This is a great breakfast to get a jump start on your day, and sustain your energy until your next meal or snack. These pack in a good amount of vitamins from the whole wheat flour, oats, applesauce, olive oil and of course the carrots. If you opt to make these gluten free you will have to substitute the whole wheat flour, and the cake flour with a gluten free flour. Another option is to just add more oats! Here are the directions:
Start by preheating the oven to 350. Grease 8- 10 muffins with butter, and set aside. You can make 8 large muffins or 10 smaller muffins.
Using a blender or food processor pulse the old-fashioned oats. They should be pulsed until they reach a fine powdery consistency with a few oats still in large chunks. Set this aside.
Then in a large bowl combine the dry ingredients: ¾ whole wheat flour, ¾ cup cake flour, ½ cup of the finely ground oats, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1 teaspoon baking powder. Mix with a spoon to blend everything well.
In another bowl combine the following: ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ginger is optional, 2 heaping tablespoons of cream cheese, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ cup of the loosely packed shredded carrots. I like to use organic carrots because they are sweeter than the conventional brands, ½ cup white sugar, 1 container or unsweetened applesauce OR 1 egg, 2 pinches of dried rosemary. Mix this well using a mixer for about 2 minutes or until well blended.
Next add your dry ingredients into your wet ingredients in three stages. Mix each part into the wet ingredients using the mixer. Once all is mixed well you are ready to load your muffin tins.
Using a large spoon load up each muffin tin with the batter. You can make 8 large muffins or 10 smaller ones. You can add a pinch of brown sugar if you like a bit of sweetness to the top of each muffin.
Put these in the oven at 350 for 22-24 minutes or until golden and springy to the touch. Cool on a wire cookie rack for 10 minutes.
Get a little fancy! You can create a cream cheese icing and serve these more like a sweet treat!
Enjoy!