Cooking for Wellness at NYU Langone Health: Healthy and Nutritious Carrot Apple Muffins [Video]

February is heart health month, and in this edition of Cooking for Wellness at NYU Langone Health, Chef Jeff Held is joined by Dr. Shaline D. Rao, chief of Medicine and director of heart failure services for NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island. Together, they prepare delicious carrot apple muffins as they discuss the importance of taking steps to improve heart health through your diet.

*Healthy and Nutritious Carrot Apple Muffins*

*Ingredients:*
1 cup almond flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 ½ cups old fashioned oats
2 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon Kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 flax eggs (combine 1 tablespoon ground flax seed with 3 tablespoons water, allow to set for 10-15 minutes)
½ cup olive oil
Zest of 1 lemon
½ cup maple syrup
½ cup Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
1 cup carrots, grated
1 cup granny smith apple, grated
½ cup toasted pecans, chopped
Plain honey, whipped with a hand mixer or stand mixer

*Instructions:*
To a bowl add almond flour, whole wheat flour, oats, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda, mixing thoroughly. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, whisk together flax eggs, olive oil, and syrup.

Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients and combine with a rubber spatula, being careful not to over mix. Gently fold in the carrots, apples, dates, nuts, and zest.

Allow the batter to rest, refrigerated, for several hours or overnight.

Once batter has rested, preheat oven to 350°F.

Place paper muffin liners into a muffin pan and brush the inside of each liner with olive oil. Fill each liner approximately ¾ of the way with batter.

7. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Once a toothpick inserted into muffin comes away clean, remove tray from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.

Brush finished muffins with whipped honey and enjoy.