Carrot Pineapple Muffins.

Note From Chris… Friends it’s with great pleasure I introduce you to Jessica Samantha Hylton, an island girl who among other things, publishes Jessiker Bakes. I convinced her to share her recipe for carrot pineapple muffins with us. Please show her some love and appreciation by going over to visit her website for most delectable recipes.  You can learn more about Jessica in the short bio at the end of the recipe.. you’ll also find a link to her website there as well.

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I wanted to do these cupcakes because they’re reminiscent not only to what’s going on over at my blog right now but also in my life metaphorically. It’s health month over at my blog Jessiker Bakes where I’m trying to show the balance between recipes that are tasty but are still healthy.

Similarly, there’s the balance of not only keeping my own lifestyle healthy but also balancing law school and my general life. I’ve just started this Monday and I can already see how hectic it’s going to be.

 

Making these cupcakes only took about 30 minutes and they’re so healthy you can have one for breakfast with yogurt or fruit so I know they will help me through this week at least! I hope they are also equally encouraging to you in real life and metaphorically if you’re also trying to find some balance in this crazy world!

About the actual muffins? They’re moist and simple; the only length to this baking process is the grating of the carrots and chopping of the pineapples. They’re also very delicious – I’m a pineapple fanatic! – and can also just simply be used by you as a guilt free way to end a long work or school day with a delicious treat topped with a little fat free cream cheese frosting I’m going to be sharing with you also. I hope you make them and enjoy them!

Carrot Pineapple Muffins [from Bella Eats / makes 12 whole grain, no added fat, naturally-sweetened muffins / adapted from Sweet and Natural Baking, by Mani Niall]

Ingredients

• 2-1/2 cups white/whole wheat pastry flour
• 3 tbsp oat bran *
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 4 large egg whites
• 1/2 cup light agave nectar
• 1/2 cup skim milk
• 1-1/3 cups grated carrots
• 3/4 cup diced pineapple
• 12 chunks of fresh or canned pineapple, about 1 x 1 x 1/2 inch in size

*Jessica says: note you can make this by simply grinding oats, whether traditional or quick oats.

Method:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350*.  Lightly spray a standard 12-cup muffin pan with vegetable oil spray.

 

Step 2: Sift together the flour, bran, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt into a medium bowl.

 

Step 3: In another medium bowl, using a handheld electric mixer set at high speed, beat the egg whites with all the agave nectar until soft peaks form.

 Step 4: Reduce the speed to low and gradually beat in the milk.

Step 5: Mix flour slowly into egg whites until combined.

 Step 6: Stir in the carrots and the diced pineapple.

Step 7: Spoon the batter into the muffin cups, filling about 3/4 of the way full.  Top each muffin with a pineapple chunk.

 Bake the muffins until a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean and the tops spring back when pressed with a finger, 20 to 25 minutes.  Cool for 2 minutes, run a knife around the inside of the cups to release the muffins, and remove from the cups. Serve the muffins warm or at room temperature.

TIP: To freeze, wrap each muffin individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil.  Place the muffins in a Ziplock bag in the freezer. They should keep for up to 3 months.

Fat Free Cream Cheese Frosting
1 8oz tub of Sugar Free Cool Whip
8oz Philadelphia Fat Free Cream Cheese
1/2 cup to 3/4 cup Splenda (based on your taste)
1 tsp vanilla

Combine all ingredients until mixed for at least 2 minutes. Use immediately or set in fridge in a closed container.

About Jessica Samantha Hylton

Jessica Samantha Hylton is a 21-year-old blogger and law student at the Norman Manley Law School of Jamaica who also founded and owns her own baking company, Jessiker Bakes. Born in Jamaica but has lived in the British Virgin Islands for almost half her life, she has an avid love for traveling and seeing new places. When she isn’t baking or reading for her degree, Jessica volunteers at Campion College as the synchronized swimming coach where she has been doing so for the past 2 years. Her favourite hobbies include baking, synchronized swimming, reading, listening to music, blogging, learning new programming codes and a new found love for kick-boxing.

Jessica’s blog can be found at Jessiker Bakess <<< click to visit.