Cherry Almond Muffins (Dairy & Gluten-Free)

I picked up some fresh Rainier Cherries from the Farmer’s Market to bake up a batch of cherry almond muffins as a gift to my dad for Father’s Day. Turning gluten-free just a few years ago, and having spent most of his 75 years eating gluten, he appreciates great tasting gluten-free food.

And today, in honor of Father’s Day, I want to give tribute to my dad. He is, in every sense of the word, what one would call a man’s man. Growing up, the food that was placed on our table was mainly wild game. He loved to hunt and fish and we ate everything from deer to elk, grouse to pheasant, and trout to salmon. For many years my dad was a carpenter and built beautiful custom homes. Today, whenever I smell fresh-cut wood from a saw, it brings my mind flooding back with great childhood memories of watching my dad hard at work with his hands. One of my favorite childhood memories was a vacation we took as a family to California. Three of us four kids were in the back of a pickup truck lying on a bed my dad had rigged up. There was a small canopy over us, with a window that allowed us to see through the front cab, where my little brother was sandwiched in-between my parents. Seatbelt laws did not exist back then, so we were free to roll around on the bed, playing games and singing songs. Life was pretty carefree, until I saw the look of panic on my mom’s face through the window. The truck was pulling a full size camper, and suddenly the truck had lost its breaks! We were flying down the highway going over 80 miles an hour and the speedometer continued to climb. I remember being a little scared but deep down inside I knew it was all going to be okay because my dad was “in control”. As he maneuvered between gearing down and tapping the emergency brake, he eventually brought us to a stop and was able to fix the problem. In my eyes, my dad could save the world.

Last night my husband and I went to see “Man of Steel” at the theater, a new rendition of Superman. It was an action packed movie, but for me, my dad will always be my super hero. Love you, Dad…Happy Father’s Day!

I used Rainier cherries for these muffins, which have a thin skin and thick creamy-yellow flesh,

but any cherry will do if you can’t find the Rainier variety.

Cherry Almond Muffins (dairy & gluten-free)

Muffins-

1/2 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup honey

1 egg (or egg replacer)

1/4 cup almond milk

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup superfine brown rice flour

1/4 cup tapioca starch

1/4 cup almond flour

1 1/2 cup fresh cherries, pitted & chopped

Streusel-

1/4 cup almond flour

2 Tbsp gluten-free oats

2 Tbsp coconut palm sugar

1/2 Tbsp honey

1 Tbsp coconut oil

Icing-

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/2 tsp almond extract

1-3 tsp almond milk

In a medium bowl, beat together coconut oil, honey, egg or egg replacer, and almond milk. Add in rice flour, tapioca starch and almond flour. Mix on medium high-speed for 3 minutes. Fold in chopped and pitted cherries gently. Spoon batter into muffin tins 2/3 full.

In small bowl, add almond flour, GF oats, coconut palm sugar, honey, and coconut oil. Mix with a fork or spoon until mixture resembles crumbs. Sprinkle a large pinch full on to the top of each muffin. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 18-22 minutes or until centers are firm. Remove from oven and completely cool.

In a small bowl, add powdered sugar, almond extract, and 1 teaspoon of almond milk at a time until a thick glaze forms. Add more powdered sugar if needed to make the right consistency. Form a lattice pattern on the top of each cooled muffin.

This recipe was also shared on the following blogs, check them out: RealFoodForager, SimplySugarandGlutenFree, Chef-in-Training, LadyBehindtheCurtain, DeliciousObsessions, WellFedHomestead

AnyonitaNibbles, GlutenfreeHomemaker, KellytheKitchenKop, Vegetarian Mamma, AWholeNewMom, NourishingSimplicity, DIYShowOff, ModVintageLife, TheGunnySack, AllergyFreeAlaska, SimplyDesigning, PoorandGlutenFree, RealFoodForLessMoney, SweetBellaRoos, MadeInaDay,