Gluten-Free + Dairy-Free Cherry-Almond Muffin Recipe

Ali Segersten Nov 25, 2009 141 comments
GLUTEN-FREE CHERRY-ALMOND MUFFINS-22

I have something fun planned for today. First, a wonderful gluten-free, casein-free, refined sugar-free muffin recipe to share that is full of healthy ingredients. No starches, no xanthan gum, just a few whole food ingredients. The recipe isn't mine though, it comes from another lovely food blogger, Kelly of The Spunky Coconut! And second, I'm giving away a free copy of her cookbook, The Spunky Coconut Cookbook (a $30 value). Read on to learn how to enter the drawing.

spunky coconut cookbook cover

Kelly's cookbook contains 115 Gluten-Free, Casein-Free, and Sugar-Free recipes with 65 color photos. There are 100 vegetarian recipes and 30+ raw inspired recipes. She does use eggs in many of her baked treats though. But there are still plenty of egg-free recipes for those with sensitivities or who are vegan.

As the name of her book and blog suggest, many of her delicious recipes involve coconut; whether it is coconut milk, coconut oil, or shredded coconut. Here is a taste of a few of her recipes: Butternut Soufflé, Chicken Meatballs, Creamy Pea Soup, Caesar Salad, Funa (fake tuna salad), Chocolate Chip Bars, Vanilla Toffee Cake, Pumpkin Ice Cream, Mango Lemon Sorbet, Banana Bread (grain-free), Quinoa Almond Muffins, Creamy Bean Dip, and much much more!!!

You can view a wide variety of sample recipes on Kelly's blog. This high protein, low sugar Vanilla White Bean Cake with Chocolate Frosting is my favorite!

Kelly began to study nutrition in Maryland when her girls were very young. Her daughter Ashley was a baby, and daughter Zoe was a toddler at that time. Both girls were not well. In order to help them, her naturopathic doctor worked with them to radically change their diet (by removing gluten, casein, and sugar). She and her husband soon realized that their own health problems could be resolved as well. It was very eye-opening to see how many kinds of issues could be treated. So, after years of research and experimentation, Kelly has created recipes so similar to the old ones that nobody feels deprived. Together, through diet and biomedical treatments, their family is overcoming celiac disease, gluten-intolerance, ADD, and autism with great success.

Recipe from our Meal Planner

Cherry Almond Muffins (gluten-free + dairy-free)

GLUTEN-FREE CHERRY-ALMOND MUFFINS-11
GLUTEN-FREE CHERRY-ALMOND MUFFINS-22
Gluten-Free Cherry Almond Muffins
Servings
12 muffins
Cook Time
25 minutes
Prep Time
15 minutes

Enjoy this very simple and nutritious gluten-free and dairy-free muffin recipe with a cup of warm herbal tea for an afternoon snack. The cherries can be replaced with fresh or frozen blueberries if desired. Other delicious additions are chopped pecans, chopped dark chocolate, or sliced almonds. 

Tip

This muffin recipe is a slightly adapted version from The Spunky Coconut Cookbook. The original recipes calls for using 2 cups of blueberries or cherries, and a ½ cup of oil. I've reduced both, but feel free to use the original recipe!

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

2 cups blanched almond flour (gently packed)
½ cups brown rice flour
½ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoons sea salt

Wet Ingredients

½ cups raw honey (or maple syrup)
⅓ cups melted coconut oil (or avocado oil)
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoons almond extract (optional)

Other Ingredients

1½ cups frozen cherries chopped
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
  2. Whisk together the dry ingredients, set aside. 
  3. In a medium-sized mixing bowl beat wet ingredients together. Add dry ingredients on top of the wet mixture and beat together with an electric mixer. Fold in berries or cherries.
  4. Spoon batter into prepared muffin pan. Bake for approximately 25 to 30 minutes.
  5. Cool on a wire rack.

Use this recipe in our Meal Planner

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Posted In
muffins baked goods cherries GF/CF giveaways quick breads sugar-free xanthan-free recipes recipe
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About the Author

Ali Segersten

Alissa Segersten holds a Bachelor's of Science in Nutrition from Bastyr University and a Master’s of Science in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine from the University of Western States. She is a Functional Nutritionist, the mother of five children, a whole foods cooking instructor, professional recipe developer, and cookbook author. She is passionate about helping others find a diet that will truly nourish them. Alissa is the author of two very popular gluten-free, whole foods cookbooks and guidebooks: The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook and Nourishing Meals. She is also the co-author of The Elimination Diet book. Alissa is the founder and owner of Nourishing Meals®.

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Comments

~M (visitor) Mar 12, 2011 | 5:22pm

Do you think this recipe would work with Honeyville blanched almond flour instead of Bob's Red Mill? Thanks!

Issaquah Chiro… (visitor) Jan 20, 2011 | 5:51am

I can say nothing but Yummmmy.Anyway thanks for the giveaway! As one who avoids gluten I am always interested in new recipes.

Anonymous (visitor) Jun 20, 2010 | 6:56pm

I'm loving all these wonderful recipes!! I can't wait to make them all... This cookbook would be a wonderful addition, I'm hoping to get yours for my bday. (fingers crossed) Denise R.

Ask Dr. Holly (visitor) Dec 06, 2009 | 8:42pm

Thanks for posting so many delicious recipes! I just discovered your blog and have been cooking up yumminess inspired by you for the past 2 weeks. I recommend it to all my patients (I'm a naturopathic doctor) and I greatly appreciate these resources!

And the winner is......

The winner was drawn using Random Number Generator and the winning number was comment #48 ~ Jenn L.

This was her comment: "Thanks for all of the recipes you share, Ali! I am thankful this year for my daughter who will be 1 just before Christmas, and for an incredibly supportive husband. I am thankful for our community in Bellingham that has made it so much easier to live a gluten free lifestyle. Cheers! JennL"

Thanks everyone for participating. Happy Baking! :)

Angela H (visitor) Nov 30, 2009 | 7:43pm

These look wonderful. Looking forward to making them!

Anonymous (visitor) Nov 30, 2009 | 5:51pm

Please enter me in the Spunky Coconut cookbook giveaway. You can never have too many healthy cookbooks around.
Thanks,
Sharon Cooper

April (visitor) Nov 30, 2009 | 4:40pm

Recipe and cookbook botjh look wonderful! Would love to see the other recipes in the book!

April

Lara (visitor) Nov 30, 2009 | 1:28pm

Yes! Please enter me in the giveaway. I would love another great gluten-free cookbook!

Thank you again for all of the great recipes you share with us! I'm always smiling when reading your blog! :-)

Dot (visitor) Nov 30, 2009 | 11:17am

These muffins are awesome and not too sweet - so I think my daughter will like them! Thanks for sharing another great recipe, Ali! I continue to enjoy many of the great recipes you create and share and am thankful for your endless enthusiasm about delicious, nutritious food!

Lori in SC (visitor) Nov 30, 2009 | 10:52am

I am so thankful for your blog!The information and links have been so helpful.

I would love to win the cookbook!

planeta (visitor) Nov 30, 2009 | 10:49am

I've just found out about your blog and I would love to win your cookbook! It looks so fantastic!
With all my digestive issues to juggle ( food allergies, celiac, etc..) and my current serious financial distress, winning your book and learning how to prepare your fab foods would be a blessing. PAX.

Janice (visitor) Nov 30, 2009 | 8:52am

I am thankful for my family and my passion for learning and all the help the internet gives me when it comes to keeping my family healthy. I am also thankful for my faith in God.

I am a little bit new to the gluten free world and really could use a GF cookbook. I was at a GF support group last month when the writer of this book was skyped in and made some brownies for us. Well, we didn't get to eat them since it was over skype, but it was still neat to watch. lol. I have been wanting this book ever since then. (fingers crossed) :D

Unknown (visitor) Nov 29, 2009 | 8:48pm

Thank you for this site is has helped our family ALOT. Good to know that there is a way to get away from the white startches! yikes. Teresa in Oregon

Tory (visitor) Nov 29, 2009 | 4:55pm

Oh - what a lovely giveaway! Thank you for the opportunity!

Right now, I am grateful for the ability to change....

Anonymous (visitor) Nov 29, 2009 | 3:31pm

Thank you for another great recipe! I spent my Thanksgiving with my mother and sister perusing your new cookbook. I'm so thankful you are sharing your knowledge with the rest of us, making us all healthier and happier! I would love to have the new cookbook. Megan H.

Kelly Harris (visitor) Nov 29, 2009 | 2:42pm

I have just recently had to remove gluten from my diet and your blog has been a godsend! I would love to add this cookbook to my kitchen!
Kelly Harris
k_hreha@yahoo.com

Liz (visitor) Nov 29, 2009 | 12:53pm

I am thankful for gluten-free, dairy-free pumpkin pie...and the ability to make almost anything without gluten and dairy. Thank you for your great recipes and the chance to win the Spunky Coconut cookbook. It would be a great way to start my GFDF cookbook collection.

Liz

noosh. (visitor) Nov 29, 2009 | 12:25pm

would love this cookbook! please enter me in your drawing :) thanks!

Goosefeather (visitor) Nov 29, 2009 | 9:09am

I just did a huge blog post on what I'm thankful for. One that sticks out is that I'm thankful for the internet and technology, for making it so much easier to get educated about living g-free.

brandi (visitor) Nov 29, 2009 | 8:40am

i am so thankful to have discovered yer book and yer blogs last night... how truly serendipitous! i am headed to powell's to pick up the WLN Cookbook this morning and am looking forward to exploring yer lovely recipes with my family, especially my spirited & sensitive two year old daughter who LOVES to help cook! i'm even looking forward to the elimination and detox diet :)

i am feeling truly inspired, hopeful and thankful this morning. merci beaucoup!!!

talkinglikerain (visitor) Nov 29, 2009 | 6:10am

Hi Ali,
These muffins sound fabulous. I LOVE coconut and will definitely be giving this recipe a try.
Thanks so much for all that you do!
-Kimberly C.

Anonymous (visitor) Nov 28, 2009 | 9:33pm

I hope I am not too late to enter the contest, but either way, thank you for the recipe and the info! With multiple food allergies, it is hard for me to find recipes that I can make which will work for me and taste good. Thanks!

Anonymous (visitor) Nov 28, 2009 | 9:05pm

I'd love to check out this cookbook! I am also on the lookout for goo egg-free (plus gluten, dairy, sugar, soy, nut) free recipes :)

Sarah Peacock (visitor) Nov 28, 2009 | 7:58pm

Just found your blog - and with all the new changes in my diet, haven't yet found a cookbook to suit. Thanks for the tip!

Anonymous (visitor) Nov 28, 2009 | 7:23pm

So, I read this thingy that said, "free to good home: coconut cookbook." Our home has both spacious and cozy space for another cookbook, which will enjoy the company of many other very groovy cookbooks, and whose pages will become ecstatically ingredient-spattered in no time.
Barb B

Sandy Gillett (visitor) Nov 28, 2009 | 5:18pm

Hi Ali, I've made these wonderful muffins twice now with organic blueberries. I can't seem to get enough of them they are delicious. I did not use almond flavoring or the stevia. I did use a splash of vanilla extract. I also visited Keli's site am now a follower. Thanks so much for your awesome recipes and the link to Keli's.

karen (visitor) Nov 28, 2009 | 2:01pm

Would love to enter the giveaway! thanks

Linda (visitor) Nov 28, 2009 | 1:17pm

I have this cookbook on my Christmas list!! Thankful that you take the time to share your fabulous recipes with us!!

Krista (visitor) Nov 28, 2009 | 11:12am

I've wanted this cookbook for a while now. How great that you're giving it away. I'm grateful for family and friends.

Lisl (visitor) Nov 28, 2009 | 10:17am

Hi Ali,
These are wonderful and EASY! ;-) I made them with mashed banana, coconut and pecans -- and they're very yummy! Thanks, as always!

KatieQ (visitor) Nov 28, 2009 | 6:44am

I was delighted to find your lovely blog. I am determined to teach an old dog (me at almost 61) new tricks through better nutrition. Thank you for sharing your recipes.
KatieQ

gfe--gluten fr… (visitor) Nov 27, 2009 | 9:23pm

I will soon have Kelly's cookbook so I am not submitting an entry, but wanted to stop by anyway. I'm going to try these muffins with nuts or maybe apples (or both) instead of fruit alone. I like that you didn't need the Stevia.

Kelly is an inspiration in so many ways! I'm so glad you are having such a great turnout here for the giveaway. I already tweeted the giveaway for you and will again tomorrow. :-)

Shirley

Anne P (visitor) Nov 27, 2009 | 5:46pm

(blush) that should have said The spunky coconut. Though they are tasty! Sharing on facebook now too.

Anne P (visitor) Nov 27, 2009 | 5:42pm

Oooooo yum! Thank you for sharing all these great recipes! I have not read the tasty coconut blog yet, bit will check her out now.

Angela Biggs (visitor) Nov 27, 2009 | 4:36pm

I would love the opportunity to win this lovely cookbook!!

Angela Biggs (visitor) Nov 27, 2009 | 4:35pm

I would love an opportunity to win this lovely cookbook!!

Angela Biggs (visitor) Nov 27, 2009 | 4:33pm

Yes, I would love an opportunity to win this great cookbook!!

Valerie (visitor) Nov 27, 2009 | 4:28pm

Hope I win the cookbook! I love to try new things and am looking for ways to improve my diet and overall health and well being. I am thankful to have met you, worked with you and thankful for my family.
Valeriej3

Unknown (visitor) Nov 27, 2009 | 1:47pm

I'm a new reader of your blog, and we thoroughly enjoyed preparing and eating your wild rice stuffing for my first GF Thanksgiving. (We substituted fennel for some of the celery--excellent!) I love GF recipes that don't require lots of funky ingredients and look forward to reading this cookbook!

Unknown (visitor) Nov 27, 2009 | 12:08pm

Can't wait to try it!! I would love to check out the book, and will totally check back in case I won!! (Bummer about the coconut sugar contest - wish I had won!!!)

Taera (visitor) Nov 27, 2009 | 8:22am

I would love to be entered in the draw to win The Spunky Coconut! I have two milk and gluten free kids so we are frequent visitors to your site...we love your recipe's!

oldsoulnaz (visitor) Nov 27, 2009 | 7:58am

I'm trying to live with a gluten-free, sugar-free lifestyle, but I love sweets. And it's getting hard. I would love to have this cookbook. I love baking and it would give me some hope that I can do this.

Unknown (visitor) Nov 27, 2009 | 3:01am

I'd love to get this cookbook. I'm on a really tight budget and can't afford to buy gluten-free goodies since they are usually kind of spendy, but I definitely have some time to bake them myself.

Christina (visitor) Nov 26, 2009 | 9:31pm

I would love to win this cookbook. Thank you for all your wonderful recipes. I made your rice stuffing for Thanksgiving today and everyone loved it!

ES (visitor) Nov 26, 2009 | 6:58pm

Mmmm.......I love the spunky coconut blog and this cookbook sounds great!

Tiffany (visitor) Nov 26, 2009 | 5:05pm

I'm still finding out about all of these wonderful gluten free websites so Spunky Coconut is the next one I will check out. I love to cook with coconut. I just made coconut flour brownies for a silent auction at work and my gluten free baking went for $16! More then the regular submissions. I also love to cook with coconut milk ... adding it to curries and using it as a whipped topping alternative. Yum.

Living in Canada, our Thanksgiving has passed, but it is such a great holiday. I am thankful for my friends, family, health and the fact that I live somewhere where it is easy to find gluten free products.

Lauren (visitor) Nov 26, 2009 | 5:04pm

And I tweeted =D.

Lauren (visitor) Nov 26, 2009 | 4:59pm

Love Kelly's blog, so I'm positive the cookbook would be fabulous! Stunning muffins!

Have a fabulous Thanksgiving =D.

Brandie (visitor) Nov 26, 2009 | 12:13pm

OH and I posted this on my facebook too, so here's my 2nd entry! :)
Brandie Huff

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