Healthy Citrus-Scented Almond Muffins Recipe

Oh my gosh!  I normally wouldn't bother, but this has to be the best healthy muffin I ever had.  Believe me.  I have been trying a lot of healthy muffin recipes.  I'm an expert.  XD  This is definitely my new favorite and it's healthy to boot.  The top was nice and crunchy and inside wasn't overly moist with a good consistency.  The zest really added an extra flavor and the sweetness was just right.  This recipe can easily be made gluten-free with a few modifications.  This recipe was modified slightly from its original recipe since I didn't have everything on hand.  

Healthy Citrus-Scented Almond Muffins
Makes 10-12 muffins

Wet Ingredients:
1.5 tbsp ground flax meal*
1 cup soy milk
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
3 tbsp canola oil**

Dry Ingredients:
1.5 cups + 2 tbsp buckwheat flour***
2/3 cups almond meal*
1/2 cup Sucanat (or any unrefined sugar)
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp lemon zest
1 tsp orange zest
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375C.
2. Prepare the wet ingredients first.  Mixed well.  The flax meal does not really go in.  (Not sure why it's in the wet ingredients.)  Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients.  Stir well, making sure there are no lumps.  
4. Add the wet mixture to the dry and fold until well combined.
5. If you are using liners, pour the mixture into each one.  If you are using a tin, spray a little olive oil spray before adding the mixture.
6. Bake for 20 minutes or until it passes the clean toothpick test.
7. Remove from the oven, let it cool before removing from the tin.

*I found the flax meal and almond meal at Trader's Joe.  I LOVE this grocery store.
**I didn't have olive oil.  ;_;  I used what I had and that was canola oil.  You should be able to use whatever oil you preferred.  If you like coconut, might I recommend coconut oil?  But then, it would overpower the orange and lemon zests.  You know, you can make a coconut version and instead of zest, you can add shredded coconut in its place.  Hmm . . . .
***The original recipe called for barley flour.  I have never seen it at my local Wegmans.  But I had Buckwheat flour.  I used the same ratio and worked like a beaut.  I know some people say there is a taste, but I never noticed it.  Buckwheat is gluten-free.  So, it's not a bad replacement.

Source: The original recipe came from Let Them Eat Vegan!