Vanilla Cardamom Walnut Muffins
Soft & fluffy vanilla cardamom walnut muffins! They’re simple to make, filled with whole grains and naturally sweetened. Warm, cozy & healthy, they’re fantastic enjoyed with a cup of hot coffee or tea. Dairy free.
When you bite into a soft & fluffy muffin and it feels like a big giant cozy hug?
Yup, that’s exactly what we have here today with these vanilla cardamom walnut muffins.
Because gosh darn it cardamom is just so so cozy! Which means that it is most excellent for winter weather baking!
They’re made with my go-to whole grain base that is packed with better-for-you ingredients, like white whole wheat flour, oat bran and plenty of raw walnuts.
They’re naturally sweetened with honey and maple syrup, and are light, fluffy and oh-so-moist. And of course filled with plenty of sweet vanilla and spicy warm cardamom.
These muffins were inspired by a vanilla cardamom donut that I tried at a local bakery. Except here’s the thing – I kinda sorta don’t really like donuts. I know, I know. But they’re just not my thing.
However … quick and easy 30 minute muffins? Absolutely my thing. And hopefully yours too.
Tips & Tricks For These Vanilla Cardamom Walnut Muffins
- Yes, there are a lot of raw walnuts packed into these muffins (2 cups to be exact!). But it is SO good this way. Plenty of crunch in each bite. You could probably cut back the amount to 1 cup if you really wanted to, but please don’t. You’ll miss out on so much goodness!
- Let’s talk about the cardamom. As written, the flavor is definitely there but not in an overwhelming sort of way. However, if you want it even more in the background, you could certainly decrease the amount. Please note that I would NOT suggest adding extra cardamom, as it is a strong spice and can quickly overpower.
- Be sure to scoop your flours into the measuring cup with a spoon and then level off. Don’t dunk the cup directly into the bag as you’ll likely use too much.
How To Store
Counter: After the muffins have cooled completely, place a layer of paper towels in the bottom of a container. Layer in the muffins, then cover and keep at room temp for about two to three days.
Freezer: Alternatively, these muffins freeze beautifully. Once completely cool, place in a single layer in a freezer-safe plastic baggie or container and pop in the freezer. Then just thaw and warm up before enjoying.
Additional Muffin Recipes You Might Enjoy!
- Banana Carrot Muffins
- Healthy Pistachio Muffins
- Healthy Pumpkin Gingerbread Muffins
- Whole Grain Morning Glory Muffins
- Orange Olive Oil Muffins
- Harvest Sweet Potato Muffins
- Or, check out all our muffin recipes here!
Did you make this recipe? Rate and review it down below! I’d love to hear from you.
Vanilla Cardamom Walnut Muffins
Soft & fluffy vanilla cardamom walnut muffins! They’re simple to make, filled with whole grains and naturally sweetened. Warm, cozy & healthy, they’re fantastic enjoyed with a cup of hot coffee or tea. Dairy free.
Ingredients
- 1 cup white whole wheat flour
- ¼ cup oat bran
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 large egg
- ⅓ cup melted coconut oil, cooled slightly*
- ⅔ cup unsweetened plain almond milk (or milk of choice)
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups chopped raw walnuts, plus extra for sprinkling on top
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Line a muffin pan with liners and set aside.
- Whisk together the white whole wheat flour, oat bran, all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt and cardamom in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, coconut oil, milk, honey, maple syrup and vanilla extract.
- Add to the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Gently fold in the walnuts.
- Divide the batter evenly in the prepared muffin tins, filling each about ⅔ to ¾ of the way full. Sprinkle the tops with additional chopped walnuts, if desired.
- Bake for about 14 to 17 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
- Let cool for about 5 minutes, then remove the muffins to a wire rack. Let cool completely or enjoy warm!
Notes
*Be sure to melt the coconut oil first and then measure out the correct amount.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 14 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 237Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 175mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 2gSugar: 9gProtein: 5g
Nutrition data shown is an estimate provided by an online calculator and is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a substitute for a medical professional’s advice.
I love muffins perfect for breakfast or snacking, these flavours sound awesome.
These do seem like the perfect wintery muffin! I tried my first cardamom baked good in Sweden last month and thought it was really interesting… not too sweet, definitely a flavor that makes you feel like it’s winter (which wasn’t hard in Sweden, where it was 25 degrees!).
These muffins are seriously holiday brunch GOALS, Ashley! I don’t bake with cardamom nearly as often as I should and I think these muffins are most definitely going on the to-do list!
We had some SNOW last days, but now it’s all gone…just freezing cold rain…no fun at all. These muffins look healthy and wonderfully delicious.
Baking during a snow storm is sooooo comforting! I absolutey love cardamom. These mufins sound so good. My bucket list is grooowing! Haha! Have a great Holiday season Ashley!
Agreed! It almost makes baking even more fun! haha I hear you – I have way too many things I want to make right now! Happy holidays to you too Kristen!!
I love your description of these muffins! I definitely want a cozy hug when I bite into these cuties. Love the cardamom in here, too. Looks perfect for breakfast, along with a cup of coffee!
haha I mean a cozy hug is always a good thing right!? Thanks Gayle!
I have cardamom in my pantry and don’t use it enough! It makes everything so cozy and the vanilla flavor sounds amazing paired with it! We have sunny skies and no snow or rain, but at least it’s cold. I need to get baking some muffins!
I always have room for muffins in my life and, first of all, how adorable are those muffin liners! : ) I totally love them. These sound so good and you really have me thinking about cardamon again. I’ve seen it and I’ve been curious about baking with it for so long now but I have to confess that I still have not. I’m not totally sure I even know what it tastes like. Living under a rock here. I bet it’s amazing. I will have to expand my horizon asap! Thanks, Ashley!
Thanks Monica!! I love them too! Unfortunately I ran out of them a few months ago and can’t remember where I got them!! haha Fail.
These look delicious! I made cardamom tea cookies once and they were so soft and had the best flavor. I am so putting these muffins on my baking list!
Thanks Melissa!! Oooo I love the sound of cardamom tea cookies!
I finally made these yesterday and they were soooo good! I only made two changes – 1) I used 1/3 c very softened (almost melted) butter instead of the coconut oil (due to allergy) and 2) I used 1c all purpose flour, 1/2c ground oatmeal, and 1/4c oatmeal (I’m not very good about keeping whole wheat flour in my house). Shared some with friends and they had rave reviews! Definitely printing the recipe to bake again. Thank you so much for sharing!
Yes! I’m so happy to hear it Melissa! And thanks so much for sharing your changes – always good to know! 🙂 Hope you had a great holiday season!!
i looove cardamom! definitely trying these muffins.
Yes! I am obsessed with cardamom and think it’s absolutely perfect for winter baking. These muffins look so fluffy and sound delicious. I’m going to pretend it’s snowing with you and get to baking! 😉
It really is! It’s so warm and cozy!
I love the taste and smell of cardamon, but I tend to forget to use it in baking! These cardamon muffins look so delicious and I’ll bet the smell is amazing while they are cooking!