I spent some time playing in the kitchen for my second ever, vegan baking experiment from Love Food Eat. I used a healthy mixture of whole-wheat flour & almond flour, along with all natural honey, and unsweetened applesauce in place of oil. After I mixed up my batter, I could not stop licking the spatula! I’m so glad there are no raw eggs in this recipe, because I probably would’ve been sick after that little taste test! I know that some strict vegans do not consider honey to truly be vegan because it is made by bees, but since it does not actually contain any animal product, I still incorporate it in some of my vegan recipes. If you do not feel that honey works into your diet, you could try an alternative like agave or maple syrup! I have not experimented with these sweet alternatives, but I would love to hear if anyone tries!
Question: Do you think that honey should be considered vegan or not?
These muffins are like a little burst of sunshine. They have a warm, mildly sweet flavor with a punch of citrus. Perfect with a cup of tea or coffee in the morning! 
Sunburst Muffins
Makes 12 muffins
1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup almond flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup finely grated carrots
3/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup honey
1/3 cup golden raisins
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp turmeric
2 Tbsp ground flaxseed + 6 tbsp water
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, combine ground flaxseed with water. Set aside and stir occasionally until it forms into a sticky/gooey texture (like an egg). In a mixing bowl, combine and mix all dry ingredients (whole-wheat flour, almond flour, oats, baking powder, salt, and turmeric). In a separate mixing bowl, combine all wet ingredients (orange juice, applesauce, honey, grated carrots) along with the golden raisins, and the flaxseed mixture. Line a muffin pan with 12 muffin/cupcake liners. Carefully pour the batter into the liners. Place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Heather @ For the Love of Kale
May 20, 2012 at 7:17 am (13 years ago)This is such a great point Catherine – one that I might re-address on the blog. I’ve been getting questions about it!
I would recommend purchasing a raw, organic honey from a reputable local and/or sustainable source. Wait, you say, the VEGAN is recommending honey? Bees often live for only 6 weeks! From birth, the bee’s objective is to make honey. In that short lifespan, they make honey whether we let them be (pun intended!) or not. In my opinion, it makes much more sense to support beekeepers that nurture their bees and to eat raw, organic honey instead of consuming processed sugars like agave nectar.
Catherine
May 20, 2012 at 8:51 am (13 years ago)Heather that is a great way explanation of why we should use honey. It is natural for Bees to make honey and I agree, it is a much better alternative to processed sugars. My sister is a total honey connoisseur and has a huge collection of honey’s from raw to cream! Thanks for your comment! It’s always a topic of discussion in vegan recipes. This would be a great post topic 🙂
P.S. Loved your Bee Pun haha
Hannah@mindrunningwild
May 21, 2012 at 3:02 am (13 years ago)I just found your blog and I love it! The formatting is so refreshing and I love the bunny graham graphic on the side- for sure one of my favourite snacks! I admire your blog and your journey is incredible and unique. Recovering from an ED I know how helpful the blogging community can be and how it can also be a problem. I love the healthy outlook your blog has and will certainly be back,
best, Hannah@mindrunningwild
Catherine
May 21, 2012 at 5:13 am (13 years ago)Hi Hannah! Thank you so much for your compliments on my blog! I studied graphic design in college, and created the logo, branding, and layout myself so I am sooo happy to hear positive feedback on it. I really appreciate your comment an and so excited that you found my blog. The blogging community is so supportive and writing and talking to others who have overcome similar issues has been so helpful and extremely motivating. I can’t wait to look at your blog! Thanks again for stopping by!
Health & Happiness xo
Anna Z
May 22, 2012 at 9:02 am (13 years ago)I can’t stop browsing through your blog! The recipes are so great. I have been vegetarian and trying to adapt a healthier diet in the last 5 months. I’m making small adjustment everyday but finding a blog like this, helps to be inspired and stick to the plan.
I just pinned this recipe on Pinterest. I cannot wait to try this out.
🙂
Catherine
May 22, 2012 at 9:16 am (13 years ago)That’s great, Anna! I try to make being vegetarian easy and fun! The trickiest part for me is getting in my protein. I try to experiment with tofu, tempeh, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, beans, chickpeas, and lentils so that I never get bored! Congratulations on sticking with your healthy goals and thank you so much for pinning my recipe! xo
Jerica
June 19, 2012 at 8:47 pm (12 years ago)Hi Catherine,
I just started reading your blog this evenig (found in pinterest…I am guessing you are hearing a lot of that). I just finished my masters degree in speech-language pathology, and along with my degree I also went from 130 to 154lbs! Stress eating has gotten the best of me. Anway, just wanted to let you know a little about me. I love your approach to weight loss, but I have a hard time with knowing where to start. Do you/could you post a list of a typical grocery list you might have for youself? (including the things you buy for baking).
Catherine
June 20, 2012 at 12:44 am (12 years ago)Hi Jerica! I have gotten so many readers from Pinterest, I love it! I have been thinking about doing a post on grocery shopping and would love to show everyone how I strategize for my shopping trips 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing your story and for reading my blog! Don’t give up! Remember that it took more than a day to gain it, and it will take more than a day to lose it. Don’t get discouraged, you are one step closer than you were yesterday 🙂 Health & Happiness xo
Whitney
July 3, 2012 at 3:37 pm (12 years ago)I consider myself a vegan, but I still eat honey! Unlike dairy products and eggs, which almost always involve horrible living conditions and unnaturally short life spans for the animals producing them, we don’t hurt bees when we get honey from them. It is more of a symbiotic relationship between bees and beekeepers, because like Heather said in her comment above, bees will produce honey no matter what, and in return beekeepers nourish and protect the bees to help them do what they do. Bees are vitally important to fertilize the crops that we vegans depend on, so supporting beekeepers by buying their honey is not something to feel guilty about, the way I would if I bought milk or eggs. On top of all that, honey is soooo good for you it is almost magical! Eat it!
I just discovered your blog, and I’m already obsessed! I lost almost 100 pounds myself from diet and exercise, and I’ve been vegan for almost 3 years now, so I love your creative and delicious-looking recipes! Can’t wait to try them!! I’m still trying to shed those last 15 or so pounds and your advice on portion control is probably exactly what I needed to hear – I eat pretty darn healthy but I think I still eat too much. Thank you for sharing your story and making this awesome blog!!
Catherine
July 3, 2012 at 5:39 pm (12 years ago)Hi Whitney!
Thank you so much for your honey info! Everyone is different, but I do love my honey 🙂
WOW 100lbs?! That is amazing! You should be so proud of yourself! Keep up the good work and keep doing what you’re doing! The last 15 tend to come off slowly, but if you stay focused and eat healthy, it will happen! Health & Happiness xo
Lauren
July 4, 2012 at 4:12 pm (12 years ago)I love agave. Its amazing. They even have honey flavored agave. Tastes just like honey!
Catherine
July 4, 2012 at 9:35 pm (12 years ago)Yummm! I need to try the honey flavored one!