Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a small bowl, combine the topping ingredients and set aside until batter is ready. In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients, sifting in the baking powder and baking soda. Stir until well mixed. In another bowl, first combine the maple syrup with the flax meal, and then add the remaining wet ingredients and stir until well mixed. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture, and gently fold and mix until just combined (do not overmix). Let sit for a minute while preparing a muffin pan with liners. Spoon the mixture into a twelve-cup lined muffin pan (filling 12). Sprinkle a little of the topping on each muffin. Bake for 21-22 minutes, until set to the touch. Remove from the oven, let cool for a couple of minutes in the pan, and then transfer the muffins to cool on a cooling rack. Makes 12 muffins.