Honey Flax Minute Mug Muffin
For fresh muffins at the ready, the ingredients may be mixed in the mug, covered with plastic wrap, and refrigerated overnight. In the morning, simply uncover and microwave without so much as a stir. In addition to the many benefits of flax, the egg in this muffin provides an excellent source of protein and additional nutrients. To make the basic recipe come to life, choose among the optional add-ins and/or spread the finished muffin with butter, jam, or a nut butter of choice.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup (26g) golden flaxseed meal
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon (20g) honey (or sweetener of choice; see notes)
- 1 teaspoon (4g) oil (use what you prefer – I enjoy melted coconut oil, avocado oil, or a fruity olive oil)
- 1/16 teaspoon (a pinch) kosher or sea salt
- Optional add-ins: 2 tablespoons fruit puree*; 1 tablespoon nuts, raisins, chocolate chips, and/or shredded coconut; 1 tablespoon almond or peanut butter instead of the 1 teaspoon oil*; savory additions like cheese, dill, etc. (see notes)
Instructions
- Mix all of ingredients in a coffee mug—there is no need to grease it. (Helpful hints: A smaller mug works better than a jumbo one, but any will work. When using a mug with a wide diameter, the muffin will be flatter and the cooking time will be slightly less.) Make sure all of the ingredients are well combined, and then wipe the edges of the mug with a small piece of paper towel.
- Microwave on high for 1 minute to 90 seconds. (Tips: The time will vary based on microwave and mug size and if fruit puree is added. If you have an older microwave, it may take longer. After making the first one you will figure it out. You just don't want to overcook the muffin, as it will dry out. As a test, I undercooked a muffin by 15 seconds and then popped it out of the mug to find it slightly uncooked in the center. I immediately returned it the mug, cooked for 15 seconds more, and the texture was fine. You may wish to try this method the first time. Or check temperature in center of muffin with a quick-read thermometer. It should register 205℉.)
- Cool for a minute or two in the mug. Then gently loosen the edges with a knife. The muffin will easily pop out of the mug with a gentle pry of the knife. It will be moist from the steam at first but will quickly dry as it cools. I like to cut the warm muffin in half and spread with a little butter or peanut butter.
Notes
- *My favorite add-ins: I now almost always make these muffins with 2-3 tablespoons mashed, overripe banana or applesauce (if the muffin becomes dense, you'll know you've reached the upper limit) and sometimes use almond butter instead of the oil. I have also reduced the honey (and often use maple syrup) by about half. I love the raisins and coconut for added natural sweetness. Feel free to use this recipe as a framework and tailor it to suit your needs.
- If you prefer a savory muffin, start by reducing the sweetener to one teaspoon. If you'd like the muffin to be sweeter, increase the sweetener or add raisins, chocolate chips, etc. For those who cannot consume sugar or other natural sweeteners but desire some sweetness, you may wish to try ¼ teaspoon of stevia, adjusting to personal preference.
- A few more tips: It doesn't matter if you add the wet or the dry ingredients to the mug first. Just make sure to stir well to fully incorporate all of the ingredients, especially the egg. I often mix the ingredients the night before, cover the mug with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until morning. In this case, I add 5-10 seconds to the cooking time. (Also, adding mashed banana or other fruit will lengthen the cook time by 15-30 seconds, give or take.) Everyone in my family is happy to have one for breakfast, so I often make four at a time, assembly line-style. For another timesaver, you can measure the dry ingredients into several small jars or containers. That way, all you have to do is stir in a few wet ingredients for a speedy muffin whenever desired.
- The fruit puree is excellent for adding moisture as well as natural sweetness and flavor to these muffins. My favorite is mashed, very ripe banana, although pumpkin puree, applesauce, and apple butter are very good options. For easy access to a small amount of banana, simply peel, slice, and freeze overripe bananas. When needed, thaw at room temperature or microwave in 15-second increments or until the banana can be mashed with a fork.
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