What does a baker do on her day off? Why bake healthy goodies of course!
Yesterday, a lovely reader named Mary emailed me and asked me how I would make this pumpkin cookie recipe healthier. I offered her several suggestions and then of course I was just chomping at the bit to try them out to see if they actually worked! I always have this sense of dread when I picture a reader following my advice and then having this horrible disaster and a baking day gone bad. I knew I had to test this out to be able to sleep at night! ;)
Into the kitchen I went on this glorious fall day!
Recipe: Pumpkin Chia Spelt Scuffins
By:
What is a scuffin, you ask? Why it is a muffin + a scone! 
I tried explaining this to Eric and he said, ‘What’s a scone?’ 
15 min
17 min
32 min
17 3″ large scuffins
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups whole grain spelt flour
- 1 tsp baking powder (I use aluminum-free)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves (I skipped this as I didn’t have any)
- 1/2 tsp fine grain sea salt
- 1/2 cup Earth Balance vegan buttery spread (Or use non-hydrogenated margarine)
- 1/4 cup agave nectar (you might be able to use maple syrup)
- 1/2 cup organic cane sugar (or regular sugar)
- 1 cup canned or fresh pumpkin
- 1 flax egg (1 T ground flax + 3 T warm water, mixed)
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Whisk flax egg in a small bowl and set aside.
- In a medium sized bowl, combine the dry ingredients (spelt, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves). Set aside.
- In a different bowl mix the butter, sugar and agave until smooth. I melted my butter a bit in the microwave for 15 seconds first as I find the Earth Balance is easier to work with when melted slightly.
- Now add pumpkin, flax egg, and vanilla. Beat well.
- Carefully mix in dry ingredients being sure not to over mix. Spelt is broken down very quickly when mixed and you can end up with a tough batter if you over mix it. But relax it will turn out regardless! The batter will be very moist and sticky, but don’t worry.
- Drop the batter onto the baking sheet. I wet my fingers to slightly shape the scuffins. Pop a stick in the end if preferred to have your scuffin on a stick! I got my sticks at Bulk Barn.
- Sprinkle with chia seeds for a spooky, yet nutritious, effect for Halloween! You can also have fun decorating little pumpkin faces on them (great for kids!).
- Bake for 17 minutes or until the scuffins slightly bounce back when touched. Handle the scuffins on a stick very carefully because they are delicate. I found that I improved this by making smaller scuffins on a stick- then they weren’t as heavy!
Here is a summary of how I made these healthier:
| ORIGINAL RECIPE | Healthy vegan recipe |
| 1.5 cups sugar | 1/2 cup sugar + 1/4 cup agave nectar |
| 2.5 cups white flour | 2.5 cups whole grain spelt flour |
| 1 egg | 1 flax egg |
| 1/2 cup butter | 1/2 cup vegan, non-hydrogenated butter |
| Icing glaze | Chia seeds |
They are now vegan, low-fat, and filled with protein packed whole grain spelt flour. Not too shabby!
There is no doubt about it, chia seeds look like bugs and are perfect for Halloween cookies!! The best part is they are tasteless so you can sneak them on or into cookie batter and your kids (or husband) won’t mind. ;)
They also have an amazing nutritional profile! For 1 large 3″ scuffin:
They are very low in sugar yet still so satisfying.
What do they taste like??
I fell in love. I never expected these to turn out so delicious! The combination of the sugar and agave was perfect. These are not overly sweet, but just right. They are fluffy, light, and filled with pumpkin flavour. The kitchen smells absolutely out of this world too.
I spread mine with a bit of vegan butter and they were heavenly as a breakfast. Eric loved them too and he ‘hates’ pumpkin (I wonder how long he is going to keep saying that? lol).
I can’t imagine a better or healthier Halloween treat!
Off to rake leaves! :D
Ohh, love how these look! They sound so delicious! You’re right chia seeds do look like teeny little bugs…perfect for this time of year!! haha Kids would love that this time of year. Love the fact that they are on sticks, too.
Ange they look delicious! I love the ‘pop.’
SCRRRRUMPTIOUS!! And I love the smiley face :)
Those scuffins sound increible! Next time I have pumpkin and want to bake something, I’m pulling up this recipe! Thanks Angela! oh, and about your kitty-cat post yesterday… hilarious and SO CUTE! Your cat is ADORABLE! What kind of cat is Sketchie and where do I get myself one?! (:
I think I drooled a little when I saw that picture! I will absolutely be making these! Thank you for the recipe!
Ange,
I know I said this already but… YOU ROCK!!! Thanks again for ‘healthifying’ this recipe :D I can’t wait to make them today!
-Mary
Those look good! You always know how to make me hungry :) haha. I’m so bad at figuring out ways to make things healthier so I’m so glad that you posted a healthier recipe. I don’t understand how anyone can not like pumpkin. It is so tasty!
p.s.-I just made my own blog and I cannot figure out how to add you to my blogroll :( any help?
Thank you Angela they look great!!
In the words of VeggieGirl: HOLY YUM.
I am once again so impressed by your baking skills Angela! You truly know how to make the healthiest, yummiest treats. LOVE the sound of these Scuffins. :)
xxoo
Heather
They look so good Angela! :) And that smiley one is cute :P
Those are SO cute! I can not get enough pumpkin this year. I made an amazing pumpkin almond butter shortbread last week that I am going to replicate in bulk for this week!
http://wp.me/pxu6s-tr
Haha, scuffins are a great invention! Nicely done in making them healthier. You are really good at that ;)
Wow, they really look tasty and cute :)
Awwww those are adorable! After going vegan I vowed to never again eat anything that had a face, but I will make an exception for these cuties! I LOVE pumpkin, it is the best thing to bake with. I can’t wait to try these!
Totally going to try these! They are sooo cute!
xoxoxoox
How cute and looks really good!
Those scuffins look so fun and yummy. I laughed when I read that Eric asked, “What’s a scone?” Totally something my husband would say.
Oh Wow Angela, these look amazing!! great job and nice picture. YUM
Your scuffins are adorable! :) And they look so delicious (ON A STICK!) Does that happen to be a Jeff Dunham reference at all?
you dont mean Jose Jalapeno do you?? haha. I love it.