Gluten Free/vegan banana muffins

So life has been totally insane around here...hmm I guess that's not really surprising since this blog is Living Life on the Funny Farm. Gram has had a rough week or two, which if you have dealt with anyone with dementia you will totally understand. I had been around Alzheimer's and Dementia on occasion before moving Gram in, but I really had no grasp of what family members that are caregivers go through. By the time I get the kids and her too bed at night it's all I can do to change into my pj's and crawl into bed before sliding into unconsciousness.
But anyway life moves on and when stressed we need comfort in the form of yummy food. Well with the poor oldest monkey now having to eliminate wheat, my baking has had to change some. So from my heart and kitchen to yours banana muffins that lose the allergens but none of the yummy yummy goodness!

We start by mashing up a couple of bananas and throwing in 1/2 cup of applesauce. 

 Then a tsp of vanilla because vanilla makes so many things tasty. I prefer actual vanilla to imitation, but really either one works. Add the sugars and all is happy in mashed banana land.

A neighbor gave me some Bob's Red Mill baking flour so I used that, but I have to say I like mine better. It worked so if you want to use it you can, but I will include my baking mix recipe on here and if you are able, I would suggest using it. It's also very easily customizable (is that a word? I'm not really sure, but it sounds cool, so I'm gonna roll with it) to your own needs. I need a new sifter so I just throw the salt and stuff in with the flour and fluff it with a fork. I know chefs everywhere are shaking there heads in disgust, but I'm broke so unless you want to send me a new sifter deal with the way I make things work. 

So after mixing it all, I truly HATE cleaning muffin pans so I always use liners. It just makes life sooooooooo! much easier. Plus you can throw them in the compost bin, which means it's a win win. And because I'm me and I constantly sing to myself while putting in the liners I have to sing the Muffin Man You totally have to check out this video because I so look like this little girl while I'm singing and putting the liners in. Yes my kids have accepted their mom is totally NUTSO! And now I'm singing I'm a nut. Yes I know focus, banana muffins, focus...... sigh you are seeing a small glimpse into my world and if you are still reading not running scared, kudos to you my friend, kudos to you. Do people even say kudos anymore?

Ok moving on bake 25 min, and Voila, aren't they beautiful? Of course I kill the vegan thing that is necessary for baby monkey when I slather mine in butter. I only make 12 of the GF so that they are full and pretty looking. 

So on to the recipe yes I finally got there and yes this really is how my brain works, it is such a wonder I ever get anything done. 

Best ever Free of everything Banana Muffins

2 medium very very ripe bananas

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar ( I prefer raw)

1/2 cup applesauce (can add a third banana in place of this)

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups GF flour blend

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

and of course 1/2- 1 cup chopped nuts are optional as with the regular flour ones

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mash bananas really well with fork, mix in applesauce, sugar and vanilla. Sift (if you have a sifter otherwise fluff well with fork) together dry ingredients. Stir in gradually. Poor mixture into 12 lined muffin cups. Fill about 3/4 full divide it evenly between the 12. Bake for 25-30 min until toothpick inserted into middle of middle muffin comes out clean. Let cool on cooling rack for about 5 min then remove from muffin pan and enjoy warm or let cool completely. Just the smell alone is comfort at it's finest in my opinion. 

GF flour blend

2 cups combo of primary GF flours*

2/3 cup Tapioca Flour

1/3 cup Potato Starch

1tsp Xanthem Gum

Mix well. I put them all in a jar attach the lid and shake like crazy then measure out what I need for the recipe. 

*options that I use most

top for these muffins is 1 1/2 cup Oat Flour and 1/2 cup Coconut Flour

others are as follows:

1 cup almond and 1 cup coconut

1 1/2 cup Oat and 1/2 cup sorghum

1/2 cup almond, 1/2 cup coconut, 1/2 cup oat, 1/2 cup sorghum

1 cup oat, 1/2 cup garbanzo bean, 1/2 cup sorghum

Use whatever works best for your dietary needs. I have never used rice flour. Due to Oldest Monkey's very severe rice allergy I would never have it in the house at all. I'm sure you could substitute it in a blend, though I couldn't say how much to make it taste right. All theses blends as the two cups of primary flour are tried and proven in my recipes. My mom also successfully just uses 2 cups of oat flour. I prefer a blend myself. 

As a bonus, here is a picture of the muffins I made using a third banana in place of the applesauce. They weren't as pretty but they did taste really good still.

Enjoy my friends, and as always please do no claim this recipe as your own or try to sell it. Feel free to use an image to link back to this post and share away on Pinterest, Facebook, or wherever. You can sell muffins made using this recipe as long as you do not claim the recipe as your own. God bless and enjoy. 

 In honor of my son's birthday which is in 8 hours I leave you with one more song. This is his favorite and I must admit one I actually am entertained no matter how many times I watch; The Duck Song, if you haven't seen it before you must watch it is a lot of fun :)