One of the most powerful food combinations is oatmeal and orange juice. Combined their health benefits are more effective than eaten independently. Since reading the Men’s Health article about healthy food pairings I’ve been thinking about a recipe for gluten free muffins that combines OJ and oats. This one is an unqualified success!

Cardamom Orange Oatmeal Muffins

Click Here For Printable Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup fresh orange juice

1/2 cup organic rolled oats

3/4 cup (4.75 oz.) GF flour mix (yours, ours, or Trader Joe’s)

1/4 cup quinoa flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon xantham gum

1 teaspoon fresh orange zest

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom (plus  1 teaspoon to make a cardamom-sugar topping)

1/4 cup granulated sugar (plus 2 teaspoons to make a cardamom-sugar topping)

2 tablespoons vegetable or nut oil

1 large egg

DIRECTIONS:

1.  Soak the oats in the orange juice in a 2 cup measure, covered, for 4 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.

2.  Preheat the oven to 375 F; lightly grease a muffin pan or muffin papers.

3.  Combine the dry ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk to blend.

4.  Grate the orange zest onto the dry ingredients and stir to coat.

5.  Lightly whisk the egg and oil into the oat mixture. Pour into the dry ingredients and stir to blend evenly.

6.  Blend 2 teaspoons granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon ground cardamom in a small bowl.

7. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.  Top with cardamom-sugar.  Bake for 15 minutes for muffin “tops”, 15 – 20 minutes for 12regular sized muffins, or 20 – 25 for 6 large muffins

Enjoy hot out of the oven with your favorite marmalade! Ours is Stonewall Kitchen’s Blood Orange Marmalade. As with other GF baked goods, store well wrapped in the refrigerator, and reheat in the oven or on a griddle.

Squeezing the oranges

Oatmeal into the juice

The oats will absorb all the liquid

Grating the zest on to the dry ingredients

Adding the egg to the oats, OJ, and oil

“Whisking” with a fork to blend

Wet into dry

Sprinkled with cardamom sugar and ready to bake

Out of the oven

Delicious with orange marmalade

Detail of the texture of the muffin