(Gluten Free) Spice Muffins

A good gluten-free muffin is a thing of beauty, and these spice muffins are no exception. Forget gummy or dry muffins. These are tender, warmly spiced, and kissed with cardamom, one of my favorite spices, with a deep, nutty flavor from brown butter.

A simple blend of almond flour and oat flour gives these muffins a lovely balance of delicacy and heartiness. The base is easy to adapt, too. Try different spices, fold in a cup of blueberries or raspberries, or add chopped nuts.

For a fall-inspired variation, use homemade pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice in place of the individual spices. A drizzle of maple glaze makes them extra cozy These muffins are lovely at any time of day and especially with a second cup of coffee mid-morning.

Why You'll Love This Spice Muffins Recipe

• Flavor. These muffins are loaded with flavor from the mix of spices. Browning butter is also great way to bring a caramelized, almost nutty note to baked goods.
• Simple gluten-free flour blend. Just two naturally gluten-free flours are needed for these muffins, my forever-favorites oat and almond flour. Together they create a sturdy and tender muffin that is undetectably gluten-free. See the substitution options lower down if you need to make adjustments.
• Versatile. As mentioned, you can use this muffin recipe as a base for other flavors of muffins. I love adding fresh or frozen raspberries and mini chocolate chips are divine, too.

Recipe Ingredients

Here's everything needed to make spice muffins. Make sure to scroll to the recipe card at the end of this post for the full ingredient amounts and instructionts.

• Butter - I like unsalted butter here, though I have made this with salted butter which brings a nice little undertone of sweet-salty.
• Eggs - Use large or medium eggs.
• Milk - Your choice of milk here, though I prefer whole milk. Oat milk is also a nice substitute for a dairy-free option.
• Oat flour - Buy a package of oat flour, certified gluten-free if needed, or learn how to make your own oat flour at home. Substitute brown rice flour if you don't eat oats.
• Almond flour - Use fine-ground almond flour for the best texture.
• Granulated sugar - Or swap light brown sugar for a more caramel note.
• Baking powder
• Spices - A mix of ground cardamom, ginger, and nutmeg.
• Salt - Use fine sea salt or table salt.=

Spice Muffins Variations

• Add nuts - Chopped walnuts or pecans will add a lovely bit of crunch.
• Fresh ginger - Shredded fresh ginger - try 1 tablespoon - or chopped crystallized ginger will add a little spicy flavor.
• Chocolate - I love adding chocolate chips here, either mini or regular semisweet chocolate chips!

Tips for the Best Spice Muffins

• Brown the butter carefully. Keep an eye on the butter as it melts and browns, stirring often. It should smell nutty and have golden-brown flecks on the bottom of the pan. Let it cool slightly before adding the eggs and milk.
• Measure the flours carefully. For the best results, use a kitchen scale or spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off.
• Use a flour blend. As noted, you can use your choice of whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour to make these non gluten-free, or you can use a gluten-free 1:1 baking blend by weight for the flours. I like using my homemade gluten free flour blend!
• Make them dairy-free. Use non-dairy butter or melted coconut oil or vegetable oil for the butter (don't worry about the browning factor, they will still taste delicious). Use non-dairy milk for the milk.
• Try different spices. Swap the individual spices for store-bought homemade pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice for an easy seasonal variation. You will use 2 ½ teaspoons of a spice blend instead of the combination of spices detailed in the recipe card.