Raspberry Orange Muffins (Vegan, Oil-Free)

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Hey babes,

So, I’m sure this is going to come as a shock because of the absolute boatload of pastries and breads on this site, but I’m not a huge baking aficionado. I do have a serious weakness for high-fiber wraps for use with fajitas, tofu scrambles, et cetera, but other than that I’m not much of a baked-goods eater.

That being said, I also have children, and they love them some refined carbohydrates. Sandwiches, donuts, garlic bread, pancakes, biscuits, cookies, cakes, you name it, and for breakfast, nothing goes over better in our house than muffins. Luckily, for as long as they’ve eaten solids, they have loved every fruit they’ve ever met, and we have diligently sought out every kind we could possibly find.

How doubly lucky then, that some of the world’s healthiest fruit also happen to be a perfect addition to beloved baked goods. Particularly, raspberries.

Raspberries are well-loved by fruit-eating children, dieters, and even diabetics everywhere. One cup of these delicious little jewels contains only 5 grams of sugar combined with 8 grams of fiber, making them a boon for managing blood sugar. Funny enough, many of my bodybuilding guy friends are truly terrified to eat too much fruit, but will make an exception for raspberries, and the low sugar content is exactly why.

Additionally, the fiber helps to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as act as prebiotic fuel for your gut microbiome (I know, I talk about fiber constantly. Please forgive this broken record but it cannot be overstated).

The antioxidant load of raspberries and their high vitamin content also need to be addressed. Among the common berries, raspberries are a top contender for antioxidant content, having 1.3 times as much as strawberries and 7.6 times the amount in apples.

The combination of those two factors make them well-reputed for their anti-aging (both in the support of brain health through the counteraction of oxidative stress and the collagen-producing Vitamin C) and their ability to fight cancer and inflammation.

Another major flavor addition to this recipe is orange zest. I could regale you with all of the impressive health effects that orange peel produces, and there are a surprising number of them, including chemicals that make them a natural antihistamine, but let’s call a spade a spade. Though they do add a bright, beautiful flavor to the recipe, their contribution to the health of it all would be negligible. Let’s just appreciate them for their taste and remember that they certainly aren’t making anything less healthy.

I’ve talked at great length about oats, whole wheat, and flax meal before, so with no further preamble, let’s get into the technical jargon (what some may call a “recipe”).