Gluten Free Pumpkin Muffins
Preparation time: 40 mins // Makes 12 muffins
- 1 tsp chai seeds
- 9 tsp lukewarm water
- 600g piece of raw pumpkin (to make 1 cup cooked)
- 3-4 tbs maple syrup (to taste)
- 60g dairy-free butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 tbs freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 cup buckwheat flour
- ½ cup chickpea flour
- ½ cup quiona flakes
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1½ tsp bi-carbonate (baking) soda
for the topping
- 12 raw pecans
- 2 tbs icing (powdered) sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
To make the chai gel combine the teaspoon of chia seeds with 9 teaspoons of lukewarm water, stir to combine and set aside for 15 minutes. The chai seeds and water will thicken and form a gel/egg like consistency.
Peel and de-seed the pumpkin and dice into pieces. Steam the pumpkin pieces for 5-10 minutes until soft. Mash the cooked pumpkin and stir through maple syrup to taste, set aside.
Pre heat the oven to 180°C and arrange patty cake cups in a 12 hole muffin tray.
Cream the dairy free butter and the brown sugar together in a bowl, adding the vanilla and then the chai gel continue to beat until well combined.
Fold through the cooked pumpkin and orange juice.
Sift the flours and baking soda into the same bowl and gently fold though with the quiona flakes and ground cinnamon. Be careful not over work the mixture and continue to fold only until well combined.
Spoon a heaped tablespoon of the muffin mixture into each patty cake cup, top with a pecan and then place in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until muffins are cooked through (check by inserting a skewer, it should come out clean).
Combine the icing sugar and cinnamon together and set aside.
Arrange the cooked muffins on a cake rack to cool completely before dusting with the mixture of icing sugar and ground cinnamon. Yum!!

Join us on our Gluten-Free Dream Day
by visiting these friends who have created gluten-free versions of Panera Bread Bar goodies. Maybe one day, bakeries around the planet will offer more gluten-free goodies for this growing demographic!
Bagels
Allyson Kramer ~~ Jalapeno Cheddar Bagel
Muffins
Family Fresh Cooking ~~ Wild Blueberry Muffins
Oh She Glows ~~ Apple Crunch Muffins
Multiply Delicious ~~ Chocolate Chip Muffins
Scones
Heather Strang ~~ Orange Scones
Breakfast Sweets
Namely Marly ~~ Caramel Pecan Rolls
Diet Dessert Dogs ~~ Cinnamon Crumb Cake
Souffles
Clean Green Simple ~~ Spinach & Artichoke Souffle
Also, check out some other great Gluten-Free bloggers offering delicious recipes for café-type bread bar items:
Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls at The Sensitive Pantry
Chocolate Chippers at Elana’s Pantry
Dark Chocolate Brownies at The Gluten Free Goddess
Pumpkin Muffins at Better Batter
Carrot Muffins at My Real Food Life
Crusty Rosemary and Kalmata Olive Bread at Gluten Free Girl
Blueberry Scones at Shortbread Bakery
Strawberry Cupcakes at Simply Gluten Free
Right now the only way to try all these gluten-free goodies is to make them yourself. But who knows, maybe someday you’ll be able to pop into a place like Panera and enjoy one right from their menu.