Almond Flour Blueberry Muffins (Keto, Gluten Free)

Almond flour blueberry muffins are tender and sweet, bursting with juicy blueberries and topped with a cinnamon crumble. You know, the kind you'd see at your favorite bakery. Except these are healthy blueberry muffins, made with low carb, nutrient dense ingredients... A baked good that's tasty, gluten free and can be made sugar-free and keto friendly, if you wish. 

I've been fully immersed in this blueberry-muffin-making mission, determined to make a low-carb blueberry muffin with almond flour that tastes as close to the real deal as possible.

why this recipe works

You know the bakery-style blueberry muffins that look like perfection? A toasted crumb topping and a fluffy, not-too-sweet batter that carries a juicy blueberry in every bite? 

It's a requirement of any good blueberry muffin. And while almond flour baked goods have a tendency to be dense and crumbly, these are surprisingly different.

The secret? There are several elements at play. Flax seed meal and almond flour, combined with leavening from the eggs and baking powder, plus a special baking method to help create tall muffins. 

It's a baking tactic I use in my Gluten-Free Almond Flour Banana Muffins, my Keto Cinnamon Muffins and these Healthy Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins. 

The result is gluten-free, low-carb and keto blueberry muffins that are muffin goals come true.

They're not too sweet and have a light, nutty flavor. Plus, they're very filling, and make an easy, grab-on-the-go type of breakfast that freezes well too. 

These healthy almond flour blueberry muffins are: 

• gluten-free and grain-free
• low-carb and keto-friendly 
• dairy optional
• tender, but not crumbly
• filling but not too dense, as many almond flour muffins tend to be
• simple to make.

the ingredients

Want to know what I love about this almond flour blueberry muffin recipe?

It calls for minimal ingredients that you probably have in your pantry already, and it only takes about 10 minutes of prep before you can slide that full muffin pan into the oven for baking. 

Here are the main ingredients:

• superfine almond flour (not almond meal)
• granulated monk fruit sweetener (or coconut sugar if you don't need these to be keto/sugar free) 
• baking powder (preferably gluten-free and aluminum free)
• flaxseed meal
• cardamom(optional, but I love the light flavor of this spice)
• grass-fed butter or coconut oil, melted and slightly cooled 
• eggs (pasture-raised if possible)
• canned, full-fat coconut milk or sour cream
• vanilla extract
• fresh sweet blueberries (see notes for using frozen blueberries)

You'll also need a standard sized muffin tin, paper liners (I like these parchment muffin liners) and a sheet of aluminum foil, if you plan on making the muffins with the crumb topping (see the full recipe below).

the recipe

The great thing about this healthy muffin recipe is you can adapt it to fit your needs.

If you're looking for paleo blueberry muffins, use the paleo-friendly ingredients like coconut sugar and dairy substitutions like melted coconut oil and coconut milk.

If you want keto blueberry muffins, make sure to use granulated monk fruit sweetener, a sugar substitute with a zero glycemic index.

I like to use Lakanto's Golden (affiliate link) or Brown Sweetener since they have a flavor similar to brown sugar and less of the cooling aftertaste that an erythritol-blend sweetener can have. 

And if you're simply looking for a gluten-free blueberry muffin made with almond flour, coconut sugar is a healthy granular sweetener with a lower glycemic index than regular sugar. 

Here's a look at the steps for making these almond flour blueberry muffins but be sure to check out the recipe card for the full instructions and ingredient amounts. 

1. Combine all the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Whisk almond flour mixture until there are no lumps. 
2. Add wet ingredients- the butter (or melted coconut oil), large eggs, coconut milk, and vanilla. Stir the mixture until it's well combined.
3. Fold in the fresh blueberries, being careful not to crush them. 
4. Spoon the muffin batter into the muffin cups, filling them about ½ to ¾ of the way full. 
5. Gently press the crumb topping onto the tops of the muffins.
6. Bake and then cool the muffins on a wire rack at room temperature.

tips for the best results

• If you've ever baked with almond flour, you know it can be very dense. I like using flaxseed meal to help lighten up the batter. Plus, I think it gives a nice, tender texture to the muffins. Butter will do the same, but you can easily make these dairy-free by swapping the butter for the same amount of coconut oil. 

• For a prettier blueberry muffin, gently press 2-3 blueberries into the top of each muffin before baking. 

• Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature. 

• Do not substitute coconut flour for almond flour. They work very differently and will affect the end result!

• For a higher protein keto blueberry muffin, you can swap in Greek yogurt for the coconut cream. 

• A higher temperature for the first five minutes will give you a taller blueberry muffin. Baking powder is activated first by moisture, and second by heat, so blasting these muffins for five minutes at a higher temperature will help the muffins rise! Just don't forget to turn down the temperature after those first five minutes. 🙂

flavor variations

Add a dash of almond extract or a squeeze of lemon juice and lemon zest to the muffin batter to create different flavor variations. A sprinkle of cinnamon or even a little bit of chopped whole almonds stirred are also tasty add-ins!

how to make the crumb topping

The crumb topping is completely optional, but adds a nice change in texture to the top of these blueberry muffins. 

If you make it with the crumb topping:

• You'll need 1-2 teaspoons of crumb topping per muffin. Spoon it on top of the batter and gently press it into the tops of the muffin to help prevent it from falling off later.
• After about 10 minutes of bake time, lightly place a sheet of aluminum foil over the muffins to prevent the crumb topping from burning. 

And there you have it: a keto blueberry muffin recipe I know you'll love. Whether you're baking for brunch or baking with kids, this is a simple and easy keto recipe for a Saturday afternoon in.

you might also love...

• Keto Lemon Blueberry Scones are a simple baking project with a delicious sweet-tart flavor!
• Savory Whipped Cottage Cheese Dip makes healthy snacking easy and flavorful! With a zesty flavor and crunchy shallot topping, it's like a healthy onion dip meets creamy ranch dressing.
• Tuscan-style beef and vegetable soup! It's a flavorful, warm and hearty soup recipe made with a number of pantry staples.
• These Keto Egg Bites have savory smoked salmon and fresh dill with creamy feta or goat cheese crumbles. They make a delicious, high-protein breakfast that's healthy and portable!