Apple Cinnamon Muffins

There’s something about thunderstorms and baking that go so perfectly together. Being all snuggled up inside while something tasty is baking in the oven is one of my favorite feelings. While pouring showers in Australia are a lot warmer than the ones back home, they still make me crave fall-y flavors, and baking muffins in a new place always makes me feel at home.

The oven here is an interesting beast. There’s no temperature gauge and it has an open flame, but I’m guesstimating that 375 will work pretty good for these guys. I found some almond encrusted dates in the grocery store which were pretty exciting chopped up and mixed in the batter, but if you just want to use regular dates that’s cool too.

Even though I hate the word moist with a passion, all the apple in these definitely makes them worthy of that description. Since I’m an impatient person I pried one out of the pan way before they had cooled and it fell to pieces immediately so I ate it with a fork in a bowl. If you’re more patient than I am, and like your muffins whole, wait about 30 minutes before digging in. Or use muffin liners, your call.

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Makes 12

2 cups flour, your choice(spelt is good here)

2/3 cup sucanat

2 tsp baking soda

3 tsp cinnamon

½ cup vegan butter, melted

2 tsps vanilla

1 cup almond milk

1 tablespoon flax mixed into 3 tablespoons water

2 granny smith apples, finely chopped.

¾ cup dates rolled in almonds, finely chopped

Preheat oven to 375, and grease some muffin tins. In a bowl mix together the flour, sucanat, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. In a separate bowl combine the vegan butter, vanilla, almond milk, flax egg. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture, pour in liquid, stir til just combined. Mix in apples and dates, and divide amongst muffin tins. Bake for 13-15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean(a few crumbs are okay).

Mango Coconut Bites

I can't stop with coconut lately. Or granola bars for that matter. These were intended to be granola bars, but I figured I should give them a break and made these into smaller bite sized treats. Then dipped them in chocolate, because that was the obvious choice!

Dipping them in chocolate proved a bit difficult since I don't have any toothpicks, and so I tried using a fork but kept dropping them into the chocolate and not being able to retrieve them. I ended up just drizzling the rest of them with chocolate and sprinkling some more coconut on top!

These are best when stored in the freezer, it gives them a nice chewy texture which slows you down so you enjoy them a little longer. That works in theory, but I'm pretty sure I was swallowing them whole. You could make them into bars as well if you'd rather go that route.

Mango Coconut Bites


1/4 cup almonds
1/2 cup puffed quinoa
1/4 cup buckwheat groats
1/4 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1 cup dates
1/4 cup fresh mango
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt

Grind the almonds to a powder in blender, then mix with puffed quinoa, buckwheat, oats, and coconut in a bowl. In the blender blend the dates, mango, coconut oil, vanilla, and salt until smooth. Mix into dry mixture in bowl, then roll spoonfuls into balls. Place in freezer to set and store.

If dipping in chocolate let set in freezer for about an hour, then melt some chocolate in a bowl and dip bites in to cover. Or drizzle on top and top with coconut!

The dates are sometimes easier to blend if you soak them in water for 10 minutes before.

Rest Days & Lara Bars

This Monday when I went to do my workout my body just felt exhausted. Which is to be expected I guess, I'm bad at trying to take rest days. Comes with the territory of never feeling like I'm doing enough, I guess. But I'm trying to learn to listen to my body's cues, and so it says it's exhausted I guess I've got to give it a break. I've been taking it easy the past couple days and just doing a little bit of pilates and yoga, and making tons of goodies in the meantime.

I saw the recipe for a Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie, so I decided to make mini versions of that! I halved the recipe, and swapped applesauce for mashed banana. I also accidentally forgot the oil, but since I used coconut milk which is fairly high in fat it didn't affect it too much. They're to die for!!!

Since I had purchased the biggest bag of dates ever, I decided to make something else I've been meaning to try forever; making my own Lara Bars. I just kept adding random things from my cupboard into them, and they turned out great! One thing I love about recipes like this is they're so open to experimentation, you can swap out different types of nuts, and whatever goodies you want to put in them. I went with chocolate chips, chocolate protein powder, and cocoa powder(there's never enough chocolate). A handful of gojis and hemp seeds finished it off!

Chocolate Cashew Energy Bars

1 cup Cashews(or any nut)
1 1/2 cups pitted dates
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 scoop chocolate protein powder(I used Vega)
1/4 cup goji berries
2 tablespoons hemp seeds
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Process everything in a food processor(I used my vitamix and did small batches, but a food processor would definitely be better) until it starts to stick together. Press into a parchment lined pan, and let set in the fridge or freezer for a couple hours. Cut into slices and enjoy!

Nutritional Info(1 serving of 12)
Calories: 140
Protein 5 grams
Fibre: 3 grams