Have you tried carob? It’s a pod with a very important nutritional value and a very pleasant flavor, reminiscent of chocolate. It can be consumed whole as a snack or ground into flour, and in some countries a molasses without added sugar is also produced from it. This recipe of sugar-free carob muffins is perfect for using both flour and molasses, getting in this way a healthy and nutritious snack.
Ingredients:
60 g whole wheat flour
60 g carob flour
1 large egg
100ml milk
4 tablespoons carob molasses
1 teaspoon baking powder
A pinch of salt
Optional: 3 tablespoons tahini
With the indicated quantities you will obtain 7 small muffins.
The recipe couldn’t be simpler: start by preheating the oven to 180 degrees. Mix the dry products in a bowl, and add the milk, molasses and egg. Beat briefly until combined, making sure there are no lumps in the mixture. Transfer to successive molds, leaving a few cm before reaching the top, as the dough will grow during cooking. Bake for about 20-25 minutes.
To check if the muffin is ready, just prick it with a knife or toothpick. It must come out clean.
Tips and tricks:
- Muffin recipes usually call for a little butter or oil. This is not essential but it makes them fluffier. But it’s possible to add a few spoons of tahini, which is an ingredient that goes very well with carob.
- We can pour the same mixture into a pudding mold, in this case the baking time will extend to approximately half an hour, depending on the size.
- It’s possible to use any type of animal or vegetable milk, or even replace it with yogurt.
- Carob molasses is a very interesting ingredient to add to our repertoire. It has a high content of natural sugars, but approximately half that of honey, which is why it can be used in moderation to sweeten many preparations. Its flavor is very pleasant and it has an aroma with almost smoky notes. Its consistency is more liquid compared to honey, and it can be used, for example, to sweeten coffee, mixed with tahini to spread on bread, or in baked preparations like this one.
- Carob flour can also be used as a substitute for cocoa in any recipe, and even mixed with milk to obtain a delicious low-fat drink, without any added sugar.