I love trail mix. I love it so much that it’s not something I should buy or make.
But making muffins that are trail-mix inspired is totally fine.
They’re some of easiest and least fussy muffins to make. No mixer, one bowl, and literally a two minute batter.
The batch makes 9 modest-sized muffins, perfect for your cravings, but you’re not swimming in muffins for days.
The muffins happen to be vegan, but they definitely don’t taste like health food. They’re satisfying, filling, and comforting.
Frequently vegan muffin and quickbread recipes get around the egg issue by either using nut butter or bananas. I’ve also snuck in pumpkin and avocado. Anything dense, fatty, or creamy generally works to bind batter and mimic eggs.
However, in this recipe, I relied solely on the thickening power of oats to bind the batter. It worked like a charm and the resulting muffins have tons of texture and lots of chewiness from the oats.
You must use old-fashioned whole-rolled oats, not quick cook or instant. That latter is finer and behaves more like flour, which would render the muffins way too dry and dense.
The recipe is very adaptable based on what you like in your trail mix or have in your pantry. As written, the recipe is vegan, nut-free (no peanut butter), soy-free, and banana-free. I never knew how many people disliked bananas (and raisins) until I started blogging.
I used my favorite raisin medley blend from Trader Joe’s. If you prefer other dried fruit like craisins, dried cherries, dried mango, or apricots, use 1/3 cup of whatever you like.
Don’t like dried fruit and prefer nuts? Add 1/3 cup of your favorite chopped or sliced nuts like almonds, cashews, or walnuts.
I used mini chocolate chips because their small size helps them stay suspended in the batter and not sink to the bottom. I’m sure regular-sized baking chips will work. Use any chips you enjoy from butterscotch to white chocolate or peanut butter chips, noting that not all chips are vegan if that’s a consideration.
I used coconut oil and love baking with it for muffins, cakes, bread, cookies and more. I used Nutiva Coconut Oil from iHerb.com. Code AVE630 at checkout saves you $10 off your order. I love iHerb for everything like probiotics, bulk cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, liquid vanilla stevia drops, bulk white stevia powder, medicinal fancy-grade honey, chia seeds, face cleanser, nutritional yeast, and mini chocolate chips.
I cannot taste the coconut oil, but if you’re concerned, sub with vegetable or canola oil.
The muffins are hearty, sweet enough without being too sweet, and have ample texture from the raisins and oats. They’re chewy and not overly dense, a nice surprise given there’s no eggs.
If you happen to run out of eggs and butter, and have a muffin or trail mix craving, enjoy.
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Oatmeal and Chocolate Chip Trail Mix Vegan Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- ⅔ cup old-fashioned whole-rolled oats, do not use quick-cook or instant
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon, or to taste
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- pinch salt, optional and to taste
- ⅓ cup raisins, I used a raisin medley; substitute with your favorite dried fruit OR with 1/3 cup of chopped nuts
- ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips plus more for sprinkling tops, substitute with regular-sized chocolate chips or white chocolate, peanut butter chips, etc.
- ½ cup milk, rice, soy, almond, cashew, cow, etc.
- ⅓ cup liquid-state coconut oil, substitute with canola or vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a Non-Stick 12-Cup Regular Muffin Pan with floured cooking spray or grease and flour the pan in 9 of the cavities (I don’t prefer the cosmetic look of paper liners); set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the first 6 ingredients (through optional salt), and whisk to combine.
- Add the raisins, 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips, and whisk to combine.
- Add the milk, coconut oil, vanilla, and with a rubber spatula, fold until just combined; don’t overmix.
- Using a large cookie scoop or 1/4-cup measure, evenly distribute the batter into 9 of the cavities of the pan (don’t use all 12, muffins will be too skimpy).
- Top each muffin top with a generous pinch of chocolate chips.
- Bake for about 20 to 24 minutes, or until muffins are set, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, or with a few moist crumbs dangling, but no batter. Don’t overbake because muffins will be prone to drying out. Allow muffins to cool in pan for about 10 to 15 minutes before removing and placing on a rack to cool completely. Muffins will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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great
Hello,
Is there are reason you can’t use quick rolled oats? That is all I have.
Thank you!
Yes because it behaves more like flour and the batter could come out too dry. Cut back possibly and add slowly to start with if that’s all you have is my advice.
I stumbled upon this recipe because we happened to be out of out eggs, and turns out that this is one of the best muffin recipes I’ve ever made! I cut back on the sugar a bit, subbed unsweetened applesauce in place of the coconut oil, and used chopped pecans instead of raisins (I’m actually not a raisin hater – just what we had on hand!). My boyfriend had two fresh out of the oven, and snuck another two after I went to bed. I guess he likes them, too. :) We will be making these again very soon, perhaps with a different fruit/nut next time. Thanks, Averie!
Glad it’s one of the best muffin recipes you’ve ever made!
These muffins are SO GOOD. I cut the brown sugar back to 3/4 and they are still awesome. I used a baking spray with flour and they popped right out of my muffin tin, no problem. Definitely going to go in the rotation!
Thanks for the five star review and I’m glad to hear that even with less brown sugar they were great!
These muffins are SO GOOD. I cut the brown sugar back to 3/4 and they are still awesome. I used a baking spray with flour and they popped right out of my muffin tin, no problem. Definitely going to go in the rotation!
I have tried making these muffins and both times they have fallen apart. They are absolutely delicious so I am determined to get it right! What could I be doing wrong?
Appreciate any help!
I noticed your email address is from the UK which means your ingredients, namely flour, is likely different and that’s probably the culprit. If they’re dry and crumbling and falling apart, I would reduce the amount of flour and/or oats. And possibly increase the amount of milk/coconut oil. Also a tablespoon or two of mashed banana or pumpkin could help bind the ingredients in the absence of an egg. Just throwing out suggestions off the top of my head but being that they work well for me, I haven’t had to tinker around with the recipe. Thanks for trying the recipe.