Vegan Lemon Zucchini Muffins

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Vegan Lemon Zucchini Muffins- made with wholesome gluten-free flours, shredded zucchini and fresh lemon zest, these muffins are bursting with flavor and nutrition! 

Vegan Lemon Zucchini Muffins- made with wholesome gluten-free flours, shredded zucchini and fresh lemon zest, these muffins are bursting with flavor and nutrition! (oil-free)

The zucchini kick continues! You guys always love when I share zucchini recipes so I figure I better keep them coming.

Rather than your typical chocolate chip zucchini muffins, this version offers a more unique combination with the brightness of fresh lemon zest. I’m a huge fan of lemon in my baked goods because it does such a great job balancing out the sweetness and it happens to pair especially well with zucchini in these vegan muffins.

Vegan Lemon Zucchini Muffins- made with wholesome gluten-free flours, shredded zucchini and fresh lemon zest, these muffins are bursting with flavor and nutrition! 

Vegan Lemon Zucchini Muffins Ingredients

  • Ground Flax or Chia Seed- To keep these muffins vegan, we’ll need to make a flax or chia egg by combining 1 tablespoons ground flax/chia seed with 3 tablespoons water. This helps bind the muffins and adds moisture.
  • Oat Flour- Oat and almond flour is my go-to combination for gluten-free goods. I like using oat flour because it’s easy to find (or make yourself) and is packed with nutrition. If you can’t have oats, brown or white rice flour will also work.
  • Almond Flour- One of the reasons I always incorporate almond flour is because I find that it helps lighten up the texture when I’m using whole grain and gluten-free flours. It also adds moisture to the recipe which is unique for flour so unfortunately this one can’t be easily substituted without making other changes to the amounts of liquid, etc.
  • Coconut Sugar- I prefer to use coconut sugar because I enjoy the flavor and like that it’s less processed than refined sugar. However, you can easily sub brown sugar in it’s place if you prefer.
  • Baking Powder and Baking Soda- Both are necessary for proper leavening so please don’t leave either out!
  • Ground Cinnamon- Just a touch for a hint of depth. Totally optional but recommended.
  • Non-Dairy Milk- My favorite is oat milk but I’ve tested them almond milk and still had good results.
  • Lemon Juice and Zest- The lemon zest contributes most of the lemon flavor while the lemon juice reacts with the leavening to help the muffins rise. If you’re not into lemon then simply leave out the zest and replace the lemon juice with apple cider vinegar.
  • Unsweetened Apple Sauce- Apple sauce is necessary both to keep these vegan and oil-free.
  • Tahini- Using a very runny tahini provides enough moisture to replace oil in the muffins. However, if you’re not opposed to oil you can easily sub in equal amounts. Just make sure to use a neutral flavored oil so that it doesn’t effect the flavor too much.
  • Shredded Zucchini- I use a cheese grater to shred my zucchini then squeeze it dry with my hands or a tea towel. This step is important to help prevent mushy muffins so don’t skip it!

Vegan Lemon Zucchini Muffins- made with wholesome gluten-free flours, shredded zucchini and fresh lemon zest, these muffins are bursting with flavor and nutrition! 

Vegan Lemon Zucchini Muffins- made with wholesome gluten-free flours, shredded zucchini and fresh lemon zest, these muffins are bursting with flavor and nutrition! 

If you’re looking for a muffin that’s both vegan and gluten-free but still made with nutritious flours and ingredients, I’m pretty certain you will love these!

Looking for more vegan and gluten-free muffins? Check these out:

Vegan Lemon Zucchini Muffins- made with wholesome gluten-free flours, shredded zucchini and fresh lemon zest, these muffins are bursting with flavor and nutrition!  (gluten-free)

Print Recipe
5 from 3 votes

Vegan Lemon Zucchini Muffins

Made with wholesome gluten-free flours, shredded zucchini and fresh lemon zest, these muffins are bursting with flavor and nutrition! 
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Servings: 12 muffins

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric
  • 1 tablespoon ground flax or chia, combined with 3 tablespoons water
  • 2 cups oat flour, certified gluten-free for allergies
  • 1/2 cup almond flour
  • 1/2 cup coconut sugar
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ fine sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup dairy-free milk
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons tahini, tahini should be drippy for best results. Can also use melted coconut oil.
  • 1 cup shredded zucchini, squeezed dry

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F then lightly grease or line a muffin tin for 12 muffins.
  • Combine ground flax or chia with water in a small bowl then set aside to thicken.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the oat flour, almond flour, coconut sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
  • In a large measuring cup or medium bowl, add the almond milk and lemon juice. Stir to combine. Add the applesauce, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and tahini. Whisk until smooth.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry. Add the shredded zucchini and flax egg then stir everything together until evenly combined.
  • Fill each muffin tin 3/4 of the way full with batter. Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes, until light golden brown around the edges. Allow to cool for at least 20 minutes before serving. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 134kcal, Carbohydrates: 22g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 70mg, Potassium: 189mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 59IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 55mg, Iron: 1mg
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Did you try this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out by leaving a comment below or sharing a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #makingthymeforhealth. I love hearing your feedback!
by Sarah on August 14, 2019  //  Breakfast, Muffins, Recipes
16 Comments »