Paleo Morning Glory Muffins

Paleo morning glory muffins recipe made with almond flour are a healthy breakfast or snack, perfect for those with gluten and grain sensitivities. These classic muffins are easy to prepare and super comforting!

Love starting your day with something wholesome, cozy, bursting with flavor and gluten-free? Well, you’re in luck! These Paleo Morning Glory Muffins are packed with carrot, apple, coconut, and crunchy walnuts for the ultimate feel-good breakfast or snack.

These easy wholesome muffins feel nostalgic and homey but are actually surprisingly healthy. These beauties are grain-free (like my Paleo Pumpkin Pie Bars!), naturally sweetened, and full of real, nourishing ingredients. 

We start with light and fluffy almond flour and sweet bursts of apple and raisin which form the delicious base of these muffins. The earthy carrots and toasty crunch from the walnuts and coconut take this recipe to the next level.

My favorite part is this paleo version keeps all those cozy flavors I adore from coffee shop muffins while giving me plenty of slow-burn energy due to the lack of added sugar. No big sugar spike and crash here, folks!

Ingredients for Paleo Morning Glory Muffins

Here’s all the ingredients you’ll need to make these delicious paleo morning muffins. You probably have a handful hanging around in your pantry already, but they’re all easy ingredients to source if you don’t!

Mashed Sweet Potato: This might sound like a weird ingredient to add to a muffin. But sweet potatoes add natural sweetness and moisture to this recipe that keep our muffins soft and tender. Swap it out for ripe banana if you’d like.

Eggs: Act as a binder to give structure, lift, and richness to the batter.

Pure Maple Syrup: My favorite natural sweetener for muffins is pure maple syrup. We only need a little bit!

Pure Vanilla Extract: Enhances the other flavors and adds a touch of warmth to your muffins.

Grated Carrot: The main ingredient for that classic morning glory texture! Along with the slight chewiness, you’ll also get plenty of sweetness and a vibrant pop of color from your carrots. Plus, they add Vitamins and antioxidants.

Grated Apple: For a fruity zing that brings extra moisture to your muffins. I suggest using Fuji or Honeycrisp as they hold up well and are relatively sweet. But use whichever apples you like best or have on hand!

Fresh Grated Ginger: Adds a gentle zing that brightens everything up. Add more if you’re obsessed with ginger, or omit it if you aren’t into it.

Almond Flour: The grain-free base that creates a tender, light moist crumb that beats regular all-purpose flour any day. I stick with super fine almond flour for the best texture.

Unsweetened Shredded Coconut: Contributes to the light texture and imparts a creamy, sweet flavor.

Raisins: These nuggets of sticky sweetness add a hit of texture to each bite. Golden raisins are great here too.

Chopped Walnuts: I hear you. There’s a lot of chewiness going on in this recipe. But chopped walnuts bring crunch!

Ground Cinnamon: The ultimate warm spice that gives your muffins a perfect, fall-inspired coziness. Use pumpkin pie spice if you’d like.

Baking Powder and Baking Soda: The leavening agents that help the muffins rise.

Sea Salt: Enhances all the flavors! Don’t skip it.

Recipe Customizations

• Switch out the sweet potatoes. If you’re really not feeling the sweet potatoes in these paleo morning glory muffins, use a ripe mashed banana instead. It’ll give you a lighter, slightly fruitier flavor, but the texture should be similar.
• You can use pecans, almonds, pumpkin seeds, or hazelnuts in place of the walnuts if you prefer!
• If you can’t eat nuts, leave out the walnuts and switch the almond flour for sunflower seed flour. The texture will be very slightly different, but it’s a decent alternative.
• If you’re making these around summertime, feel free to stir in crushed pineapple or a handful of chopped dried mango. It’ll give things a tropical twist!
• Want to make things even cozier? Add cardamom, nutmeg, or even a touch of cloves to switch things up!
• Make them sweeter by adding a touch of coconut sugar, pure maple syrup, or sugar-free sweetener.
• You can throw in a tablespoon of ground flax or chia seeds for a fiber boost.

How to Make Paleo Morning Glory Muffins

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a muffin tin with parchment paper liners.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the almond flour, tapioca flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sea salt until the dry ingredients are evenly combined.

In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs, coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until a smooth batter forms.

Now for the fun part! Fold in the shredded carrots, diced apple, raisins, chopped walnuts, and shredded coconut. This is where the muffins start to look (and smell!) like a cozy autumn morning.

Scoop the batter evenly into your muffin cups, filling each about ¾ full. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

Let the muffins cool in the muffin pan for at least 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling for around 20 minutes. Try to resist eating one straight from the oven, as the muffin will stick to the paper liners.

Storage Tips:

• Room Temperature: Store muffins in an airtight container or in a zip lock bag on the counter for up to 2 days.
• Refrigerator: Refrigerate for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: Freeze in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.

Tips for Making the Best Paleo Morning Glory Muffins

1. Use a medium-sized box grater for the carrots and apples. If it’s too fine, they’ll disappear into the batter. Too coarse, and they’ll weigh it down.
2. These muffins are super moist. So, let them rest in the pan for at least 15 to 20 minutes before removing them from the pan.

These gluten-free morning glory muffins are perfect for meal prep, brunches, road trips, or those days you just want something homemade that feels special. Make a batch on Sunday and watch them disappear before midweek.

They have the perfect texture and that pop of flavor to make you swoon. Those cozy spices, real ingredients, and chewy texture will keep you coming back for more! 

Enjoyed this beautiful bake? Here are 5 more gluten-free muffins you’re bound to love!

More Muffin Recipes:

• Gluten-Free Chocolate Banana Muffins
• Paleo Carrot Cake Banana Muffins
• Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins
• Healthy Apple Muffins
• Matcha Muffins

Enjoy this great recipe on repeat for a lower sugar alternative to classic muffins!