Today for our March Muffin Madness event I have the pleasure of sharing a brilliant gluten-free muffin recipe from Alea Milham of Premeditated Leftovers. Alea’s gluten-free Lemon Chia Seed Muffins are not only gluten free and nut free, but there’s also a dairy-free option.
Alea is the author of Prep-Ahead Meals From Scratch: Quick & Easy Batch Cooking Techniques and Recipes That Save You Time and Money.
When Alea was diagnosed with celiac disease, she chose to just eat naturally gluten-free foods. And she was fine with that lifestyle. However, once she discovered that her kids had to give up gluten she started developing recipes for gluten-free baked goods so that they could still enjoy all their favorite desserts.
You can usually find Alea sharing tips for saving money on her blog, Premeditated Leftovers. While Alea shares that a gluten-free diet can be more expensive, she saves money by growing her own vegetables and cooking from scratch as much as possible.
Enjoy today’s recipe in our series and see the whole line-up of bloggers, blogs, and muffin recipes on gfe here.
And now I’ll turn the floor over to Alea, so she can tell you more about her Lemon Chia Seed Muffins!
There is nothing quite like citrus to brighten even the dreariest of winter days. Just the scent of the lemons as I juice them gives me a little boost! I served the lemon chia seed muffins to my kids on a dreary, overcast day and my youngest son said they tasted like sunshine. Which is a good thing, because I think it will be a while be for we see the sun again.
I started replacing poppy seeds with chia seeds in recipes once I learned about the health benefits of chia seeds. In addition to being a great source of Omega 3s, chia seeds are also a lot less expensive than poppy seeds. Since gluten-free flours are more expensive, I am always looking for a way to save money on my other baking ingredients.
Gluten-Free Lemon Chia Seed Muffins Recipe
Gluten-Free Lemon Chia Seed Muffins
These Gluten-Free Lemon Chia Seed Muffins from Alea Milham beat out lemon poppy seed muffins for taste, cost, and nutrition!
Ingredients
- 2 cups rice flour (either white rice flour] or [brown rice flour)
- 1 cup tapioca flour
- 1/2 cup potato starch
- 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 2 lemons, zested and juiced
- 1 cup milk (use almond milk] or [rice milk to make this dairy-free)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup chia seeds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease or line muffin tins.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the rice flour, tapioca flour, potato starch, baking powder, guar gum, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, blend the lemon zest, lemon juice, milk, oil, and egg. Add the granulated and brown sugar.
- Add the liquid mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just moist.
- Add the chia seeds and mix until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Fill pre-greased (or lined) muffin cups 3/4 full with batter.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Notes
Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 25 minutes Serves: 24
Originally published March 2, 2014; updated June 20 2023.
Johnna says
This is brilliant! Using chia seeds instead of poppy seeds makes so much sense. Love it!
Kathryn says
Looks delicious – what a brilliant use of chia seeds.
Janelle says
I love lemon so I am anxious to give these a try. I never thought of substituting chia seeds for poppy!
BJMarley says
I want to try these. My husband won’t eat things with poppy seeds because he doesn’t want to jeopardize work-related drug testing. Chia seeds should be safe.
Terisa says
Oh I miss lemon muffins and the addition of chai seeds is brilliant. I need to get everything so I can make these soon.
Jessica Holmes says
Those sound so yummy! Might have to try soon!
Heather says
Ooh these sound delicious AND I already have most of the ingredients! I might make these tomorrow for Kitchen Day!!
Sarah says
GREAT idea. Love the chia add in.
Sharon says
I never make anything with poppy seeds because I never have them on hand but I always have chia seeds. What a great idea! Will try these for sure!!
Cindy says
chia seeds! never thought of that, can’t wait to try these
Bev says
Love the idea of chia seeds instead of poppy seeds.
Tiffany says
I’ve eaten chia seeds regularly (in almond milk which is my favorite milk product). Never thought to put them in a muffin. Seems most of these gluten free maidens have superior ideas. Even tho this recipe makes 24, I’ll half it and make 12 (only 2 people here). Also thinking of using a GF premix. By the way, this is a great website.
Chrystal in Canada says
Mmmmm…lemon muffins! Do you think that a mix of sorghum and rice flour will work? I’m a bit short on rice at the moment, and these sound great!
Also, what a great contest too.
Laura says
I think you could substitute sorghum for some of the rice flour. They might be a little darker and heartier. The one to be careful of when subbing is coconut flour (I have found) because it absorbs a lot of moisture
Alea says
Yes, you can replace up to half of the rice flour with sorghum flour.
Ruby Lin says
i got some lemon in my yard. Perfect for this recipe.
Jacqui says
these look so good! Never would have thought about chia seeds instead of poppy.. brilliant!
Heather says
I just made these today. The outsides are perfect, but the insides are more “gummy” (but cooked through) & less “muffin like”. The flavor is amazing though! I haven’t had lemon anything in years & these are tasty!
Susan says
These sound wonderful! I think this will be my afternoon to-do!
julie says
I have never had lemon muffins before but these look yummy
Janis S says
love the use of chia seeds. this is on my list to make!
Lori says
So glad I found you on GF Wednesday! This is a fabulous idea that I’m pinning…Thanks so much for sharing…Aloha, Lori
Laureen says
Wow! All I need is chia seeds and I can make these! It’s nice to find a recipe using thing I actually have in the house!
Amanda (amethystjean) says
I love lemon poppy seed muffins, so I am excited to try this version with chia seeds.
Janet G says
Okay so these have become a favourite, time to hit the exercise machine a little harder 😉
Bri says
I’m looking forward to trying chia seeds1
Lindsay Ham says
I was just telling my husband how I wanted to bake something Lemony! These sound delightful! I’ll have to tweak for Paleo reasons, but we’ll see how it goes! 🙂
Sarah says
I love everything lemon flavored, looks great!
Stacy says
I can’t wait to try this recipe. They look great. I love chia seeds too.
Sheila S says
Love the idea of using chia in place of poppy seeds!
Lorri T says
Oh these look delicious!
Kristen says
Cool idea to use chia seeds!
Tessa@tessadomesticdiva says
Funny Alea, I often use chia seeds too! Great minds think alike. (;
Karen says
I wonder if I could do this with my paleo lemon muffins……gonna try it!! Love the creativity and the new idea. Thanks!
Linda S says
Can’t wait to try these!
Emily says
What a great idea to use chia seeds instead of poppy seeds!
mysweetiepiepie says
I love lemon muffins and these look so yummy.
Venessa F. says
I like the chia idea, I never have poppy seeds in my pantry. Thanks!
Susan says
These are great! My husband-who isn’t gluten free and not very enthusiastic about gf foods-thought these were “real” muffins! These are definitely a keeper for the gf recipe file-thank you!
insiya says
They sure would taste like sunshine!
Carina says
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I’m always on the lookout for recipes using lemons!
wendy brazeau says
such a smart idea to use chia seeds instead of poppy seeds..
Elise Braverman-Plotkin says
Sounds like lemony goodness to me!
Karen H. says
Looks yummy! I have yet to try Chia seeds. I will be making these with my kids during Spring Break!!
Becca says
I love lemon and the chia seed muffins idea. Will be making these soon!
A. says
These look very yummy. Could instant potato flakes or cornstarch be substituted for the potato starch? Thank you.
Lynn Slabaugh Grate says
I may try substitute a rice flour blend baking mix (with xanthan gum in it) for the flours in this recipe. I’ll let you know how it turns out. – I have to buy lemons first. All I have a limes.
Laura O| Petite Allergy Treats says
Hi Alea,
Chia seeds are an nutritional powder house. These muffins look awesome!
Thanks for sharing,
Laura O |Petite Allergy Treats
Nichole says
Oooh, these look delicious! I’m going to try these today. Could be a little tricky since my oven is currently on the fritz (runaway temp issue) but the baking adventure will make them all the more wonderful to have. 🙂
Mary says
Thanks for bringing one of my favorite muffins to “life” by adding the healthy chia seed. Excited to share this recipe with my friends at our breakfast meeting. Love it when I can wow them with GF and make them jealous that they aren’t!! Hahaha!
Heather says
I love chia seeds, and muffins are an excuse for me to have cake and call it healthy, so this is next up on my must-try list!
clarissa west says
Sounds good!
Andrea Padgett says
I have chia seeds on my list already and LOVE the idea of using them verses poppy seeds… And what can be better than lemon!?!
Teufelchen says
I really need to modify them, as they look so delicious, but rice is nono for me.
Julia says
I want to try these lemon muffins! I’ve been craving citrus all winter long! Do you think that ground chia seeds would work? That’s what I have on hand.
Laurel says
Chchchchia – never too many excuses and paired with a lemon muffin? Ah, you know me much too well. 🙂
Mary Tokar says
They look delicious!
Susan says
This looks like an exciting recipe because of the chia! I discovered chia about 2 years ago, but only started using it last year in recipes. I love all the benefits chia offers.
patricia says
I love the idea of adding in the chia seed. So much more nutrition added in.
Christa says
This looks amazing. I’ve heard you can also use chia to substitute for eggs for those with egg allergies. will have to try!
Marcie says
These sound yummy. Need to buy some eggs!
Lisa Rago says
I have been wanting to try chia seeds. I use a lot of flax to help with my diabetes. I heard chia was better. Now I have a reason to try.
Katie says
Yum! My mom always made us the most delicious lemon poppy seed loaf growing up and I haven’t been able to have it in so long! Can’t wait to try these as they look like a great substitute 🙂
Michelle Cantwell says
Never tried chia yet but I have been wanting to, this gives me a great reason to!!
Kinsey says
hmmmm
Heather says
Chia seeds are awesome. Can’t wait to make this.
eileen says
Love lemon. And how creative to use chia. Making these!
Kay says
Mmm, lemon is a favorite.
Helen V says
Love lemon!
Jillian says
These are very intriguing! I will definitely make them!
Erin says
Oh they look so fluffy. Can’t wait to try them.
Mackenzie says
I knew there would be good ways to cook with chia seeds! Can’t wait to try this recipe 🙂 YUMMY
Michelle says
Is there a substitute for the tapioca flour and potato starch? I can’t eat either of those.
Laura says
Sweet white rice flour is a starch that you could substitute. This is not the same as white rice flour. You might combine it with another starch like cornstarch or arrowroot.
Robin says
I’ve never cooked or baked with chia seeds. This is definitely a recipe I want to try. Looks yummy!.
Wendy says
A way to incorporate chia seeds in a delicious way. Very nice.
susan reed says
so good!
Lewann Rice says
Can’t wait to try baking with Chia seeds. I am on a huge lemon kick right now so this is right up my alley.
Rita S says
I have a few lemons that need using right about now. Sounds wonderful.
Megan says
Could you use poppy seeds instead of chia? Just wondering, they look good!
Carrie says
Lemon is my favorite flavor!
Melanie Binkley says
yum!
Lori Lewis says
Lemon poppy seeds are one of my favourite muffins, will have to try them with chia seeds! Thanks for the recipe!
Ilissa says
Yum! Such a neat idea using chia seeds instead of poppy.
Renee says
Great recipe! It’s important to note that chia seeds lose the effectiveness of the Omega 3’s when they are baked. Heat diminishes those benefits. In addition, chia seeds are a fairly high carbohydrate choice (compared to say hemp seeds) so you are actually adding carbs to the muffins and not getting the Omega 3, fatty acid benefit. Cost effective substitute for poppy seeds? For sure! But I would be careful if one is making this to not believe you are getting more health benefits than you really are.
Debbie says
I’ve been looking for a good GF lemon muffin recipe, and these look nice and moist ! Just had a question about the amount of lemon juice to add. Since lemons come in small and large sizes, the the juice would be a different amounts depending on what size you used. Maybe I’m over thinking it, and the amount doesn’t have to be exact ? I also have to omit the chia seeds because my hubby has Crohn’s and can’t have any seeds, but thinking that there would probably be no variation in the recipe by omitting them ? Thanks for your help, and looking forward to making your recipe !
Alea says
I usually estimate 1/4 cup of juice per lemon. You can leave the chia seeds out and just enjoy lemon muffins.