The challenge was a tough one. It was to bake bread without using modern or un-hybridized wheat. It meant my standard supply of all-purpose, self-rising, cake, bread, and white whole wheat flours were out. I almost took the easy road and passed on the challenge. Then the proverbial light bulb went off. Quinoa flour was the answer. And that is the reason I baked Blueberry Peach Quinoa Oatmeal Muffins.
Time was another factor. I needed a fast recipe. I didn't have the luxury of several attempts with attempting yeast risen bread. Those ancient grains do not have the gluten power of modern flour. I envisioned hours being spent to end up with bricks. Quick bread is much easier since it uses other leavening agents.
Which ancient grain flour to use? That was the question running through my mind. Then I remembered the Maple Walnut Quinoa Quick Bread I baked about a year ago. Ah yes, quinoa flour. So there was the answer. I went directly to the same cookbook I used then for inspiration. Muffins, oatmeal, and fruit jumped out of the page and into my mind. How convenient I had everything on hand too.
How are Blueberry Peach Quinoa Oatmeal Muffins? They are dense and moist. Quinoa flour is similar to whole wheat flour in terms of texture in the finished bread. The muffins are lightly sweetened with honey. One other effect from honey is browner edges. Next time I'll bake these in cupcake liners. Dried blueberries and peaches also add a touch of sweetness. I recommend serving them with lots of butter and drizzled with honey.
One note about quinoa flour. It has an earthy or slightly bitter flavor. I've read you can reduce the bitterness by toasting it. Only thing is it is expensive. A 22 ounce bag is almost $13. Taking a chance of over-toasting it and having a burned flavor is not exactly my idea of a good thing. Anyway, just be aware of a different flavor if you are not used to quinoa flour. Or use whole wheat flour instead.
Have you baked with ancient grains? Are you interested in more homemade bread with them? Scroll down to find a list of recipes. Bread Bakers from around the world have come together to meet the challenge of baking with ancient grains.
Blueberry Peach Quinoa Oatmeal Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa flour see note
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ⅓ cups quick-cooking oats
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup diced dried peaches
- ½ cup dried blueberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 12-cup muffin pan or line cups with cupcake liners. These muffins will be dark on the sides due to the honey. Use cupcake liners if you want lighter colored sides.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Add oats and whisk to combine.
- Whisk together eggs, yogurt, honey, butter, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl.
- Add liquid ingredient to dry ingredients. Stir until just combined and dry ingredients are moistened.
- Stir in peaches and blueberries.
- Divide batter equally among muffin cups.
- Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until tops are lightly browned and a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool muffins in pan for 2 minutes. Remove muffins from pan and cool on a wire rack.
Notes
Recipe adapted from one in the 500 Best Quinoa Recipes
cookbook (Amazon affiliate link).
This month's Bread Bakers theme is Ancient Grains hosted by Robin at A Shaggy Dough Story. Ancient grains are generally accepted to mean grains that have remained largely unchanged/un-hybridized over the last several hundred years, which means no modern wheat. Here's what our creative bakers came up with:
- Ancient 4 Grain Breakfast Bread from Cindy's Recipes and Writings
- Blueberry Peach Quinoa Oatmeal Muffins from Magnolia Days
- Buckwheat Savoury Pancakes from Mayuri's Jikoni
- Cheddar Einkorn Crackers with Garlic from The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Dimbleby's Breastfeeding Bread from Food Lust People Love
- Eggless Barley Flour Donut Muffins from I Camp in my Kitchen
- Eggless Sorghum and Pearl Millet Banana Muffins (Eggless Jowar and Bajra Banana Muffins) from G'Gina's Kitchenette
- Injera Bread from Spiceroots
- Kudiraivaali / Barnyard Millet Rava Idli from Gayathri's Cook Spot
- Little Millet Banana Bread from Sara's Tasty Buds
- Millet Bagels from Cooking Club
- Multigrain Seeded Loaf from What Smells So Good?
- Quinoa Banana Bread from Wholistic Woman
- Seeded Spelt Boules from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Spelt and Buckwheat Soda Bread from A Shaggy Dough Story
- Spelt and Einkorn Sourdough Bread with Caramelized Onions from Karen's Kitchen Stories
- Spelt Bread from Hostess at Heart
- Spelt Sweet Potato Paratha from Cook's Hideout
- Teff Crepes with Spinach and Mushrooms from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Yeasted Jowar Naan from Sneha's Recipe
What is Bread Bakers? It's a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. You can see all our of lovely bread by following our Bread Bakers Pinterest Board. Links are also updated after each event on the Bread Bakers home page.
How is the monthly theme determined? We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient.
Would you like to join in the fun? If you are a food blogger, send an email with your blog name and url to Stacy at [email protected].
The only time I've baked with quinoa - pretty sure it was for Bread Bakers too - I roughly ground mine from the grains but there was plenty of other flour in there too, so I didn't notice the bitter flavor. I have read that as well though. Seems like your fruit and honey would be a good counterbalance for any bitterness. The muffins are beautiful, Renee! I love the golden color!
Oh my, these look so beautiful. I haven't had the best luck baking with quinoa flour but I really, REALLY want to give it another try now if I can get results like this. Thanks for the inspiration!
muffins look so good. Have used quinoa but not the flour. I read somewhere that if quinoa is washed and then dried before grinding it does not taste as bitter. Not that I have tried it as quinoa is expensive here.
Wow, no wonder they look so lovely. They cost an arm and a leg to make!!
These look great and I love cooking with quinoa though I haven't tried baking with the flour yet. Do you think these muffins would work with almond or coconut flour?
I have not baked with almond or coconut flour so I do not know if they would work the same as quinoa or whole wheat flour.
Peaches are one of my favorite fruits, these look like the perfect bite! I wasn't aware of quinoa flour, but I may have to try it as I do love quinoa!
These are gorgeous and you got a nice rise there! So glad you didn't pass on this challenge! These are wonderful.
These muffins look just gorgeous. I love their rustic look, and would love one for a wonderful breakfast treat! I really appreciate the Quinoa comments regarding the bitterness. At that price/result, think I would stick with wheat.
I've made muffins with quinoa flour, and yes the flour can be a little bitter. I've read that it's because the seed used for the flour hasn't been washed the multiple times it needs to be to remove the saponin layer - which is where the majority of bitterness originates. Toasting does eliminate it, but I completely understand not wanting to take a chance for the post. I'm in love with these muffins and would love to make them!
Lovely looking muffins with quinoa flour. I've never baked with quinoa flour and this muffin recipe looks like the best one to try.
Great job on the GF baking front! Bet these were amazing
Renee your muffins look absolutely awesome. I didn't know about the bitterness with Quinoa. Thanks for the heads up. Love the uneven texture on top of the muffins and the lovely colour as well.
The one sure shot way to reduce the bitterness is to make the flour ourselves, after multiple washings and drying etc of the quinoa. But who has the time for that! What I do instead is to dry roast it in the microwave. Increments of 10 seconds until a toasty smells comes out. Usually takes about 30 - 40 seconds for two cups of flour in my microwave. But I do that only if serving to others. We quite enjoy the bitter flavor.
If all ancient grain muffins looked as good as yours, people would be eating healthier food everyday. Absolutely beautiful and the texture is awesome.
I've never used quinoa flour, but I have substituted cooked quinoa for a portion of flour in a recipe and its worked well. If using regular flour in this recipe, instead of the quinoa flour, would you use less baking powder? Pinned to try!
You may could cut back on some of the baking powder if using whole wheat flour. I haven't tried it so I don't know for sure. I know whole wheat is heavy and does need more than all-purpose. So, if anything, I'd only cut it back by a 1/2 teaspoon or so.
I love oats in anything - these are right up my alley
These muffins are tempting me.......you've used my fav ings in this muffins lovely........
I made these today with the ingredients that I had in the house - Cabot 2% vanilla greek yogurt, rolled oats (that I blitzed for a minute in the food processor), and fresh peaches instead of dried.They came out great! I am going to freeze them and I look forward to taking them out daily for breakfast.Thanks!