Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Wednesday was the first day back at school for my kids and I wanted to have a special after school treat to share with them while talking about all the activities of the day. It just so happened that I had an overgrown zucchini from the garden that would be more suited for baking than for using in an evening meal. Zucchini bread was the obvious choice, but I wanted something different. Trying to get children to eat a veggie like zucchini can sometimes be a challenge, so I took into consideration that Mabelle, my youngest daughter, firmly believes that chocolate is a food group. (That’s my girl☺.) With a quick internet search, I landed on a recipe that I knew I could work with. Not only did the end result bake up beautifully with a high dome (don’t be afraid to fill your muffin wells to the top), but the taste and texture are outstanding.

The bulk of the taste and texture comes from melted dark chocolate and zucchini. Both contain antioxidants and vitamins. Healthy, right??  Well, I even took it a step further and substituted half of the oil called for in the original recipe with 0% fat Greek yogurt. Even healthier! I used just a touch of cinnamon for a subtle spice and added espresso powder for a deeper chocolate flavor. For the double chocolate, I folded a good cupful of chocolate chips into the batter. Now we’re talking.

The recipe makes for an odd number of muffins (15 standard) but trust me, you will want those few extra muffins to nibble on. You can even bake the extra batter in small ramekins or a mini loaf pan.

When Mabelle came home from school that day, her eyes widened with excitement when she saw the counter full of chocolate muffins. “Ooh are those chocolate muffins for me?” I sat her at the counter and poured her a glass of milk. First bite– “Mmm, chocolate.” Second bite– “Oh, yummy.” Third bite and right after this picture was taken– “Um, Mommy? What’s this green thing?!” I couldn’t lie. I let her in on the secret ingredient. Her response– “That’s o.k. because these are really good chocolate muffins!” Kid tested… mother approved☺.

Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

By Nicole Prep: 10 minsCook: 28 minsTotal: 38 mins Servings: 15 muffins Easy and healthy dark chocolate muffins are packed with zucchini and make the perfect breakfast or snack!

Equipment

• 12-cup standard muffin pan
• Stand mixer

Ingredients 

• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon espresso powder
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 (4.25 ounce) bar dark chocolate, chopped
• 3 extra-large eggs
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons neutral oil, Safflower oil
• ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons 0% fat Greek yogurt
• 2 cups finely grated zucchini
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup chocolate chips, milk, semi-sweet, or dark

Instructions 

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 12-cup standard size muffin pan; set aside. (You will have enough batter for 3 more muffins. Grease another muffin pan, use small ramekins, or prepare a mini-loaf pan.)
2. In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, espresso powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3. In a separate small bowl melt the chocolate in the microwave or over a pan of simmering water; set aside.
4. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or using a hand held mixer, beat the eggs and brown sugar on high speed until light and creamy in color, about 1-2 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium and gradually pour in the oil. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl; add the yogurt, zucchini, and vanilla and mix on low until combined. With the mixer running, add the dry ingredients and mix until incorporated. Add the melted chocolate and mix until combined. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the chocolate chips.
5. Fill the muffin cups almost to the top. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F and bake the muffins for 20-22 minutes. Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove the muffins to a rack and cool. Serve barely warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 276kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.02g, Cholesterol: 33mg, Sodium: 172mg, Potassium: 192mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 24g, Vitamin A: 84IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 41mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.