Friday, September 24, 2010

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Anyone who lives a gluten-free life or has a loved one faced with living this lifestyle knows how difficult it can be to find authentically delicious baked goods.  Bread aside, imagine living without home-baked cookies, birthday cakes, brownies or dessert bars?  It can be really tough.  When I was first diagnosed 4 or 5 years ago (it's all a blur) I will never forget hearing my doctor say, "If you have to have a disease, Celiac is the one you want.  All you have to do is eliminate gluten and you will be 100% healthy."  The first word that came to my mind was glucose aka sugar aka chocolate - to which I then replied in a very weak, soft voice, "So can I still have chocolate?"   

Later when it was explained to me that eliminating gluten meant all wheat and grains (not chocolate - whew!!) - the reality hit like a ton of bricks.  I come from a long line of bakers.  My family is eastern European and very traditional - we bake.  We eat dough.  We love it.  And now I could have none of it.  For 2 years I lived without any home-baked goods.  Even though there were cookbooks, none of them looked very enticing and all of the flour combinations seemed so overwhelming and, frankly, depressing.  One day something in me snapped and I decided I would have a chocolate chip cookie again dammit!!  And thus began the experiment and hunt for the right flour concoction.  I shared this one once before here - just scroll down and there it will be.  I make a large batch and substitute it cup for cup with regular flour.  It makes wonderful home made treats that are just like the regular stuff.  Everyone else living the non-gf life can use this recipe with regular flour for some of the best Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins you will ever have!!

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Ingredients
4 eggs
2 cups sugar (I use evaporated cane sugar)
1 (16 ounce) can pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups grapeseed oil (you can use vegetable if you'd like)
3 cups gluten-free (or regular) flour 
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 12 oz bag of semi-sweet (or dark or milk) mini chocolate chips

  1. In large mixing bowl beat eggs, sugar, pumpkin, vanilla and oil until smooth. 
  2. Mix dry ingredients together.  Sift together completely if you are using the gluten-free blend.
  3. Whisk dry ingredients into wet ingredients - especially if you are gluten-free whisk and don't beat with traditional beaters.  Gluten-free flour is very sensitive so you don't want to over whisk - just until the mixture is smooth.  Then fold in chocolate chips.
     4.  Fill greased or paper-lined muffin tins about 3/4 full. 
     5.  Bake at 400F for approximately  16-17 minutes. 
 This recipe yields about 30 wonderful muffins.
See, they even look like the real deal...and I promise they taste just as good.
This was a fave recipe from my former gluten-filled life!

If you happen to stroll by my house this weekend and look in the window, you'll know it's me if you see this:

You can be 100% certain if you hear two cats hissing and screeching from inside the screen door at a very nice black and white friendly cat that will be perched outside just trying to be friends with them.  I'm living with two hooligans who refuse to make nice with the neighbors!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

84 comments:

Anonymous said...

"If you have to have a disease, Celiac is the one you want." Oh ugh. Doctors say the dumbest things sometimes. When I saw a GI in Mississippi after being diagnosed with Crohn's in AL, the first thing he said to me was "85% of people with Crohn's disease end up having to have surgery for it at some point." Uhh ok? Thanks for the optimism? Anyway. This will turn into the world's longest medical ramble - not the intent. Those look delish and I'm glad you've figure out how to keep things in your life that you love even with the Celiac's. So important. So, so important and I'm glad you've been able to do it.

Collette Osuna said...

These look yummy!!

Statements in Fashion Blog

Young at Heart said...

oh my!! Delicious.......will pass this straight on to a friend who suffers from Celiac...hopefully she will bake a batch and pass one straight back to me!!

Anonymous said...

Those look delicious! A life without chocolate is not worth living. xo

Amanda said...

they look delicious!
[...and I loved your outfit from your previous post. So cute!]

Kelly Frances Dunn said...

You have great food styling ability as well as your fabulous wardrobe capabilities! That batter looks YUM!! XO, Kelly

Leia said...

NOM! Those look divine. Carrie, I would love to try gluten-free baking (just because I hear it's good for you even if you aren't gluten intolerant?) but I just don't get lots of those ingredients here, namely gluten-free flour, canned pumpkin and grapeseed oil! :( Sad times.

Also, my dog isn't very friendly. He barks at any living (non-family) thing. But I love him anyway!

Leia

Discovery Street said...

I have a wheat allergy...but I eat wheat anyway unless I'm under high stress bc then it triggers my autoimmune disease.....its nice to know there are alternatives when you just want a dang cookie!

Closet Fashionista said...

OOoh those look quite tasty! :D That stinks that you can't have gluten though :/ But at least there's still chocolate! :D
http://aclosetfashionista.blogspot.com/

OneCraftyFox said...

I luv your initial reaction to the diagnosis, lol!

Hope you have a fantastic weekend, you have inspired me to bake some muffins. Yours look delish!

You have been tagged over at my blog. Here is the link:
http://onecraftyfox.blogspot.com/2010/09/now-its-personal.html

DT ~ RDH said...

I was allergic to chocolate until i was 13!!!! It was so tragic. Every once in a blue moon I could have an m&m or two and make it out without major skin eruptions. And forget about birthday celebrations ~ it's hard to dodge chocolate cake and/or chocolate frosting when you're a kid. At school parties, teacher would sometimes give me a lame consolation prize like a pencil. Thank goodness I outgrew the allergy! The upside: I discovered white chocolate very early on.

Unknown said...

i know SO many people who have to eat gluten-free - but 1 good thing, your all SKINNY b/c u can't eat all the icky carbs that i LOVE! :o)

Unknown said...

i love fall--time for pumpkin! kudos to you for incorporating chocolate back into your life! those look so good and i really want to try these...maybe this weekend.

xx anna jane

Blogs said...

I know I couldn't live 2 months without any baked goods let alone 2 years....this is yummy! I have searched and searched for Gluten Free foods and it is hard! I need to find more amazing recipes-thanks so much for this! I'm def. trying to be gluten FREE:) enjoy the weekend love!

Emilie said...

It looks delicious!
I love anything pumpkin!

JMB said...

Thank you for the recipe Carrie! These look delicious!!! I love ANY Muffin with chocolate chips and I cannot imagine how your house smelled baking these!!

Daniela said...

looks delicious. I'm glad there are alternatives for you!

Becky said...

I can't wait to make these!!!

Lisa Griffin said...

holy moley these look beyond delicious, definitely going to have to try these out!!
www.indramaticfashion.com

LyddieGal said...

This is almost exactly what I am planning to do today! My recipe is slightly different, but essentially, pumpkin bread + chocolate chips = perfect thing to bake in the Fall.

I don't even have to be jealous, because I will soon have my own!

Chic on the Cheap

PursuitOfLLT said...

I agree with Debby, a life without chocolate would be torture! This look great. I just made pumpkin bars the other day. MMMM so delish!

Ren- Lady Of The Arts said...

Great culinary arts you've got here!

I don't know much about Gluten Free but I am glad that you can have your cookie and eat it too!

Holier than Now said...

hi carrie, just want to say thanks for your kind comment on the eat sleep denim blog ... i'm glad i discovered your blog through it bc my sister is gluten free (celiac) and i'm sending this to her : )

xo ann
holier than now

Kristen said...

these look so good carrie! even the dough is picture perfect. Have a great weekend lovely!

Lisa Lisa Lisa said...

I always appreciate your gluten free recipes. One of the RAs that I supervise is allergic to everything. I'm always trying to find treats that she can have too.

Cafe Fashionista said...

Ohmigosh I am making these! Pumpkin + Chocolate Chips = THE best way to welcome in fall! :)

iampalegreen said...

YUM!!! I'm going to try these! So perfectly rounded on top...I'm had batched of GF muffins fail me in the muffintop department.

Valerie said...

These look amazing, Carrie. I'm glad you finally decided to try out the different flour concoctions because no one should have to live a life without baked goods. I mean, life might just lose its meaning without cookies, cakes, muffins, bread, etc. I've made gluten free brownies and cookies before and thought they were delicious! Enjoy your muffins and tea this weekend. Hopefully you can have another weekend of nothing! I'm headed up north for a family reunion and excited to see the fam.

xo
Valerie

Marie a la Mode said...

Ah, these look delicious! I tested positive for Celiac disease awhile ago except (thankfully) it was a false positive. So I've given up aspartame to see if that makes a difference in my stomach problems I've been having. (Oh yeah, and I've already had my gall bladder out.) Cheers to digestive problems! lol

Have a great weekend and don't forget to enter my giveaway!

xoxo

Laura said...

They look delicious!!

L x
Half Dressed

Alicia Lund said...

Oh my gosh these sound delicious... I love chocolate chip pumpkin bread - so i'm sure i will love these muffins. yum yum

Natalie Suarez said...

YUM! those cookies look good! :)

natalieoffduty.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

These look truly delicious! I'm glad you're able to whip up some gourmet treats that your body can enjoy! Happy weekend to you too!

Josie said...

Carrie! Perfection! These look SO tasty. I know it can be super hard to find good GF baked goods (my sister is gluten-free and baking used to be our bonding thing) but these look absolutely amazing. Can't wait to try them out!
xo Josie
http://winksmilestyle.blogspot.com

Catita said...

oh I need to try these ;)
catita

Peetzi Jen said...

Carrie....you are the GREATEST!!! I cannot wait to try these and live off of them all winter. No gluten can get a little overwhelming when you realize the number of things it involves. But with this one single muffin, you have given me the fuel to go on!! DELICIOSO!!

XOXO,
Jen

Joanna said...

Oh, wow. I am salivating profusely over here. They look to-die-for delicious.

Marcie said...

You can dress, write, and bake! Carrie, you just do it all perfectly!

I am dying for these! I am going to stop off at my favorite bakery and treat myself to a great muffin now that I see this post.

Have a fantastic weekend!
M

alli/hooray said...

So glad to have a tasty pumpkin recipe that I can make AND share with my sister in-law down the road (who is gluten intolerant). Happy weekend!

Claire Kiefer said...

Preeeeeeetty sure I'm gonna make these delicious creations even though I shouldn't, cause Lord knows I can't be trusted with something that good! As for gluten-free . . . goodness, I bet it's a challenge. I imagine I'd lose 15 pounds immediately if I stopped eating gluten, ha! So glad you've found reasonable substitutes so that life is still worth living.

Ashley Lind said...

mmmm. I will be trying these this week!

THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE said...

These look fabulous! My friend is gluten-free and I know she has a hard time finding yummy things. Think I'll make her these as a little treat. Thanks for sharing, sweetie :)

Have an amazing weekend! xoxo

Chloe Tweeny said...

oh wow, they look absolutely delicious!

Anonymous said...

I'll be right over. Oh, I'm bringing my Dad, who has Celiacs. Oh, and my husband that THINKS he has it, so makes me bake complicated stuff for him and then turns around and eats five thousand Oreos that I have for the kids lunches. Oh forget it, I'm coming by myself.

Lila said...

Glad that you don't let the disease dictate your stomach. I eat gluten free some of the time. Trader joe has wonderful things and they look so good I buy them even though we are not on a gluten free diet.

Happy weekend

Sonja said...

I think you just made my day with these muffins. I wish I could pull one out of the computer screen. They sound divine!!! :o)

Nikki said...

These look and sound ammmmazing. I love anything involving pumpkin!! Cant wait to try!
Have a great weekend Carrie!


xx
Nikki

Anna Walker said...

Holy Yum! :)
Those look pretty darn good!
Perfect for Autumn!

Jen said...

Yummy! Yummy! Yummy! Something I'd love to have when I wake up tomorrow morning!! I can smell them now :-)

Unknown said...

I have a couple of friends who are allergic to gluten, there's a bakery by my house called "The Sensitive Baker" that does all gluten free baked goods.

DolceDreams said...

These look De-Lish! I love the pumpkin/chocolate combo. Thank goodness there are so many options these days, and it sounds like you have a great attitude which is tops!
I love the fortunes in a fortune cookie too, and have a little keepsake box for them, in response to your comment...funny, isn't it!
Enjoy your weekend, I hear it's heating up in LA...Ready for some Fall Temps!
Nathalie

Poppies and Sunshine said...

Mmm chocolate and pumpkin muffins sound like the perfect combination this time of year! I so want some now!!!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend! xo

Mary @Delightful Bitefuls said...

Yum yum yum! Those look soooooooooo tasty!

I made pumpkin cookies tonight and ate way tooo many, haha!

Yay for pumpkin baking time :)

Mary xo
Delightful Bitefuls

allison said...

Yum! I don't eat a lot of glutens either because I generally cut carbs. About a year ago, my dr said that I was intolerant to glutens. I don't have celiacs though.

S.I.F. said...

Oh my!! That looks SO delicious!!

You are seriously my gluten free mentor!

Nell said...

Man, those look so so yummy! x

jemina said...

Yum Yum Yum!!!! MUST TRY!!!! thanks for the recipe sweetie, mwah!!! xoxo

Tanya said...

They look yummy. I'm addicted to muffins, I have to eat one everyday.

Johanna said...

Yum. I am giving these a whirl tomorrow!

xoxoFashionLady said...

I actually made them, and they are delicious! <3


XOXO
http://xoxofashionlady.blogspot.com

heather said...

Awww, I can totally imagine you asking so meekly about chocolate after such news! It's sweet and sad and touching and happy all at the same time!

So glad you found a flour substitute (and that you live where you do! goodness i think they still use swine lard in the bread here -- sorry to be gross.) And that you have a loving chef to keep you well fed on happy food!

These DO look absolutely delicious. I would totally drink a tea with you over one of those bad boys!

silviasiantar said...

looooks yummy

youre so beautiful.

great styling and fab photos!

following your blog
xoxo
poisepolish.

Punctuation Mark said...

tasty and good for you... love it!!! have a great weekend!!!

Rebecca said...

ouch, i'd hate to not be able to eat every cupcake i see! (even if it'd probably be good for my waistline...) at least you can have fun making your own ones like these (:

http://itscohen.blogspot.com/

DT ~ RDH said...

Carrie, you must check out the Tasty Island - Honolulu Food Blog on my blog roll ~ OMG it's the best torture EVER!!!!

Lori said...

YUMMY!!! I got a recipe last year for blueberry pumpkin bread but these muffins will have to be tested in the kitchen also... Hope you are having a fabulous week-end with your crazy kitties, tea and muffins. xo

Ashley said...

NOM. NOM. NOM. I will be trying these tomorrow! I love pumpkin. I love chocolate chips. I love pumpkin chocolate chip muffins.

Sorry to hear about your gluten-free lifestyle! Not like it's something to apologize over, but I can imagine how difficult it is. My former boss had it, and apparently he couldn't even touch the stuff without having problems.

o said...

I'm sory to hear that, Carrie:( Though, I'm glad to hear that you're doing okay despite the diagnosis:) These GF choc chip muffins look so delicious!! Have you ever tried babycakes cupcakes? There's one in downtown LA and they have GF options:) It's quite delicious!

TheOwlsCloset.blogspot.com

Jazzy E (Hivenn) said...

yay gluten free!

Unknown said...

Wow! Those look beyond amazing! Wish I could reach thru the monitor and try them for breakfast right now!!!
Have many friends with celiac who will greatly appreciate this recipe!

Cool Gal said...

Made these muffins yesterday! Gluten-free, too! Delicious. The mister and I have decided to give the GF thing a try. We think it will be better for our bods!

Keep these wonderful recipes coming! :)

Thanks!

Becca [Free Honey] said...

I have the utmost sympathy for anyone who is living the gluten-free life. I couldn't do it. Well I suppose if I had to. But I would hate it!! I'm glad to hear you have such a good attitude about it these days. And I have to admit that these muffins sound mighty good. Much tastier sounding than I would expect to be gluten free. Maybe GF life just has a bad rep??

Dawn said...

Yum!
Perfect food for this time of year....or any;)
Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Happy week to you

Caitlin @ Candyfloss & Persie said...

aw, I feel for you!!! I always feel so badly for those who live the gluten-free life. My manager at work is such a person. Whenever people bring things into the office, it's always gluten-filled- y'know the usual office food: donuts, bagels, scones, cookies, cake etc. (stuff I don't even want to eat anyway~!), anyway- this one lady one time sent out an email that she brought in some 4th of july goodies so to go to her desk. So I went and instead of all that gluten stuff, she just had a huge bowl of cut up fresh fruit... it was soo good. Anyway, the funny part of this story is my manager came to see me about something and saw my bowl of fruit and said "where did you get that?" I was like "oh, it's what Julie brought in that email she sent out about goodies" and my manager literally booked it over there so fast and then came back with a huge bowl of fruit and said "this is so exciting, I can never eat office food people bring in!" hahahah, it was so funny but it also showed me how hard that must be. Good job on navigating chocolate and being able to still eat it, those muffins look really good!~ Glad you're still finding a way to bake. PS sorry about the cats, cats can be so ornamental sometimes! (sorry for novel of a comment)

stylenuggets said...

Can't get over how good they look. We try to be gluten-free on some things but it's not always easy.

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Those sound so freaking amazing. Totally sending this to my friend who has to eat a gluten free diet!

Elle said...

Ohmygoodness these sound incredible! I love chocolate chip muffins and pumpkin.. never had the combination but they look delish!

its simple love said...

Oh yum!!!!! I love pumpkin chocolate chip anything! I must try these. My friend has celiac disease, so I will have to send this to her.

Rachael

p.s. Be sure to check out my Lil Petite Jewelry Giveaway when you get the chance!

Margaret said...

these look and sound AMAZING :O
definitely making some tomorrow
great blog!
loving the posts
stop by some time xx

Leeann @ Join the Gossip said...

MMM these look and sound SO good! Head over to my blog for an award :)

Anonymous said...

oh, kitties. isscool, Eli is the same way. kind of crotchety for 2YO.

can I just eat the dough? I want to stick my finger in that bowl.

Annie said...

I love everything and anything pumpkin - I'll definitely have to make this one! Liking that ingredient list :) Thanks Carrie! xo

christine, just bella said...

So weird!! I just made (and posted about) almost the exact same recipe but in cookie form!!! And minus the gluten free, but good to know! It must be fall with all this pumpkin goodness in the air :) soooo good!

Leigha said...

Great recipe - thanks for sharing! And that bowl is beautiful...

Leigha

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails