
When we moved into our house the kitchen we acquired was painted a light beige, but I was way into green [everything was green!] and so I slapped asparagus paint on the walls, loving the shock of color every time I walked into the room. I had come from years of dorm rooms and apartments that were entirely white, and I lamented at the lack of color in my life. So our house was redecorated in every room, in bright green, burgundy, and blue.

But now, this week, we are almost done painting the kitchen white; the ceiling, walls, and woodwork are all the same. Seven years into this space and the loud hues had begun to tire my eyes, make me weary. Stepping into January’s cold winter mornings, I find myself lingering at the kitchen table, soaking in the new white space, a clean slate. The walls seem to be one with the high piles outside: snow and ice and paint all blend together. I sit by the small fire there in our kitchen and stare out the window, recalling all the mornings I was young, I was a pioneer. I left new tracks in the fresh snow, undaunted by the wind or cold…

gluten-free honey coffee cacao muffins
These muffins are adapted from Roost. I only made a few changes: I used olive oil instead of ghee, and I added 1/4 cup strong, cold coffee and 1 teaspoon vanilla to the wet ingredients, and then added 2 tablespoons of cacao nibs to the dry ingredients. I also sprinkled them with a little sugar in the raw before baking.
I really, really like these muffins. They were made for a New Years Day brunch, and trumped the blueberry scones I had also made. Such a great little treat!
19 Comments
Emily Limaye
Sunday, April 6, 2014 at 7:26 pmThe link no longer works for the roost posting – do you still have the original recipe?
Sarah
Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at 10:05 amHi Emily – sorry the link didn’t work! Roost recently redid their site, and the links appear to be broken. Also, I can’t seem to find the original post. But I did find this version: http://themademoiselleinme.blogspot.com/2013/05/blood-orange-and-pistachio-muffins.html Hopefully that helps!
Christine
Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 12:41 pmI made these this morning and they were so delicious! Literally, the best grain free muffins I have made. I ended up doubling the recipe and adding the vanilla and about a cup of diced rhubarb. They were so moist and yummy…my kids devoured them as well! Thanks for the recipe…I knew if you made them that they would have to taste wonderful…it did not disappoint. Hope you guys have a wonderful summer as well.
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Cookie and Kate
Sunday, January 6, 2013 at 10:09 pmHappy new year, Sarah. Sometimes pure white light is just what we need. These muffins sound delicious.
Lana | MyHappyDessert
Saturday, January 5, 2013 at 8:16 amWhat a great recipe! I like your additions to the original recipe. Will definitely be trying this soon.
Sacha
Saturday, January 5, 2013 at 2:48 amI love what you did with this recipe. And if it’s almond flour based, it’s a win for me. It’s funny, I dream of being surrounded by white. I love green too–my cabinets are olive green, my walls are beige–but I now prefer a cleaner look, from floor to ceiling. The beige is so drab.
Happy baking in your kitchen!
vanillasugarblog
Friday, January 4, 2013 at 2:23 amyes i’ve finally started the GF recipe experimentation. and so far it’s going quite well.
the GF things that I’ve bought & tasted were awful, so I naturally assumed GF
was for tasteless.
but if you make it yourself, you can jazz it up.
so I should give these muffins a go
Liesl
Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 6:42 amThey look delicious, Sarah!
Eileen
Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 11:55 pmThese muffins look so good! I bet there’s an excellent crunch from the cacao nibs. 🙂
kankana
Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 8:44 pmThis is so funny! I just posted a cocoa and coffee bundt cake recipe 🙂 Love the flavor combination.
I too love colors, and my room back at my parents place is still colored purplish 🙂
london bakes
Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 7:42 pmPerfect sounding muffins and I’m completely in love with the photographs in this post, especially the gorgeous back lighting in that last one.
Happy new year Sarah, I love the idea of starting the year with a fresh white kitchen.
Melody
Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 7:10 pmSo delicious! Can’t wait to make these!
Stefanie @ Sarcastic Cooking
Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 5:54 pmI have to get on the white paint bandwagon. My whole house is bagel. It is so dull and makes my skin and food look yellowish. I hate it.
thelittleloaf
Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 5:13 pmI remember seeing the recipe on Roost and these look just as, if not more, delicious 🙂 Love cocoa nibs in my baking at the moment, so delicious.
Laura
Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 4:35 pmLoving your additions to Caitlin’s recipe. These sound so perfect, lovely to have with a cup of tea while you stare outside at the wondrousness of winter. It’s amazing how the bright white of the snow reflects onto white walls and bounces all over when the powder is fresh. I love the house in that cool winter glow. Happy new year to you, friend xo
SreeBindu
Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 6:53 amYummy yumm, New follower here. Visit me sometime. wishing u a gorgeous new year ahead 🙂
xx
la domestique
Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 5:31 amThe muffins look so tasty! I can just picture myself nibbling on one and looking out our window at the big tree and the squirrel scurrying around in the snow. From what I’ve seen, you’re still a pioneer. 🙂
Maiah
Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 3:08 pmWhat a cute response 🙂 They do look tasty!