The Best (Healthy) Chocolate Muffins

Healthy chocolate muffins, you say? Loaded with veggies, you say?

Just like many of you, we recently got into a breakfast rut, so it was time to dig up some new inspiration and I happened upon this recipe. Admittedly, I was feverishly licking the bowl as we made this and the finished product was even more delicious.

Here’s what I love about these muffins:

• A great opportunity to get extra veggies in at breakfast

• Also great for quenching that 3pm sweet tooth

• Loaded with good-for-you ingredients like flax, carrots, bananas, and spinach

• Super easy and fast to make

• Everything gets blended up, so no “weird-crunchy-yucky bites” for texture sensitive kiddos (and adults!)

One thing I want to clarify though: this is NOT stealth health. We don’t want to HIDE veggies from our kids. They need to know they veggies CAN taste yummy! I actually had the kids help make these and they threw the veggies into the blender, so they knew they were there.

*Note: This recipe makes about 10 regular sized muffins. AKA - you may want to double this recipe!

Bon Appetit!

Ingredients

• 2 flax eggs (mix 5 Tbsp water with 2 Tbsp flax meal – or you can use 2 regular eggs)

• 2 medium ripe bananas

• 1 cup grated carrots

• 1 cup loosely packed spinach or kale

• 1/2 ripe avocado (or 1/4 cup canola oil)

• 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar

• 1 cup white whole wheat flour

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 2 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1/4 cup cocoa powder

• Dark chocolate chips to taste (optional)

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 350 ℉ and line a 12-hole muffin tin with liners. Set aside.

• In your blender, combine eggs, banana, carrot, spinach, maple syrup/ honey, avocado or oil, vanilla, and vinegar.

• Blend until smooth.

• Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and cocoa powder. Process until just mixed.

• Fold in chocolate chips (optional).

• Portion batter into prepared muffin tin and top with extra chocolate chips if desired.

• Bake for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.

• Let cool in pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Enjoy and let cool completely and store leftovers in an air-tight container in fridge or freezer.

Thank you for the inspo, @thenaturalnurturer!