You can find some pretty awesome things at TJ Maxx or Home Goods…
They have a beautiful selection of dishware, and I’ve even seen Artisana coconut butter on their shelves for as low a $6 a jar! A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon another great find at the Home Goods in Georgetown:
Pure vanilla bean paste—usually retailing for around $13.99—well within its expiration date and yet on sale for the shockingly low price of just five dollars.
Whenever you bring home a new toy, the first thing you want to do is play, right??
That was me with the vanilla bean paste. I threw my keys down and immediately set to work, simultaneously making Homemade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and the beautiful blackberry muffin recipe you will find below. It’s blackberry season, so now is a great time to indulge.
I know this recipe won’t get anywhere near as popular of a reception as a chocolate or peanut butter recipe (usually the most-popular-flavored recipes I post), but it’s definitely just as blogworthy! And if you can’t find vanilla bean paste at Marshalls, TJ Maxx, or Home Goods (or Williams Sonoma, Whole Foods, or online at full price), you can substitute pure vanilla extract. The flavor will change, but both options are fine.
Vanilla Bean Blackberry Muffins
(adapted from healthy blueberry muffins)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or white vinegar (15g)
- 1 cup milk of choice (240g)
- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste (pure vanilla extract will also work)
- 3 tbsp vegetable or coconut oil (30g)
- 2 cups spelt, white, or Bob’s gf flour flour (250g)
- 1/2 tsp plus 1/8 tsp salt
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar of choice or xylitol (100g)
- only if using Bob’s, add 1 tsp xanthan gum
- pinch pure stevia, or 2 more tbsp sugar of choice
- 1 cup fresh blackberries, crushed (150g)
- optional 1/2 cup shredded coconut
Preheat your oven to 350 F. Line a muffin tin with muffin liners. In a mixing bowl, whisk together first 4 ingredients. In a separate bowl, stir together all other ingredients except blackberries. Pour wet into dry, stir until just evenly mixed, then add the blackberries. Gently stir, but only until evenly mixed. It’s very important to not over-stir. Pour batter evenly into the muffin tins and bake 19 minutes. Muffins should look domed when you take them out of the oven. Allow to sit 10 minutes before removing from the tins (and 20-30 minutes if you wish to remove the liners without sticking). Optional, ice muffins with Healthy Glaze Icing. Makes 14-15 muffins.
View Blackberry Muffins Nutrition Facts
Question of the Day:
Do you ever shop at Home Goods or TJ Maxx or Marshalls?
Link of the Day: No-Bake Chocolate Brownie Bites
Mmmm…looking good, as always! That vanilla bean paste makes an enormous difference…it is so so so expensive, though 🙁
We dont have “TJ Maxx” or “Home Goods”…we DO however, have “TK Maxx” and “Homestore and More”, and i love both for the same reasons – amazing bargains and deals, just like TJ Maxx it seems!
PS: Saw the picture for your book on amazon – looks great! I cant wait to get it, it’s nice to give a little something back to the girl who’s worked so hard! Ive only started my blog (a gluten free blog thing) this month and im only barely beginning to understand how to use it…and its tough!
You should be so so so proud of yourself!!
xx
Where can I find Vanilla bean paste? That is especially hard to find–so hard I’ve never heard of it until now, and I’m very familiar with the baking aisle at all my local grocers!
If you read the post, she lists where to buy it.
Hi hi Katie! I’m not sure if you take requests… so if you don’t, ignore this.
But I was wondering if it was possible to make a chocolate cake… with avocado in it? You know, to replace the oil and other wet ingredients… I would try it myself, but I don’t know if I’d mess it up 🙁
These muffins look amazingly delish~~ I want to make them! Will they work with any berry?
Requests are my favorite, so thank you! I just made one! Need to do a photoshoot and write a post for it now 🙂
ARE YOU SERIOUS :DDD I’m so excited omg! can’t wait for it!!
P.S. I made a bunch of your recipes and all of them turn out great, the mint-chocolate shake is one of my favorite after school snacks o3o
YumyumYUM! TJ Maxx had coconut sweetened cacao nibs a few weeks back. Go figure! Can’t wait to try these muffins 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/sparklesandsuch26
I’m a peanutaholic and lover of chocolate, but these certainly look delicious – perhaps slathered with peanut butter? 😀
These muffins sound nice and look even better!
Yes, yes, YES! I love TJ Maxx. It is my go-to store. I can always find what I need, and, oh so much more. The merchandise is much more original and unique than anything else I can find in my town. And you have to love the prices.
I hardly ever shop there, but that’s because there aren’t any near me! They have such great prices though! these muffins look delicious, Katie!
Wow! Just made these with raspberries and blueberries instead of blackberries, since that was what I had on hand. Best. Muffins. Ever. So, so good! Thank you!
I LOVE both stores. Go whenever I can!