Banana Spice Muffins

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons chia seeds + 4 tablespoons warm water*
• 1¾ cups spelt flour (or a mix of spelt and all-purpose flour)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ⅔ cup oat milk
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ⅓ cup honey or maple syrup
• ⅓ cup melted coconut oil or avocado oil
• 1 teaspoon almond extract or vanilla extract
• 1 cup mashed overripe banana (about 2 large bananas)
• ½ cup chopped walnuts or dark chocolate chunks (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease or line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
2. In a small bowl, mix the chia seeds with warm water and let sit for 5 minutes until thickened.
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the spelt flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and sea salt.
4. In a medium bowl, combine the oat milk, lemon juice, honey, melted coconut oil, and almond extract. Stir well, then add the thickened chia mixture.
5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. Fold in the mashed banana and optional walnuts or chocolate chunks.
6. Divide the batter evenly among the muffin cups using a ⅓-cup scoop.
7. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out with just a few crumbs.
8. Allow the muffins to cool in the tin for 10 to 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.