Healthy Chai Spiced Muffins with Oat Crumble

A lot of people associate all things pumpkin with fall. However, my favorite fall (and winter) flavor is Chai. I simply can't resist chai-flavored anything!

We had our first snowfall this weekend. It was a gorgeous one too! It stuck to the trees making it a beautiful winter wonderland. Savina woke up and went screaming through the house, "Get up everyone, there's snow on the ground." The boys quickly woke up. Seeing Simon's face as he laid his eyes on the snow was simply priceless. Being 16 months now, he doesn't remember the snow last year and didn't know what to think. He was running from window to window pointing at it and grunting. We ate the quickest breakfast in the history of our house and rushed to get our snow pants on to get outside.

As we were outside, I began to think that it would've been nice to have some muffins ready on the weekend to really speed breakfast along. I usually make something special for Saturday's since it's our one day that we all get to sit and eat breakfast as a family ... Paul is long gone by the time the kids get up at 6:30 on weekdays! We still had pancakes today, but they were pretty simple pumpkin ones!

After that, muffins were stuck in my mind. We came inside. had some hot chocolate and the kids collected themselves a bit. A little later they were ready for round two. Paul took them out this time. I got to stay in and make some muffins! When they all came in, the house smelled of chai muffins and they were quickly enjoyed by all.

New tradition ... Chai Spiced Muffins on snow days!

A little side note ... yes, 16 is a strange number to make but I think it's quite a blessing. If you have to make a dozen muffins for work or an event, this gives you 4 leftover to enjoy yourself! Or, make your dozen in the muffin tin and fill a ramekin with the leftover to make one gigantic muffin (it takes another 10 minutes to bake) but if you don't like making two batches in your muffin tin, it's perfect. Plus, who doesn't love a gigantic muffin?!

**Vegan and Gluten Free options!

Healthy Chai Spiced Muffins with Oat Crumble

Makes 16

Wet Ingredients

1/3 c coconut oil
1/3 c applesauce
1/4 c honey
1/4 c molasses
1/3 c coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
1 c almond milk or non-dairy alternative

Dry Ingredients

1 c oats
2 1/2 c flour
2 t cinnamon
1 t ginger
1 t cardamon
1/2 t nutmeg
1/2 t cloves
14 t black pepper
3/4 t salt
3/4 t baking soda

Topping

3 T butter
1/3 c coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
1/2 c oats
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 t ginger
1/4 t cardamon

Vegan Option: Replace maple syrup for honey, 2 flax seed eggs and vegan butter
Gluten Free Option: Use your favorite GF All-Purpose Flour and make sure your oats are gluten free!

Preheat the oven for 375º.

In two separate bowls, mix together your dry ingredients and wet ingredients. Slowly begin mixing them together.

Prepare your muffin pan, and fill each cup 3/4 way full.

Mix together your topping by melting the butter and mixing in remaining ingredients. Top each muffin with a good helping of the crumble topping.

Bake for 17-17 minutes.