Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
Sep 19, 2022
If you have a sweet tooth like me, then you will love these delicious healthy chocolate zucchini muffins. My partner is not a huge fan of zucchini, and he loved these muffins! He didn't even know zucchini was the secret healthy ingredient in these muffins. Cocoa powder helps to make these muffins extra chocolaty. Coca powder is packed with antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties to reduce redness on acne-prone skin. The applesauce and greek yogurt makes these muffins moist and fluffy. These muffins are nut free and gluten free! These muffins can easily be made dairy free. You can swap out the greek yogurt with a plain soy or coconut yogurt.
Dairy can cause acne breakouts but some people are okay eating greek yogurt and do not find it affects the skin. Greek yogurt has the dairy protein whey strained out, giving it a creamy and thicker texture. Greek yogurt contains probiotics, which makes your gut happy by balancing your healthy gut bacteria.
Those that are lactose intolerant usually remove all diary to avoid unwanted side effects. However, some food products with low lactose (sugar found in dairy) can be easier to digest and not cause unwanted symptoms. Greek yogurt has less lactose and has double the amount of protein as compared to other yogurts. Because greek yogurt has less lactose, those that are lactose intolerant may be able to tolerate digesting this food as compared to drinking milk containing high lactose. Everyone is unique and you must listen to your own body to determine what food choices are best for your body and skin.
Now getting to zucchini's health benefits for your skin! This recipes secret ingredient is zucchini, which contains antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. These antioxidants can help to protect your skin cells from UV radiation and environmental damage. Zucchini also helps reduces inflammation and promotes hydration of the skin.
Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Muffin Recipe - makes 12 muffins
3/4 cup organic plain greek yogurt
3/4 cup coconut sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 eggs
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup grated unpeeled zucchini (pat dry with paper towels)
1 cup gluten-free flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp seat salt
1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF (177ºC) and line a muffin tray with liners or lightly brush each liner with a small amount of oil.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and sea salt. Mix well. Stir in the chocolate chips.
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the yogurt, sugar, applesauce, eggs, oil, and vanilla. Stir in the zucchini.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Spoon the muffin batter into the prepared muffin tray, so it's evenly divided then bake for 22 to 24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
- Let cool completely before eating, to prevent the muffins from sticking to the liners.
Tips:
Gluten free flour: I use Bob's Red Mill
Chocolate chips: I use Enjoy Life Semi-sweet mini chocolate chips (free from 14 common allergens)
Interested in how to heal your acne naturally? Look no further than Clear Skin Alchemy: The Natural Acne Solution. This 8-Week program will walk you through every step of the way on your acne healing journey. Feel confident, radiant and beautiful in your own skin.
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