Low Carb Cinnamon Walnut Power Muffins

This is a tasty, high-protein, anytime snack that will stick with you. The muffins are fiber-rich (2.5 grams per muffin). These large (2.5 ounces) muffins each have 5.5 grams of carb and 10.7 grams of protein.

PREPARATION TIME: 15 to 20 minutes.

BAKING TIME: 20 to 25 minutes.

SERVING SIZE: one muffin.

AMOUNT PER SERVING: 5.8 grams of carb, 10.6 grams of protein.

NUMBER OF SERVINGS: 12.

	Ingredients	CHO (g)	PRO (g)	Buy here
12	ounces cream cheese, soft	9.6	25.2
5	eggs	3.0	30.0
15	packets Splenda sugar substitute	15.0	0	Buy here
2	teaspoons vanilla	1.0	0	Buy here
11⁄2	cups whole almond meal	18.0	36.0	Buy here
1	cup unprocessed wheat bran	12.0	8.0	Buy here
1	teaspoon baking powder	1.2	0	Buy here
2	teaspoons ground cinnamon	1.4	0	Buy here
1	cup chopped walnuts	8.0	27.6	Buy here
	Total	69.2	126.8

Preheat oven to 325˚F. Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin pan (heavy- gauge metal is best). You can also use muffin liners.

Put cream cheese and two eggs in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat with a flat beater until smooth and fluffy. Add the other eggs, one at a time, beating briefly after each. On slow speed, stir in the rest of the ingredients except the walnuts. When mixture is well blended, stir in the walnuts.

Fill the muffin pans almost to the top. (The muffins will rise only slightly.) Bake muffins for about 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. These muffins freeze well. Thaw at room temperature.

Variation: Cranberry Power Muffins

Follow the Cinnamon Walnut Power Muffin recipe (above), but omit cinnamon and walnuts. Add 1 cup whole or coarsely chopped (fresh or frozen) cranberries to the batter. Fold berries in last. A cranberry muffin has 4.8 grams of carb and 8.5 grams of protein.

Variation: Blueberry Power Muffins

Follow the Cinnamon Walnut Power Muffin recipe (above), but omit cinnamon and walnuts. Add 1 cup whole blueberries (fresh or frozen) and 2 teaspoons grated lemon peel. A blueberry muffin has 5.6 grams of carb and 8.5 grams of protein.