Blueberry Almond Streusel Muffins That You’d Never Guess Were Gluten-Free… and Vegan! (Guest Post)

Blueberry Almond Streusel Muffins -- Gluten-Free, with Vegan Options

Last week marked the end of an incredible stretch of cool weather, and the beginning of true summer heat. There are a lot of things I like about summer, but when it gets to the point where I can’t turn on the oven, I start to object. Possible solutions include: getting AC, buying a grill or other outdoor cookware, or drinking lots and lots of smoothies. For the moment, I’m sticking with option number three. Every year there are a couple weeks where I hunker down under a fan to wait it out, and I seem to have managed so far… so far.

Fortunately, before the heat wave came and made enemies between my kitchen and I, I managed to bake up some seriously delicious muffins. As many of you know, I am neither vegan nor gluten intolerant, but that doesn’t stop me from experimenting with recipes and variations suitable for everyone. My goal whenever making something gluten-free or vegan is to do it without sacrificing on flavor, and one of my favorite things ever is to share something I’ve made and have no one realize it is anything but delicious.

I feel like some people hear the words “vegan” or “gluten-free”, and they think… well, what is it, then? Like if it isn’t made with wheat (or meat), it must be a mystery food, or perhaps not even food at all. When really, that isn’t the case at all. I always aim to use whole foods, real ingredients, natural ingredients, no matter what I’m making… and these muffins are no exception. In fact, they are so nutritious you might be tempted to call them healthy. But beware, my friend, that is a slippery slope. Next thing you know you’ll have eaten half the batch — I know from experience.

Blueberry Almond Streusel Muffins -- Gluten-Free, with Vegan Options

I’d been thinking about these muffins for weeks before making them, and when my friend Wendy over at Cooking Quinoa asked if I’d be willing to do a guest post for her (would I?!), I finally had an excuse. I have always wanted to play around with quinoa in baking — it seems like everywhere I look there’s a recipe for quinoa bread, or quinoa cake — and as you may have guessed, it proved a huge success. These muffins are sweet (but not to sweet), moist (but not too moist), and tender with just a bit of chew.

If you’re a little unsure about quinoa in muffins, don’t be afraid. They taste of oats, and almonds, and cinnamon brown sugar topping. One bite and you’ll be won over, I promise.

Make them for breakfast… make them for dessert… just make them. Trust me.

You can find my guest post, and the recipe for these muffins, here:  Blueberry Almond Streusel Muffins

Be sure to click around and check out Wendy’s blog while you’re there. If you’re a fan of quinoa, you will love her recipes. I’m not sure anyone knows quinoa better than her!

Happy baking!

-Willow


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15 Responses to Blueberry Almond Streusel Muffins That You’d Never Guess Were Gluten-Free… and Vegan! (Guest Post)

  1. Foodie Stuntman June 27, 2013 at 6:28 am #

    I found your guest post at Cooking Quinoa before I saw this teaser.

    • Willow Arlen June 28, 2013 at 3:57 am #

      You’re on top of things! I saw your comment there, and got all blushy when you said I was one of your favorite blogging buddies – so thank you!

    • Astrid June 21, 2021 at 7:33 am #

      Thanks for the recipe! I find your focus on natural ingredients very good,,especially important for people with sensitive tummies. Yet I would not consider xantham gum to be very natural, and i avoid it. Do you think I could replace it with psyllium husk?

  2. ashley - baker by nature June 27, 2013 at 11:36 am #

    Whoa! Now that’s a muffin! So lovely.

  3. Heather June 28, 2013 at 3:35 am #

    Ok, these look sooo good, and now I must follow you on pinterest for sure. I’m not gluten free either, but not apposed to vegan or gluten free things. A lot of things just don’t taste right, but I do hate that things are so processed. So I try to avoid large quantities of food like that. Natural ingredients always tastes better anyway.

    New follower here and I’l love for you to stop by my blog sometime.

    Have a great weekend!

    Heather from Mommy Only Has 2 Hands

    • Willow Arlen June 28, 2013 at 4:00 am #

      Thanks, Heather! So happy to have you following along. And I know what you mean about alternative stuff sometimes tasting off somehow, but these muffins aren’t like that – they just taste delicious!

      Hopping over to check out your blog now. Cheers!

  4. shannon weber June 28, 2013 at 11:59 am #

    oh, it’s so nice to find a GF version of something that you love just as much as the “normal” version of things; it’s not as easy as it looks, for sure. those look lovely! this helps in my quest to bake more GF things and to learn about how it all works. :)

    • Willow Arlen June 29, 2013 at 10:53 pm #

      Indeed — I like experimenting, but it can definitely be challenging at times. I was very pleased with how these came out!

  5. Casey June 28, 2013 at 4:32 pm #

    Gorgeous photos! What camera do you use? And also- looks freakin’ tasty.

    • Willow Arlen June 29, 2013 at 10:54 pm #

      Thanks, Casey! I use an old (several years?) Canon t1i. It does a great job for what it is!

  6. Sunday Morning Banana Pancakes June 28, 2013 at 6:46 pm #

    Oh man those are some pretty muffins Willow- heading over to read the rest of the post!

  7. Michelle September 22, 2015 at 11:56 pm #

    Hi, this looks amazing but the link to your guest post doe not work. Any chance you will post the recipe on your site?

    • Willow Arlen September 23, 2015 at 12:45 am #

      Hi Michelle,

      Thanks for alerting me to the broken link! I went in and updated it, and it should be working now. Let me know if you run into any more issues!

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