Welcome in the cooler weather by warming up your oven and baking up a batch of our Kefir Pumpkin Muffins! Since they’re made with creamy Whole Milk Lifeway Kefir, they’re packed with protein and gut health benefits, plus calcium and vitamin D.
Pumpkin is packed with gut-healthy fiber and skin-supporting nutrients like vitamins A and C. It’s the perfect companion to Lifeway Kefir in baked recipes and beyond. Our kefir’s probiotics help support your gut, and its natural protein helps keep you fuller longer when paired with fiber-rich ingredients like pumpkin.
We used our Organic Whole Milk Kefir here, but you can also make this recipe with Lowfat Plain Lifeway Kefir or any other flavor you prefer! Lifeway Kefir keeps your muffin batter moist and tender, so it produces the perfect, delicate crumb and the ultimate texture to baked goods like muffins. For something extra special, add some mix-ins like dark chocolate chips, crushed pecans, or other nuts like almonds, walnuts, or pumpkin seeds. Make them your own, and enjoy the perfect muffin experience made better with Lifeway!
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with a variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese, a creamy, high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and a healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Prep Time: 30 minutes Servings: 10-12Ingredients
- 1 cup Organic Whole Milk Plain Kefir
- *or use 1 cup Lowfat Plain Kefir
- 3/4 cup pure pumpkin purée (from a can—not pumpkin pie mix)
- 3 eggs
- 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil (or melted coconut oil)
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 cup oat flour (gluten-free)
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar or other alternative
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice mix
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp. sea salt
- 1/2 cup mini dark chocolate chips or crushed pecans (or chopped walnuts or sliced almonds)
Directions
- Preheat the oven 350 degrees, Fahrenheit. Line a regular muffin pan (or mini muffin pan) with appropriately sized muffin cup liners, or spray the pans lightly with coconut oil spray or olive oil spray. Set aside.
- In a large mixer, blender, or food processor, add the kefir, eggs, pumpkin purée, applesauce, olive oil or melted coconut oil, vanilla, and mix until thick and creamy.
- In a separate bowl, add the almond flour, oat flour, coconut sugar, baking soda, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice mix, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well until combined. Fold this mixture into the mixture from step 2. Blend/mix or process until just mixed. Make sure there are no visible pieces of flour but don't overmix.
- From here, you can fold in chocolate chips or nuts if using, just until combined. Then, using a ladle, dollop each prepared muffin cup full of batter until 3/4 full leaving room for rising during baking. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the tops are golden brown. Don't overbake; test with a fork or toothpick to see if it comes out clean.
- Once they're done baking, remove from the oven and set on a cool counter for 20 minutes to cool. Then, gently remove from the pan and serve. These will keep up to 1 week in the fridge, or you can freeze them for up to a month if well covered. Just don't freeze until completely cool.
- Topping Ideas: Top your muffins with a touch of butter, drizzle of extra kefir, or Lifeway Farmer Cheese!
