches this week. A tremendous hit with the kids. And i really like that they are full of carrots. Packing these in his lunch is at least making me feel like I’m somewhat “together”. Sure his shirt is dirty and he needs a haircut – but those are homemade muffins in his lunch-box. And they are actually healthy ones.

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Vegan Carrot Muffins

great for the school lunch-box - vegan and nut-free

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time35 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour 1 cup all purpose +1 cup whole wheat all purpose
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 cup carrots finely grated (2-3 large carrots)
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds plus 2 tablespoons for topping
• 1 cup + 2 tablespoons soy milk
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 large banana mashed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup coconut oil

Instructions

• Line 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners, spray liners lightly with cooking spray and preheat oven to 375.
• In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients, flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt. Add carrots, seeds and raisins to the dry ingredients and mix well.
• In a small bowl combine soy milk, mashed banana, maple syrup, oil and vanilla.  Whisk together until smooth.  Add wet ingredients to the carrot mixture and stir until just combined.
• Fill muffin cups 3/4 full with batter. Sprinkle the tops of each muffin with a few sunflower seeds.
• Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until golden brown.

Notes

I used sunflower seeds to keep these treat nut-free and school-safe

Trish Cowper | www.infinebalance.com

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Trish

Hi, I’m Trish. I share quick and healthy recipes designed to get you through your busy days, balanced with a generous serving of sweet and decadent treats for weekends and special occasions. You will find vegan, gluten-free and plant-based recipes here too. Thanks for visiting!