Gluten-free zucchini muffins are so easy and delicious. But zucchini in muffins? Yes. If the thought of that throws your family, don’t tell them. Once they have gobbled down one of these soft and moist golden goodies, then tell them. Plus, I've swapped the typical white sugar with applesauce and honey.
I got a little carried away buying zucchini at the market and then I realized I would home alone for the next week. Ooops. While I grill zucchini and sauté it to eat over brown rice and even turn it into zucchini noodles, I wanted to do something else. Baking sounded good.
Zucchini Muffins
Zucchini, like all vegetables, contain a lot of water. To bake with zucchini, grate it on the large holes of a box grater, then place grated zucchini in layers of paper towels or a clean kitchen towel and squeeze it dry.
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About the Flours
I used GF flours for these muffins. I baked several batches using both an all-purpose gluten-free blend (Bob’s Red Mill) and my do-it-yourself blend. Then I used a recipe from Gluten-Free Baking for Dummies. It’s the whole grain flour mix, a good substitute for whole wheat flour in many recipes. The blend uses brown rice flour, sorghum flour, millet flour and sweet rice flour.
Working With Gluten-Free Flours
When baking with gluten-free flours, weigh them using a digital kitchen scale. Weighing dry ingredients (especially gluten-free flours) gives you the best results and is faster. Metric measure (grams and kilos) is more accurate than Standard American Measure (cups, ounces and pounds). Digital scales allow you to do both. And a scale is an inexpensive and terrific investment if you don’t have one.
A Few More Tips
A Few More Tips- Use light colored metal muffin pans to bake, not the dark ones. It makes a difference.
- Skip paper liners and spray wells with non-stick or oil with coconut oil
- Remove the baked muffins from the pan right after baking. They will be soft, so handle gently. You don’t want them to steam in the pan. Cool on a wire rack.
- To easily remove muffins from pan, try a mini off-set spatula. It is a handy and inexpensive too for many things in the kitchen.
- For another great gluten-free baked treat try my Gluten-free banana bread.
📖 Recipe
Zucchini Applesauce Muffins
Equipment
- Light colored 12-cup muffin pan
Ingredients
Gluten-free flour blend (see notes below) Yield 16 ounces
- 150 grams brown rice flour 1 cup + 2 teaspoons
- 150 grams sorghum flour 1 ⅓ cups + 1 tablespoon
- 100 grams millet flour ⅔ cup + 3 tablespoons
- 70 grams sweet rice flour ⅓ cup + 2 ½ tablespoons
Muffins
- 285 grams of the flour blend 2 cups, or use an All-Purpose Gluten-free blend
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon Chinese Five Spice or cinnamon
- 1 ½ teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ cups unsweetened applesauce 13 ounces
- ½ cup mild honey
- 1 large egg
- 1 large orange zested
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup coconut oil melted if solid
- 8 ounces zucchini 1 ⅓ cups after grating a squeezing dry
- ¾ cup chopped walnuts optional
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Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 325ºF. Blend flours: Weigh flours in a bowl on a digital kitchen scale. Whisk together well to combine completely. Place in an airtight container and label. You will use part for the muffins and have extra for another baking project.
- Add 285 grams (2 cups) of the flour blend to the bowl, then add in salt, spice, baking powder and soda. Whisk well to combine.
- In a separate bowl, stir applesauce honey, egg, zest, vanilla, and oil. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Using a hand electric mixer, beat on medium high for 1-2 minutes.
- For zucchini, trim off ends and grate on the large holes of a box grater. Place grated zucchini on layers of paper towels or a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out as much moisture as possible. You want dry zucchini. Next, fold zucchini and walnuts into batter.
- Spray a light colored standard size muffin pan with non-stick spray. Portion batter evenly into the wells. Bake for approximately 32 minutes or until muffins are golden brown and firm to the touch, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove pan from oven and carefully remove each muffin to a wire rack to cook as quickly as possible. Don’t let them sit in the pan and steam. Enjoy warm or cool completely and store at room temperature in a zip bag. Muffins will keep for a few days.
Olga says
Can't wait to try these!! Could I use plain flour, or spelt flour, instead of the mix? I like things simple and can tolerate flour, wheat and gluten quite well.
Sally Cameron says
Hi Olga, as I bake gluten-free I've never tried it with wheat flour. It might work but not sure. The simple way to make them is to use Bob’s Red Mill all-purpose gluten-free flour blend. The one I've been using lately is in the blue bag, called 1:1. It's widely available. You don't have to blend your own flour if that a hassle. Hope that helps!
Ordinary Blogger says
I have SO MUCH zucchini right now and this looks like a lovely alternative to zucchini bread. Thanks for the inspiration!
Sally says
Try the grilled zucchini and the zucchini gratin. I love zucchini too!
Marion Tinney says
Instead of grams, how many cups of flour are needed?
Sally says
Marion, I did not list cups because gluten-free flours really need to be weighed, or you might not get the same results. Do you have a scale? They are such fantastic tool, and inexpensive too. I have to make them again Sunday for a client. I will figure it out and make a note, ok?
Sally says
HI Marion. I've updated the recipe with cups! Made a batch this morning. Hope this helps. Happy baking, Sally.
Madonna/aka/Ms. Lemon says
These look delicious Sally. Love the use of 5 spice.
Madonna
Sally says
Five spice is so fun and just a little different. Great affinity for chocolate too! Ever tried that?