The air is crisp, the coffee is hot, and the muffin flavor of everyone’s choice is pumpkin spice! Our Streusel Pumpkin Muffins with Oat Maple Glaze are a fabulous fall-inspired treat loaded with wholesome ingredients. Real pumpkin, Lifeway Pumpkin Spice Kefir, and applesauce add sweetness and fiber, plus pumpkin is a natural source of vitamin A that is excellent for skin and immune system health.
Cultured Dairy: The Nutrition Benefits You Actually Need to Know
With increasing research linking the correlation between probiotics, gut health, and immunity, it’s no secret that the integrity of our gut is vital to our health. Although additional factors such as stress, antibiotic usage, and individual health conditions can contribute to the condition of our gut, a focus on healthy food choices is one of the easiest ways to support the microbiome.
Several studies have shown a strong association between the gut-brain-microbiota. Probiotics introduced to the gut have been found to support immunity, improve allergies, and improve digestion.
Studies have shown that reduced diversity of healthy gut bacteria during early years is associated with an increase in food allergies during school-age years. In addition, kefir made from whole-fat milk helps absorb key nutrients such as Vitamins A, D, E, and K. Vitamin K is important because it helps your bones absorb calcium. It’s important to know that kefir contains a special trio: vitamin D, K, and calcium – all three crucial elements to support bone health. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is also a great source of all these nutrients, just in a different format for all the cheese lovers out there.
Prebiotics + Probiotics = A Healthier You
Prebiotics are non-living, non-digestible carbohydrates naturally found in a variety of fiber-rich plant foods. Your body actually can’t digest prebiotic fiber, but it’s what probiotics feed off of to remain actively working in your digestive system. They help the digestive system by promoting the growth of good bacteria. Prebiotics and probiotics work together in balance to make sure our digestive system stays on track and regular. Research has found that consuming a variety of prebiotic and probiotic food sources may improve your body’s natural functions, including both your immune and digestive systems.
Ingredients
- For the Muffins:
- 1 3/4 cup gluten-free oat flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup unrefined cane sugar
- 1/2 cup unrefined light brown sugar (lightly packed)
- 1 1/2 cup canned pumpkin pureé
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup Lifeway Pumpkin Spice Lowfat Kefir
- For the Crumb Topping:
- 3/4 cup oat flour
- 1/4 cup unrefined cane sugar
- 1/4 cup unrefined light brown sugar
- 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
- 6 tbsp. butter or butter alternative
- For the Maple Icing:
- 1 1/2 cup natural confectioners' sugar
- 3 tbsp. pure maple syrup
- 2 tbsp. more Lifeway Pumpkin Spice Kefir
- 2 tbsp. rolled oats for garnish
Directions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees and line muffin pan with cupcake liners.
- In a large bowl, mix together the oat flour, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt until well combined. set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the sugars, pumpkin puree, applesauce, and Lifeway Pumpkin Spice Kefir until well combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold everything together gently until combined.
- Fill liners until mostly full.
- Make the crumble topping by whisking flour, sugars, and pumpkin pie spice until well combined. Mix in the melted butter until crumbs form.
- Bake for 5 minutes at 425, and then reduce the temperature to 350, and bake for an additional 16 minutes, or until you can pull out a clean toothpick from the center of a muffin.
- Allow the muffins to dry and mix together all icing ingredients until smooth. Top muffins with icing and sprinkle rolled oats on, then let cool a few minutes before serving. Tip: You can keep the icing in an air tight container in the fridge if you have some leftover!
