I have a thing for muffins…I’m not sure how this developed, because I never grew up eating muffins and I literally never eat muffins unless I make them, but I have created some amazing versions over the past few years.  The original and crowd favorite, Double Chocolate Sweet Potato Muffins, Sweet Potato Crumb Muffins, Peanut Butter and Jelly Muffins with Protein, Gingerbread Muffins, and my latest and greatest, these Morning Glory Muffins! All of these muffins are vegan and incredibly soft, but none pack a nutritional punch like these.

morning glory, morning glory muffins, vegan morning glory muffins

A muffin that is pillowy on the inside, but crunchy on the top, are two critical factors in an exceptional muffin.  For me, I created these Morning Glory Muffins with applesauce to not only cut the fat in half, but to add incredible moisture to the batter.  I also packed the batter with carrots, shredded apples, and pineapple, very similar to my favorite cake of all time, so fruits and veggies take up the bulk of the batter, but also keep the body soft.  They also add micronutrients- carrots are high in Vitamin A and along with apples they both are a good source of Vitamin C, fiber, and an array of antioxidants.  Pineapple is high in several vitamin and minerals, but I love it for it’s anti-inflammatory and digestive-aid properties from bromelain, a group of digestive enzymes found in pineapple.

morning glory, morning glory muffins, vegan morning glory muffins

These babies are literally overflowing with goodness ^^heart eyes to that image up there^^.  But it’s not just fruit and veggies that make up this batter- they also are packed with some of the healthiest fat sources around- walnut oil, flax seed, chia seeds, hemp hearts, and pecans.  Some nutritional highlights of these include:

Walnut Oil + Flax Seed are two of the top two sources for Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3’s provide the starting point for making hormones that regulate blood clotting and the contraction and relaxation of artery walls (improving blood vessel function). They also help the heart beat at a steady clip and not veer into a dangerous or potentially fatal erratic rhythm. Omega-3 are also important because they help reduce inflammation, are high in potassium (an essential electrolyte, especially for active people), good source of fiber, and plays an integral part in the metabolism of fat in the body.

Hemp Hearts are a staple in my diet as they are an excellent plant-based source of protein and iron.   Unlike many plant-based sources, hemp hearts a complete protein, meaning they contain all 9 essential amino acids alone, without being paired with another food. These tiny seeds are also part of an anti-inflammatory diet, as they contain the proper balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids, unlike many other foods that are heavier in omega-6.  Finally, hemp hearts have high levels arginine, an amino acid that turns to nitric oxide.  Nitric oxide is an ingredient found in many pre-workouts, since it help dilate arteries and blood vessels, which allows for blood flow to the muscles (which often allows for higher work production).

morning glory, morning glory muffins, vegan morning glory muffins

Look, I’ve talked a lot about nutrition so far in this post, and regardless of any of that, THESE MORNING GLORY MUFFINS ARE EVERYTHING AND MORE! Here I am, yelling again *oops*.  Seriously- when I made these this past weekend, I ate four.  Four whole muffins because I literally couldn’t back away.  And if I can give you any advice, do not skimp on the crumb topping! Everyone loves a good muffin top (so long as it’s not on my body, am I right??) and this top deserves to be called a damn CROWN! It’s nutty, crunchy, sweet, salty, and the perfect complement to the melt in your mouth body of these muffins.

morning glory, morning glory muffins, vegan morning glory muffins

Even though they’re called Morning Glory Muffins (to be honest, I don’t know how muffins got this name) they taste just fine any other time of day too 😉 With protein, veggies, fruit, and healthy fats, they’re the perfect pre-workout or mid afternoon snack, and they’re sweet enough to be that after dinner treat too! I hope you love them as much as I do!

Add to Favourites