Gluten Free Red Clover Muffin Recipe

As an herbalist, I love all things herbs. I use them to heal, and I since I love to cook, I use many herbs in cooking. I enjoy creating recipes that are unique, and as some would say “very unusual”. This recipe combines my love of herbs, and my “unusual” creativity with food.

I had read about making red clover flour in some wild edibles book years ago. In my younger years, I was bound and determined to “live off the land”. I read all the books I could get my hands on at my local library on how to find, cook and eat wild edibles. I was on my way to becoming the female version of Euell Gibbons. I had dreams of my kids and I packing up our country life, and head for a life in the Alaskan bush. No, we never did make it to Alaska, but my delight and interest in wild edible (free) has remained.You can often find us picking clover, dandelion, sumac and other wild edibles. Never tried them? You’re missing out on some great free food.

When picking clover the other day for my teas and other products, I figured “why not”. It was about time I tried to make that sweet flour I had read about all those years ago. I picked about 4 cups of extra flowers, and set about to drying enough to make some flour.

I made a batch of mini muffins and we enjoyed them. We needed more evidence. We needed someone to taste them that doesn’t usually eat from their lawn. We brought them over to some friends at the local library, and they were a big hit. They went back for seconds! This was a good sign.

Red clover, is also known as sweet clover, and when the deliciously sweet smell wafts through the air as it drys in the dehydrator, you’ll understand why. That same sweetness is infused into the muffins via the flour.

If you are Gluten sensitive or have gluten intolerance, then this is a great recipe for you to try. It’s nutritious, and delicious, which can sometimes be hard to find for people with a wheat allergy or have Celiac disease.

• 1 medium egg
• 1/4 cup red clover flour
• 3/4 cup rice flour
• 3 Tbsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup red clover flower infusion
• 1 tsp confectioners sugar, optional for topping

• Pick about 4 cups of fresh red clover flower. Rinse, and let air dry, or dry in the sun for a few hours
• Dry in a dehydrator, or low temp oven until completely dry.
• Place dried flowers into a blender or food processor. Blend until fine.
• Sift to get out any larger pieces. You can use in a tea, or toss in the compost pile.
• Measure out 1/4 cup of red clover flour
• Store any left over flour in a tight sealing jar. A canning jar works well for this.

• Pick 1 cup of fresh red clover flower.
• Place in coffee cup or other heat proof container.
• Pour hot water over flowers.
• Let steep 15 minutes.