Matcha Almond Muffins
Let me redirect you to the following post where I first confess to being the owner of a muffin magic machine.
I give you exactly one minute to make fun of me before I start kicking you in the shins.
Now that it’s out of your/my system…
I have no idea why us puny humans feel the need to accessorize our kitchens with more gadgets than anyone with a sane mind should, but I take comfort in knowing I’m not the only one afflicted with the greed-isease.
I try and make it a habit to put such items to use at least once a year so that I don’t feel like I wasted x amount of money on something that’s bound to eventually jump to a certain death from its place of storage out of total ennui.
By the way, holler at me if you happen to be the sole other idiot person who owns that muffin maker machine thing.
(I’m mean, considering it actually works quite well without heating up the whole kitchen. so, HA! in your face, muffin magic-less people! IN YOUR FACE!)
About the recipe: you can safely throw chocolate or carob chips into the batter, but I’m starting to loathe even the thought of anything related to such items lately as I’ve had too much of them & was in dire need of a change.
(For a peanut butter muffin recipe using the beast, click here.)
Matcha Almond Muffins 2/3 cup (147 g) packed light brown sugar
8 ounces (2 individual containers, 226 g) unsweetened applesauce
2 teaspoons pure almond extract
2 teaspoons rose water
1/2 cup (120 ml) canola oil
1/4 cup (60 ml) unsweetened soy or other nondairy milk
1 1/2 cups (240 g) brown rice flour
1/2 cup (60 g) whole-wheat pastry flour
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon (16 g) matcha green tea powder
1 tablespoon (8 g) arrowroot powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
2/3 cup (92 g) dry roasted salted almonds, coarsely choppedPreheat oven to 350°F (180°C, or gas mark 4). Line standard muffin tin with paper liners.
In a medium bowl, whisk sugar, applesauce, almond extract, rose water, oil, and milk, until smooth
In a large bowl, sift flours, matcha, arrowroot, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Fold wet ingredients into dry, being careful not to over mix. Fold in almonds.
Divide batter equally into liners. (Or fill holes in muffin maker and bake for 14 minutes. You only get to make 3 muffins at a time with it. I use my ice cream scoop to do so, and it scoops about 1/3 cup at a time.)
Bake for 18 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Place on cooling rack. Let cool completely before storing.
Yield: 8 muffins in muffin maker, 12 standard muffins in the oven
Rosa said,
July 22, 2008 at 6:29 am
Those muffins look delicious! A nice flavor combination!
Cheers,
Rosa
Reply
Cecilia said,
July 22, 2008 at 6:47 am
BWAHAHAHAHA!! A muffin machine?!! This is the first time I’ve ever heard of these things!! :0) You’re TOO funny Celine!!
On the other hand, those muffins looks gorgeous as usual, I love matcha anything!! I must try this recipe soon! Yum!
Reply
Mihl said,
July 22, 2008 at 8:24 am
Okay, the minute is over. I start praising your muffins now. I have never had anything matcha. What kind of flavour does it add to foods?
Reply
Celine said,
July 22, 2008 at 9:15 am
a flavor of … tea? and a touch of green as a bonus.
Reply
Amy said,
July 22, 2008 at 10:09 am
Mmmmm delicious (except I just had to throw my tea powder out and I’ve yet to discover more here now that we’ve moved!) and make fun of you for a muffin maker? NEVER! In fact, I can honestly say I am glad they’re not available in Australia or I’d have to add one more thing to go with my food processor, blender, toaster oven, grill, rice cooker, slow cooker, waffle maker….well you get the picture :P
Reply
Hannah said,
July 22, 2008 at 12:20 pm
The recipe looks wonderful. I am going to have to make a batch.
BTW, can I substitute any other flour for the brown rice flour?
Reply
veganhomemade said,
July 22, 2008 at 2:26 pm
I didn’t know magic muffin machines existed! Fun, if only for the alliteration. It actually sounds like a good idea if you’re worried about having to turn the oven on.
Reply
Marysol said,
July 22, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Well, I’ll be darned, a magic muffin machine. What’ll they think of next? I’m one nanomillimeter away from laughing … with you, of course ;-Þ
Regardless, the results are worthy of a peek into this magic muffin machine wonder.
Reply
krislinatin said,
July 22, 2008 at 3:42 pm
No wonder your muffins look so perfect!
im all fo the matcha, i put it in my protein shake!
Kristina
Reply
vegan addict said,
July 22, 2008 at 4:01 pm
wait… that machine does magic too? hmmmm… i’ll take you hiking and i will give you ice cream if you make me a muffin-a-day, every day. yeah. what a lovely combination of flavor and texture! what is in that little tin in the photo? a candle? a tasty spread? tell me, tell me!
Reply
Jennifer said,
July 22, 2008 at 5:07 pm
I think the “bakes three muffins at a time” concept is so cute! I don’t own any funny small appliances, but I have been known to purchase items tagged with the moniker “As seen on TV” and my husband will never let me live down the day I brought home the Mr. Clean Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner.
All kidding aside, your matcha almond muffins sound delectable! Matcha powder can be kinda pricey here. The tea and coffee guy at Whole Foods told me that Sencha powder is a suitable substitute and is more than 50% cheaper!
Reply
Bianca- Vegan Crunk said,
July 22, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I’m not even sure what a muffin magic machine is! But I’m a sucker for any kitchen gadget with the word “magic” in it.
Reply
Shannon said,
July 22, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Oh, now I want a muffin machine *hangs head in shame*. I’m sad. If I had this fancy muffin machine, I’d be sure to keep up on my husbands breakfast muffins!
Reply
ren said,
July 22, 2008 at 6:18 pm
i…uh…ahem…i own a magic muffin machine. it was a gift. but you know, it’s kind of handy. i like it. i like making muffins as people are ready, as opposed to whomever was in the shower at the wrong moment getting the cold muffin…as it were.
i say be proud of your magic muffin machine (which sounds like it should be hanging out with puff the magic dragon or something)!
Reply
Bea said,
July 22, 2008 at 8:01 pm
I wish I owned the muffin machine! I have a strange attraction to useless kitchen gadgets in general, but it could just be their infomercials. I am totally fascinated by both the magic bullet mixer thing and the gt express 101 that makes any food into a half circle. It’s probably for the best thatn I’m poor and stopped watching television. :)
Like Ren said up there, rock your muffin machine! Be proud!
Reply
ruby red vegan said,
July 22, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Hehe, you have a muffin machine! I’m not even going to make fun of you, because I want one too! Or even better, one that magically produces matcha almond muffins out of thin air.
Reply
Ricki said,
July 23, 2008 at 2:37 am
Almonds with the matcha sound like a lovely combination. And that machine has got me curious, now. . . !
Reply
Brianna said,
July 23, 2008 at 4:50 am
While a muffin machine might be a little excessive, I’ve been known to pore over a William’s Sonoma catalogue like a teenage boy looks at a Playboy. Sometimes the accessories help! The muffins look great, I love anything almond.
Reply
Celine said,
July 23, 2008 at 7:54 am
thank dog I’m not the only one out there. I was starting to sweat it a little.
as for subbing something else for the brown rice flour: I’m pretty sure it’d work, but I haven’t tried it so don’t blame me if it fails. missus Switzerland for the win!
Reply
Sophie said,
July 23, 2008 at 2:18 pm
You can blog about the songs you like to sing :D…I even thought about posting a separate playlist for the songs I like to dance to because I’m such a goof :D!
Reply
shellyfish said,
July 23, 2008 at 3:01 pm
When we are happily wedded, will you bring the muffin machine?
(fingers crossed…)
Reply
Haley said,
July 23, 2008 at 4:32 pm
We’d like to invite you to participate in our July berry recipe contest. All competitors will be placed on our blogroll, and the winner will receive a fun prize! Please email me, haleyglasco@gmail.com, if you’re interested. Feel free to check out our blog for more details. (Click on my name in the message header link to visit our blog. :)
Reply
Celine said,
July 23, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I will, Shelly. I mean, I do. I mean…
will check out the blog, Haley. woo!
I never got around to answering your q, AmyAddict: it’s the little tin the matcha is in that you can see in the background.
Reply
Rosa L. said,
July 23, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Hi! I was wondering about that green tea powder, is it really like powdery..? Because I was wondering about these green tea muffins, I’ve seen them before in some other blogs and was curious to try to make them. But I have only seen and used green tea that has a rough texture, I have never seen powdery green tea (or any tea like that..?) and this is a big amazement to me :-D I don’t think that the normal green tea is really usable to baking.
So what is it exactly? Can you shed some information for me!
Reply
Tofu Mom said,
July 23, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Way too funny!
A muffin machine, never have I enountered anything so hilarious!
Sadly, AMAZON says:
Now I am sad.
Reply
Sara said,
July 23, 2008 at 9:32 pm
These muffins look amazingly tasty!
And I also wanted to tell you that I nominated you for the Brillante Weblog Award! I don’t think I’ve posted on your blog before..but I come here often, and I’ve forwarded your recipes to friends! Check out my blog for details on the award!!
Reply
Vivacious Vegan said,
July 24, 2008 at 1:26 am
That muffin maker cracks me up – and makes me want one. It sounds so convenient. Does it really make muffins in minutes?
Your muffins look delish!
Reply
clairedille said,
July 24, 2008 at 2:46 am
Have you seen those commercials for pancake puffs (or balls) they look so gross to me and it is also quite amusing. Muffin maker’s sound sooooo much more appealing. And I will have one of yours please!
Reply
Avery Yale Kamila said,
July 24, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Those muffins look and sound wonderful! And I love that they have tea in them. What a cool idea!
Reply
shellyfish said,
July 24, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Alors Mon Amour,
Je viens de te nominer pour un prix – Brillante Blog – je ne sais pas trop si ce genre de truc te branche (franchement ça me mets un peu mal à l’aise puisque j’aime pas ‘choisir’), mais puisque tu es ma fiancée… viens voir si tu veux…
Reply
Nick said,
July 24, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Mmm, I’ve never had them, but almond muffins sound delicious! And what a unique recipe, just like all the ones you produce! And that’s a cool device, but seems to take up a lot of space for only making muffins, although if you’re a muffin addict then it’s certainly the perfect thing.
Reply
melisser said,
July 24, 2008 at 11:26 pm
What?! I want a muffin machine! haha.
Reply
Sophie said,
July 25, 2008 at 1:05 am
I have not, for the life of me, been able to buy any rose water! Where do you get yours? It sounds like it would be great in so many things…yum…I know that almond flavored anything is awesome, but when paired with rosewater, I imagine it just has to be outta this world.
Reply
bazu said,
July 25, 2008 at 4:20 am
I don’t have a muffin machine (tee hee) but I have all the ingredients for these- mayhaps I’ll make them tomorrow! They look sooo good.
Reply
Celine said,
July 25, 2008 at 8:05 am
Sophie: I find mine at food maxx, in the exotic section of the store. you could ask a clerk, perhaps?
you no have muffin machine, Bazu? I’d let you borrow mine. you know you want to.
it doesn’t take a lot of space, Nick. I hide it in my pocket when it’s not in use. {not really.}
Claire, should I be ashamed to admit I was almost tempted to get the pancake puff thing? as well as the semicircular oven bit, I think it’s called the GT express? yeah. I have issues. I’m proud to say I resisted the urge & didn’t purchase either.
Vivacious V., it actually takes just about the same amount of time as baking them in a regular oven would: 14 minutes, so it only shaves off what, 4 minutes in all? the clean up is minimal, though, and it preheats in no time.
I saw, Tofu Mom, they’ve been out of the machine for quite some time now, which makes me doubt they will have it in stock again. pity.
Rosa: yeah, green tea powder is true to its name. it is powdery. you can’t sub green tea from tea bags for it. I found the one I use on Amazon, but it’s really pricey. considering I like it ok but am not the biggest fan, I probably won’t bother again. just trying to finish up what I have in stock.
Reply
organicmom said,
August 8, 2008 at 1:47 pm
I adore gadgets. I have everything under the sun except this item. Now I am lusting after an item that is useless for me as my kids each eat 2 muffins plus me and hubby. I am also looking at the pancake puff my son wants it soooooo bad. Maybe we should form a self help group; My name is amanda and i love gadgets!
Reply
Lori said,
August 10, 2008 at 11:53 am
I just made these…and they ROCK! Holy smoke, are they good! And I don’t even have a muffin machine!
Reply
Celine said,
August 10, 2008 at 12:52 pm
w00tw00t, Lori! thanks for the feedback.
Reply
Peanut Butter Muffins « have cake, will travel! said,
September 30, 2008 at 1:15 pm
[...] used the muffin machine, and got 4 medium-to-large + 1 small muffins out of the batter, baking them for about 14 minutes. [...]
Kat said,
February 3, 2010 at 9:41 am
I just got my hands on some matcha and will make these TODAY. Finally!!
Reply
Celine Reply:
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:39 pm
just when I run out of the stuff. quite frankly, after purchasing some when the vegan cupcakes book came out, I was eager to find ways to get rid of it and wouldn’t buy more, because of the crazy expensive price. hear that, matcha makers? lower the price so that people don’t feel like they need to win the lottery to own some!
Reply