These apple fritter muffins are made with tiger nut flour and tiger nut oil for a gluten free treat that’s perfect for fall.
*Post updated 10/4/2017 – now includes a video (scroll down to watch!) on how to make these apple fritter muffins and an easy alternative to the tiger nut flour and oil used in the original recipe. See recipe below for alternative options.
A couple of years ago I made apple fritter muffins for a freelance article. They were beyond delicious (and one of my last happy memories with my Grandma who called me to tell me as much when I brought her a few right after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer) but also made with your typical AP flour and sugar mixtures, two things I don’t regularly eat any longer.
That said, I’ve been wanting to recreate that recipe ever since making it healthier all around. Having picked up my first bunch of local apples this past weekend, I figured now was as good a time as any.
I contemplated making these paleo, but when it comes to a fritter, the glaze is just a necessary component. I wasn’t going to sit here concocting a coconut butter glaze and try to tell you it tastes like the real deal apple fritter glaze, it just wouldn’t in this application. Sometimes you need a little powdered sugar in your life.
The muffin itself though is as clean eating as a whistle made with all purpose gluten free baking flour and tiger nut flour. While I’ve waxed poetically about my love of gluten free baking flour plenty of times, Organic Gemini’s tiger nut flour is a new to me product.
It’s a flour made from the tiger nut, a small root vegetable (not actually a nut as its name suggests) packed with iron, fiber and potassium. The flour itself is hearty with a nutty undertone and from my experience so far, acts a lot like almond or cashew flour would in baking. I also used their tiger nut oil in these apple fritter muffins instead of my usual baking oils to complement the nuttiness of the flour. The result is these gluten free treats perfect for snacking as fall rolls in.
If you’re being super healthy, sure, skip the glaze or go ahead and try to make one with coconut butter and some lemon juice but honestly, the real deal powdered sugar glaze is where it’s at for these.
Check out this guide on how to choose the best baking apples, choose your favorite variety and get a batch of these in the oven this fall!
Apple Fritter Muffins
Ingredients
For the Apples
- 1 1/2 cups finely chopped Granny Smith apples, about 1 large apple
- 1 tablespoon tiger nut oil
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon tapioca flour/starch
For the Muffins
- 3/4 cup gluten free baking flour
- 1/2 cup tiger nut flour
- 1 tablespoon tapioca flour/starch
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tablespoons tiger nut oil
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 1/2 cup milk, any kind will do
For the Glaze
- 2 tablespoons warm milk
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Apples
- Add the tiger nut oil to a medium skillet over medium heat.
- Add the apples, cinnamon, sugar and water then mix to combine.
- Cook for about 3 minutes until apples are softened.
- Turn off the heat, add the tapioca flour, mix and set aside.
Muffins
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line 9 muffin tins with liners.
- In a medium bowl, combine the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
- Whisk together the applesauce, tiger nut oil, vanilla, egg, coconut sugar and milk in a large bowl.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir to combine.
- Fold in the apples from the skillet and mix until combined.
- Spoon the batter into the muffin liners and bake for about 15 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let cool in the muffin tin for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Glaze
- While the muffins cool, whisk the ingredients for the glaze together in a small bowl.
- Once muffins have cooled for about 15 minutes on the cooling rack, dip the tops into the glaze and place back on the rack. You can dip the muffins 2-3 times depending on how thick you want the glaze, just wait about 5 minutes in between to give the layers of glaze a chance to thicken.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
*Thanks to Organic Gemini for sponsoring this post. All content and opinions are my own.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
Hi Gina! I was wondering if I could replace tapioca flour/starch with cornstarch or another type of starch.
Definitely, corn starch will work just as well!
I have never heard of Tiger Nut Flour…interesting! I love finding new flours to use in baking. These look great!
These look so good and I love that they are guilt free!! I’ve never seen this flour before – love it!
Apple fritters are my favorite! I’m so glad you made them healthier so I can eat them more often. I’ve never heard of Tiger Nut Flour, but it sounds like an amazing gluten free option!
Totally interested in the tiger nut flour…going to check it out. And these MUFFINS!!!!
These apple fritter muffins look awesome! I would happily eat a few of these for breakfast….or a late night treat :) I have never seen the Tiger nut flour but I’m intrigued!
I have been dying to try this new Tiger Nut Flour! I have been seeing it pop up EVERYWHERE, and I’ve been wanting to get my bake on. These muffins look AMAZING and, you’re right, you NEED that glaze! Pinned!
Dear Gina, these muffins look and sound wonderful…perfect for the new season. I could easily enjoy these in the morning or as an afternoon snack. I have never heard of tiger nut flour but I’m intrigued. Thank you for hosting this giveaway! xo, Catherine
Thanks, Catherine! Good luck in the giveaway :)
These look delicious, Gina- i’m glad you were able to recreate it to suit your eating style while still having those awesome memories of your grandma :) I’ve heard of tiger nut flour but wasn’t familiar with it in baked goods- Those look epic!
Personally, I always need a little powdered sugar in my life. These muffins look and sound amazing, I’m so glad you glazed them with the real deal.