Sugarless, Moderate-Carb Muffins that Taste Like Cake!!! (2 recipes)

Hello folks!

I'm back to work full-time and my classroom is laying in wait for 4th graders tomorrow morning. For me, that means a return to Sunday baking and casserole making for the super-busy work week. Today, I created two new recipes that are beyond decadent. I'm so tickled. I used CarbQuick for both, which my mother purchased through Amazon. As you can see, the original recipe has a 3g of carb count per muffin (lemme say hubba hubba!).

Side-note about Agave:
Now, I use Agave instead of Splenda because that's what I have on hand. If you use Splenda, you'll keep the carb-count quite low. Agave has the same carb-count as sugar, but it doesn't affect my blood sugar the roller-coaster way sugar does. For me, it's a perfect choice because it's natural (whereas Splenda is not directly from the Earth). Agave is sweeter than sugar, so you need less of it in recipes. My carb-count is not as low, but it is half of what a wheat-flour muffin would be (about 17g compared to 36g in a wheat muffin). Feel free to follow the original recipe and the variations from the box for lower-carb options.

I started with the recipe inside the CarbQuick box. The outside of the box had 7 recipes while the inside had at least 14 more! You can go to www.carbalose.com for more CarbQuick recipes. Personally, I'm going to try the Cheddar Cheese Biscuits this week.

Some time ago, I picked up this bag of powdered Agave syrup. I hadn't figured out a recipe for it yet and decided today was as good as any to play with powdered Agave sweetener.

Hazelnut Muffins

Adding an egg

Pouring 2/3 cup half and half

Ingredients 

1 egg

1/3 cup cooking oil

2 cups CarbQuick

1/4 cup Agave Syrup

2/3 cup Agave Powder

2/3 cup half and half

1 teaspoon baking power

1 tablespoon vanilla   

3 tablespoons Madhava Organic Fancy Hazelnut Coffee Syrup 

(Agave Sweetened) - also found at Amazon

And adding some baking powder

Adding in vanilla

Directions:

My helper poured in the CarbQuick and stirred an egg for me. She added in half and half, vanilla, and baking powder. I added the Agave syrup, the Fancy Hazelnut Syrup, oil, and agave powder. My helper did her best to mix everything together until it was creamy, but needed my help. 

I heated my oven to 350 and baked the 12 muffins for 17 minutes. The original CarbQuick recipe suggests between 13 and 18 minutes. 

The Hazelnut Muffins
(before being pilfered)
I seriously think this would be an awesome cake mix.

While this batch was baking, I started making up the next batch.

I Can't Believe It's Not Actual Chocolate Cake (as Muffins)

You got the love the mess!!

Oh my heavens! These taste like the dreamiest chocolate cake I haven't had in years. You won't miss sugar eating these!!

Ingredients
1 egg
1/3 cup cooking oil
2 cups CarbQuick
1/4 cup Agave Syrup
2/3 cup Agave Powder
2/3 cup half and half

Secret Ingredient: Coffee Syrup made with Agave
(there are other flavors if you're interested)

1 teaspoon baking power
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 tablespoons Madhava Organic Fancy Hazelnut Coffee Syrup (Agave Sweetened) - also found at Amazon
1/2 cup unsweetened chocolate chips
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips

Directions:
Again, my helper assisted me in combing the 2 cups of CarbQuick, a mixed up egg, half and half, baking powder, chocolate chips (both kinds) and vanilla. My eldest daughter came through and added the cocoa and then was on her way before I could snap a picture. I helped finish mixing the ingredients to make it smooth and creamy. We then baked it in a muffin tin at 350 degrees for 17 minutes.

I believe the term is "busted."

I already had to hide the muffins so my husband has half a chance at taste-testing them. I kept hearing feet in the kitchen nearby as I was typing this up. I can tell whose tread is whose and called out to one child, "The limit is two." The response was, "Aw, man, I just had two." I knew it was time to store the muffins safely away from sticky fingers. It was an easy baking job, but that doesn't mean I want to do it again today!

The Completed Project