Healthy Almond & Oatmeal Breakfast Muffins

These almond and oatmeal muffins are not only delicious for breakfast! We have been eating these as a dessert! I always have oats in my pantry, it is so versatile, delicious and healthy! These muffins are dairy free and gluten free, if using certified gluten free oats.

 

Healthy Almond & Oatmeal Breakfast Muffins 

Yields: 12 mini muffins

Ingredients: 

• 4 eggs
• 1 cup creamed honey
• 1/4 cup olive oil or melted coconut oil
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp clove
• pinch of sea salt
• 1 cup ground almonds
• 2 1/2 cups oats
• 1tsp baking powder
• 1/4 cup flaxmeal
• 1/4 cup raisins, chocolate chips, cranberries…

– Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare 12 mini muffin cups. (I used reusable silicon cups)

– Whisk eggs with the oil and honey. Add cinnamon, clove and salt.

-Add oats, almonds, baking powder, flaxmeal and raisins, stir until well combined.

– Fill into prepared muffin cups.

– Bake in preheated oven for about 30 minutes.

 

I wish you all a happy weekend and stay healthy!

Ursula 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Maple Oatmeal Cookies

These cookies have a delicious maple flavor and most likely you have all the ingredients already in your fridge and pantry.

Maple Oatmeal Cookies

• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup maple syrup
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup spelt flour
• 2 1/2 cups oats
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• pinch of salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp cinnamon

-Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, preheat oven to 350F.

-Whisk together the butter, maple syrup and egg, add vanilla extract, cinnamon and salt. Stir in flour, oats, baking powder and baking soda, until well mixed.

-Drop by tablespoon on prepared baking sheets, flatten slightly.

-Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Do not overbake.

Yields: 14 large cookies.

I hope you all stay safe and healthy!

xo

Ursula 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coconut Cookies

We love everything Coconut and I have been having this idea for making coconut cookies for a while now. And finally I took the time to make some. It turned out really yummy, coco-nutty…they are gluten free and refined sugar free. A yummy, sweet treat that’s easy and quick to make!!

Coconut Cookies

Yields: 20 big cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, soft
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup maple syrup
• 3 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
• 1 1/2 cup oat flour
• 1 pinch salt

-line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350F/180C

-whisk the butter with the eggs until creamy, add the maple syrup and vanilla, whisk until well combined. Stir in the coconut, oat flour and salt.

-Drop by spoonfuls onto baking sheets. Bake in preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until bottoms are golden brown.

(I use quick oats and grind them into flour using my coffee bean grinder.)

Happy July!

Enjoy!

Ursula

 

Follow me on Instagram: littleswisslittlecanadian

 

 

 

 

Walnut Cranberry and Coffee Granola Bars (Vegan)

These cereal bars are one of the most delicious snacks I’ve ever made, I have to keep them out of sight to not eat all of it ;))

It is high school exam week and has already been pushed one day forward because of the weather. We are under a snow fall warning and it is very cold. Great excuse to make a hot beverage, hide under a cozy blanket and watch the snow falling from inside your warm home.

I’ve used a coffee substitute I have from Switzerland but any Instant coffee, maybe decaffeinated (for older kids) would work well in this recipe or can be left out completely.

Walnut Cranberry and Coffee Granola Bars

(Vegan)

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp ground flax seeds
• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• 8 tbsp warm water
• 1 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1/3 cup instant coffee granules
• pinch of sea salt
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup finely ground walnuts
• 3 cups oats

-Grease a 9×13 inch (around 22×32 cm) baking dish. Or line with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350F/180C.

-In a small bowl stir together the water, flax and chia seeds, let sit for 15 minutes.

-In a large bowl mix together the coconut oil, maple syrup, instant coffee, vanilla and salt. Stir in the flax and chia mix. Add walnuts and oats, stir until well combined.

-Grease a 9×13 (around 22×32 cm) baking dish. Or line with parchment paper.

-Spread granola mix evenly into prepared form. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

-Let cool before cutting into bars or bites.

-Can be stored in a airtight container for 1 week.

 

Enjoy!

Stay cozy!

Ursula

 

You can find me on Instagram: littleswisslittlecanadian

 

 

 

 

Raspberry Oat Crumble Bars

A happy new month to everyone! I love May as it usually means warmer temperatures and everything is starting to grow and bloom. The grass is finally looking green and my Daffodils are blooming.

These raspberry oat crumble bars are a great snack to bring to school!

Made with whole wheat flour, coconut sugar, oats and almonds.

 

Raspberry Oat Crumble Bars

• 1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup oats
• 3/4 cup coconut sugar
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 1/2 sticks butter, melted
• 1 cup raw almonds, finely chopped
• 300 g raspberry jam

– Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350F/180C (convection setting).

-In a large bowl, mix together the butter and coconut sugar. Add all other ingredients except the raspberry jam, and stir until well combined.

-Save 3/4 cup and set aside. Fill remaining mix into prepared baking dish, press down evenly.

-Spread raspberry jam evenly over crust, sprinkle top with remaining crumble.

-Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until top is lightly browned.

-Let cool completely before cutting into bars.

 

This recipe is adapted from Healthy Hands Cooking Blog, “Raspberry Cookie Bars”.

 

Enjoy!

Ursula

You can find me on Instagram:littleswisslittlecanadian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maple Walnut Oat Muffins

Happy Friday everyone!

I am finally able to do some baking again! We’ve had an ice storm last weekend that left us with power outages, especially Sunday almost all day and on Monday the power went on and off all afternoon and then it just continued for the last few days. So annoying!

Now I am looking forward to some warmer and sunnier days!

We’ve been munching on these scrumptious muffins this week! My kids put one in their lunch bags for school every day! They are lovely just plain or you can eat them warm or cold with some maple butter.

Try to get your hands on some real Maple Butter from your local maple producer! Which does not contain any butter!! 🙂

 

Maple Walnut Oat Muffins

Yields: 14 large muffins

Ingredients:

• 3 cups spelt flour
• 2 cups oats
• 1 1/2 cup coconut sugar
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 4 eggs
• 2/3 cup butter, melted
• 2 cups milk, room temp., I used cashew milk
• 1 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 2 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

-Grease or line your muffin cups. Preheat oven to 385F (convection setting).

-In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, oats, sugar, salt and baking powder.

-Whisk together the eggs, add the butter, milk and maple syrup.

-Add the milk mixture and walnuts to the dry ingredients and stir just until combined, do not overmix.

-Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes or until tester inserted into middle comes out clean.

Optional, Maple Butter: 1/2 cup butter softened and 1/3 maple syrup, room temp. Beat together until smooth.

-Serve muffins warm with Maple Butter

 

Enjoy! And happy, almost, weekend!

Ursula

 

You can find me on Instagram: littleswisslittlecanadian

 

 

 

Oat Seed and Nut Country Style Bread

I’ve been baking bread for a long time now. It kind of started to be a regular thing after I came to Canada (19 years ago) because I just couldn’t find a typical European style bread, you know the kind with an actual crust;) It is more common to get a soft white bread here, which is just not what I prefer on a regular basis.

Anyways, this is the style of bread I make once a week, changing the ingredients up a bit, this week I added oats, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and walnuts which turned into a rustic country style bread. My family liked it! Next plan for me is to try my hands on making sourdough bread. I’ve been thinking of this for quiet some time, it just seems a little intimidating to prepare and look after the sour dough starter. Wish me luck!!

I love the smell of fresh baked bread!

 

Oat Seed and Nut Country Style Bread

Ingredients:

• 200 g white spelt flour
• 150 g whole wheat flour
• 100 g unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup oats
• 1/2 cup sunflowerseeds
• 2 tbsp flax seeds
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1 tbsp quick yeast
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 tbsp honey, optional
• 250 ml room temp. water

-Add all dry ingredients to a large bowl or use your standard mixer. Add oil and honey and start with 3/4 of the water, mix together, add more water if it is to dry. Once it comes together nicely, take it out onto your counter and start kneading the dough until it is a soft and shiny dough, or let your standard mixer do the work. Put the dough back into the bowl and cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in size, about an hour or longer.

-Line a 9-inch bundt form with parchment paper.

-Take the dough out of the bowl and knead it again a few times. Lay the dough into your prepared baking dish and sprinkle with some extra oats and seeds if desired. Let rise until stove temperatures is set.

-Bake in preheated 375 F (I use convection setting) oven for about 40 minutes or golden brown and crusty and sound hollow if you tap the sides or take it out of form and tap bottom.

-Let cool completely.

Tip: the oil gives it a nice texture and helps preventing drying out to fast. I guess you could leave it out. If you do not like the all-purpose flour, just use more spelt flour instead.

 

Enjoy!

Ursula

 

You can find me on Instagram: littleswisslittlecanadian

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vegan Granola Cookies

Happy Weekend!

The first week of back to school went by rather quick, it also only started on Tuesday, because Monday was a Snow-day. All schools were closed because of bad weather. The remaining of the week was very warm and rainy, melting almost all of the snow we had, which was a lot. Now we are back to freezing temperatures.

I like to use weekends to prepare some healthy snacks to have on hand, easy to grab for breakfast, school, work or for that moment when you are just really craving something sweet;) lol. I usually make cookies or granola bars. The following recipe is a healthy, vegan, crunchy granola cookie that tastes, well, like granola.

I’ve been using flaxseeds and flaxoil for my breakfast for a few years now already, these are rich in omega-3 fats. Because of my very low iron level I always have to include foods into my diet that are rich in iron, and these cookies are perfect, rich in healthy fats, protein and minerals, including iron.

 

Vegan Granola Cookies

Yields: 20 large cookies

Ingredients:

• 3 cups oats
• 1 cup spelt flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup sunflowerseeds
• 1/4 cup pumpkinseeds
• 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1/2 cup almonds, slivered
• 1/3 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup cranberries, dried
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp maple syrup
• 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp natural almond butter, or any natural nut butter
• 3 tbsp finely ground flaxseeds/flaxmeal
• 6 1/2 tbsp warm water

-Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350F/180C

-In a small bowl or cup mix together the flaxmeal with the water, let stand for at least 5 minutes to thicken.

-In a large bowl mix all your dry ingredients including cinnamon, vanilla and salt.

-Add the melted coconut oil, maple syrup, almond butter and “flax egg”, mix together well.

-With a tablespoon drop equal amounts of dough onto the sheets, and form, with the help of your hands into cookie shapes.

-Bake in preheated oven for about 10-15 minutes or golden brown.

-Let cool completely.

Enjoy with a glass of milk!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Ursula

 

You can find me on Instagram: littleswisslittlecanadian

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apple & Plum Crumble Bites

Now that the kids are back to school I really like to have some healthier treats on hand. The weekend is perfect to take some time and prepare all sorts of snacks, like cookies, muffins or these apple or plum crumble bites. The apple bites are from last week. We bought our first local apples for this season and there are still plums available. Even though the weather has been exceptionally warm, you can already see the first sings of fall. But for now I am enjoying these beautiful warm temperatures:)

 

 

Apple Crumble

Plum Crumble

 

Apple or Plum Crumble Bites

Yields: 12

Crumbs:

• 3 cups oat flour
• 3/4 cup spelt flour
• 3/4 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• dash of sea salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Apple Filling:

• 5 small apples, peeled and cut into small thin pieces
• 1/4  cup honey
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

 

-Preheat oven to 350F/180C. Grease a muffin tin or line with paper liners.

-For the apple filling combine all ingredients and set aside.

-In a medium bowl mix together the oat flour, spelt flour, salt and cinnamon, then add the coconut oil and maple syrup, stir until well combined.

-Fill muffin tins with about 1-2 tbsp of crumb mix, pressing down to cover bottom. Add about 1 tbsp of apple or plum filling, then cover the fruit with crumb mix, gently pressing down a bit.

-Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool completely. Store in a airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 week.

–The recipe is only intended to make either the apple or plum bites, double only the crumb mix ingredients if you like to make both.–

Plum Filling:

• 2 large plums cut into small pieces
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

 

–I just use regular oats and grind them into flour. Measure after grinding.–

 

 

Have a great weekend!

Enjoy!

Ursula

 

 

You can find me on Instagram: @littleswisslittlecanadian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pumpkin-Oat-Squares

I have always been interested in other countries-their people, traditions and of course food. Every Country has its unique specialities. I grew up in Switzerland where there are lots of specialities that are specific to certain regions. Also the influence of neighboring countries making it very interesting. And that given the small size of Switzerland.

Used to Swiss and mostly European foods it was very adventurous coming to Canada and trying out new things that I have never seen before! Also I should say, just the size of my new home country was an adventure alone!

Take a simple Muffin, or a Cupcake-I actually never had or seen one as a child! It is funny to see that now there are Cupcake Shops in Switzerland!

As it is getting closer to December I will be thinking of Christmas Cookies. But I am not ready for that. I felt more like Pumpkin than Gingerbread.

Usually Oat-Squares are filled with Fruit fillings but I had some Pumpkin puree left so I changed things up a bit.

Oat Mix

• 1cup         unbleached white flour
• 1 1/2cup  oats
• 1/2cup     coconut oil, melted
• 1/2cup     pure cane sugar
• 1/4cup     honey

Pumpkin filling

• 2cups     pumpkin puree
• 1/2cup    maple syrup
• 1/4cup    coconut milk
• 1tsp         cinnamon
• 1/2tsp     nutmeg

Mix together flour, oats, melted coconut oil, cane sugar and honey. Put half into the bottom of a greased square pan, pat it down firmly.

In a small saucepan, warm up pumpkin puree, maple syrup and coconut milk. Remove from heat and add cinnamon and nutmeg.

Pour filling over crust and cover with the remaining oat mixture.

Bake at 350F/180C for about 40 minutes or golden brown.

 

 

Enjoy!