For Christmas, I was given a new cookbook called Quinoa, The Everyday Superfood.
(I am always in the market for a new cookbook.)
A dear friend, who knows I love quinoa, got me this little number.
The only thing I have ever put quinoa in is a pilaf or salad.
This book has you coating chicken with it, eating it for breakfast and even baking with it.
I love the taste of baking with a variety of flours.
Spelt is my old standby. I do everything with spelt. It's often in cookies and cakes and always in my pizza dough.
These carrot cake muffins get their rich nutty flavour by using only quinoa flour.
I wasn't sure if I would like baking with quinoa flour. It seemed strange.
I bought (at the Bulk Barn) only what I needed for this recipe.
If buying 'weird-ish' ingredients scares you, do the same. Just buy a couple scoops of it to start.
My kids love these.
Of course, I didn't say, "Hey kids, come get a load of these ultra weird, low fat, quinoa muffins..." I called them "Carrot Cake", served them as dessert and they totally went for it.
I iced them with the same icing I used for the Red Velvet cupcakes and they're perfect together.
Quinoa Carrot Cake Muffins
From: Quinoa The Everyday Superfood
1 1/3 C quinoa flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground clove
2/3 C golden raisins (I did 1/3 C raisins and 1/3 C pecans)
2 large eggs
2/3 C plain or vanilla yogurt
1/2 C packed brown sugar
2 1/4 C grated carrot
Preheat the oven to 350*, line 12 muffin cups with liners or a coating of non-stick spray.In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, soda, salt, cinnamon, and clove.
Whisk until well blended. Mix in the raisins and pecans (if using) and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, yogurt, sugar and carrot.
Using a spatula gently mix dry into wet and stir just until combined.
Scoop in to muffin cups and bake for 20-22 minutes or until tester stick comes out clean.
When cooled, top with cream cheese frosting.
Joy's Cream Cheese Frosting
1/2 C butter, at room temperature
1 package of cream cheese, room temperature
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp Milk
3 C sifted icing sugar
Whisk all ingredients together until smooth.
