Apple and Date Muffins

My favourite Paleo blog on the net is Paleomg! Do yourselves a favour (if you haven't already) and check out some of her recipes. They truly are delicious and she is a genius! One of my favourite treats that she posts are her blueberry muffins (My hubby, Warren's fav!!) I have used the base of her blueberry muffins (with a few changes) to create the base of these muffins. Best of all- I've converted to a Thermomix recipe! YAY! AND they are scrumptious!! You'll see they really are a 'treat' and probably not an everyday food (or as I say to my kids- a 'sometimes' food). You could also get creative and replace the honey with agave syrup for a healthier alternative but I'll leave all that for you to decide!

APPLE AND DATE MUFFINS

MAKES 18 MUFFINS

Ingredients:

10 Dates (pits removed)
3 Apples (quartered and cored)
110g Almond Meal
35g Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
100g Almond/Nut Spread
100g Nuttelex
150g Honey
60g Melted Coconut Oil
3 Eggs
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
Pinch of Salt
Pinch of Cinnamon

Preparation:

1) Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and prepare you muffin trays (I line mine with patty pans)

2) Put the apples and the pitted dates into the TMX bowl and chop for 10 seconds on speed 4 (or until chopped into fine pieces)

3) Scrape the chopped apples and dates out of the bowl into a separate bowl/container. (you don't need to clean the TMX bowl entirely- just get as much out as you can) You need to do this or you will continue to chop these down during the next part. They will be added again later!

4) Place all remaining ingredients straight into the TMX bowl (Friggin LOVE it! How bloody easy!) and mix for 40 seconds on speed 4-5. (**I know it's a silly point and everyone knows- but just remember to reset your scales after each ingredient addition)

5) Now add back in your chopped apples and dates and mix for 1 minute on speed 1 (or until all ingredients are combined. If your ingredients aren't combined, increase the time NOT the speed until they are combined. Increasing speed will chop down apples and dates even more- we don't want that!)

6)  Divide mixture into your muffin trays (approx. 3/4 full as they will rise slightly) and bake in the oven for 25 minutes or until firm in the center. Allow to cool. Then................ EAT!!!! Yum!

*Helpful hint: I like to put these almost instantly into an airtight container and into the fridge. This makes them super moist and they hold together better this way too.


Let me know what you think as this is my first official 'made up' recipe!! Enjoy!