Healthy Chocolate Muffins for Valentine's Day

 

Did you make a resolution to eat healthier and or/lose weight this year? Are you afraid that those Valentine's treats will sabotage your efforts? If so, then these muffins are for you. You (or the recipient) can have your chocolate and eat it too. This recipe comes from Healthy is Always Better.  Here's the recipe:

 

Triple Chocolate Chunk Muffin Knock-Offs of Whole Food’s 6 Dollar per 4 Chocolate Chunk VitaTop Muffins
Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 c oats
• 3 egg whites
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (or regular plain low fat yogurt)
• 1/2 tsp cream of tartar (or 1-1/2 Tbsp. vinegar)
• 1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 cup sugar substitute (like Splenda granular) OR 1/4 cup + 2 tbs stevia
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or use white chocolate or peanut butter chips!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with foil cupcake liners, or spray muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
In a blender, (or food processor), mix all of the ingredients together, except for the chocolate chips. Blend until oats are ground and mixture is smooth.
Place mixture in a bowl and gently stir in 1/2 of the chocolate chips (set the rest aside). Scoop mixture into prepared muffin pans.
Place muffins tins in the oven for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, remove muffins from the oven (but don’t shut oven off), and distribute the other half of the chocolate chips on top of each muffin.
Place the muffins back into the oven and bake for an additional 2-5 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. *Note, you could skip this step by putting all of the chips in the batter, and baking the muffins for 12-15 min straight, but this method gives the muffins the traditional ‘VitaTop Muffin’ look with the chocolate chips on top!Cool muffins before removing from pan.

Servings: 12 Big Muffins or 24 Smaller Muffins
Calories: 116 Calories Per Muffin or 58 Calories Per Muffin

 I've made them twice. I'm not going to say that they are my favorite muffin by no means, but they will satisfy a chocolate craving. They are not sweet at all, but a lover of dark chocolate would really appreciate these.

 

The first time around I used Splenda and I could taste the Splenda after taste. I think my Splenda was old, so I've ditched it. The second time I used the stevia- better- still not very sweet. I also didn't make the Vita top look. I just stirred all of my chips in the batter.

 

Make up a batch for some one this Valentine's Day who is trying to eat healthier and show them you respect their efforts.

 

 

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