Lets talk real deal healthy here. Not because all purpose flour is substituted with whole wheat , but because almost all ingredients going into making these gorgeous muffins have great health benefits. A guilt free yummy dessert that you can devour any time of the day and the best part you don’t need any fancy equipments – no blender or stand mixer to put it together . All you need is a spoon or a spatula.
We all are aware that majority sweets and desserts are unhealthy indulgence . But we just can’t resist having them . Its fine to enjoy sweets once in a while but what if you are like me and have a sweet tooth. I just can’t curb my cravings so what do I do? Find healthier yet satisfying ways to satiate my sweet buds. And my son is just like me who keeps asking for candies and cookies all the time . Can’t blame them they are kids after all. But I have to outsmart him right . Can’t keep feeding him unhealthy sugary stuff all the time. So I make healthy muffins and granola bars a lot. And these healthy chocolate zucchini muffins that I am sharing with you today are my best bet . happy baby happy me!!
They are –
Healthy yet yummy Super moist Satisfying grab and go snack anytime Hit amongst the kids Perfect sweetness Can be made vegan Power packed with good stuff. Needless to say I need to whip them up frequently as they are just loved by all of us . I never forget to pack one for my husband too – it’s a great snack to satisfy evening hunger pangs. If you have busy mornings , and have no time for breakfast just grab one of them . They will make you feel so good.
Why am I raving so much about these muffins?
Because they are real deal healthy. These Chocolate zucchini muffins are packed with goodness of oats, wheat flour, almond butter, dates , pecans , flax seeds and olive oil. Why on earth would anyone have greens in their desserts.. eeewww!!!!! I hear you. But trust me you won’t even feel it’s there. They perfectly blend in plus it’s a good way to keep your muffins moist and have your greens at the same time. Say bye bye to dry crumbly muffins and welcome these gorgeous moist ones. My son is a fussy eater so I try to sneak in veggies in foods he can’t say no too . Win win for both of us right. So lets talk about ingredients and its benefits in brief here –
Zucchini
Zucchini has lot of water content and is low in calories. If you are watching your weight then you need to add zucchini in your diet It is full of vitamin c and will keep you hydrated It is rich in vitamins and minerals and help maintaining blood sugar levels If you think zucchini is boring and there are no takers for it just add them to pancakes, baked goods etc- it will make them extra moist and it’s a great way of having them too. And yes your final outcome won’t taste zucchini.
Dates – the fabulous natural sweetener.
Adding dates means adding nutrition and sweetness without consuming refined sugar. If you aren’t using dates yet ,I urge you to do so right away . It’s a delicious and healthy substitute to refined sugar in many preparations like smoothies, baked goods, sweets etc. Dates are higher in potassium , yes much higher than potassium found in bananas Dates are also rich in calcium , iron and many essential minerals. Moreover dates are rich in fiber hence they keep you fuller for a long time. Dates are packed with wonderful benefits Some of them are – This superfood has a low glycemic index and supports healthy blood sugar levels. They successfully satisy your sweet cravings . Dates aid weight loss because you can easily swap sugar in recipes Lowers cholesterol Great for eyes and skin health. With so many benefits there isn’t a single reason not to add them in your diet .
Nuts and nut butter
Adding nuts to your daily diet is very important. They come with truck load of benefits and most important one of them is that they are great energy boosters. Dry muffins are a big turn off for me. Adding some fat is essential so whats better than adding nut butter. I have swaped butter with nut butter because its healthy fats and works like a charm. I have used almond butter .Feel free to use your favorite one. As toppings I have used Pecans . Use nuts of your choice .
Oats
Oats is considered to be one of the world’s healthiest foods. Oats is packed with dietary fiber and is such an energy booster. Hence having oats for breakfast is a no brainer It keeps you energized the entire day Oats promotes weight loss and control blood sugar levels too Oats is good for heart and overall health. Make sure to add oats in some way or the other in your diet. I have added oats here for health reasons as well as it makes the goods baked with wheat flour much lighter.
Flaxseed meal
Flaxseed is so good and so easy to incorporate in your diet Flaxseed meal is nothing but grounded flaxseeds. I love adding flaxseeds or its meal to about anything From paratha dough , salads, soups , gravies , smoothies and baked goods etc Flaxseeds are rich source of omega 3 essential fatty acids and fiber and low in carbs too. It is also rich in phosphorus, magnesium and are high in anti oxidants too Flaxseeds keeps you fuller for a long time, you won’t feel hungry hence aids weight loss Consumption of flax does wonders for your skin and hair Flax aids digestion as well As it’s high in protein, it is an excellent substitute to eggs in most of the baked goods.
Honey
We all are familiar with the magical benefits of honey I am mentioning few below- It supplies essential vitamins and minerals Honey is a fabulous substitute to refined sugar It aids weight loss and boosts energy too Good source of anti oxidants and immune booster Always use the best quality honey . I use organic honey . Honey can be replaced by maple syrup too. There are so many benefits of all the above ingredients and i can go gaga on it all day long.
Yogurt
Gives moistness and softness to baked goods Excellent source of calcium and necessary vitamins Aids digestion etc.
Dark unsweetened Chocolate
chocolate and healthy .. oh yeah ..if eaten moderately dark chocolates have proven to be great for health . some of the benefits of gorging on dark chocolate are- relieves stress lowers cholesterol aids good sleep enhances brain power etc. In short YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY MAKE THEM
A boon to the WEIGHT WATCHERS & HEALTHY EATERS.
Always use best quality ingredients. Now don’t get nervous with the list of ingredients – I know its a bit more than the regular ones but hey you are benefiting from it right .. so don’t think much just go for it. Don’t expect them to have a airy fluffy texture of all purpose flour / maida cupcakes , they are denser like brownies much healthier and taste fabulous . Please go though the notes too as i have mentioned possible substitutes too. All you need is gather your precious healthy ingredients mix them together , bake and devour . Simple !! isn’t it So here it goes- grated zucchini (thick )
Now add the zucchini
don’t forget to taste it
generously top it with your favorites
all set to bake
tadaaa!!! all done .. now dig in – I eat atleast 2 in one go
Mmmmm Delicious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
before going to the recipe you might want to see this – make it ahead of time Oats flour Oat flour is nothing but grounded oats . Just quick grind oats in your mixer / grinder until powdered. I have used old fashion oats For dates puree Soak 8-10 pitted dates in hot water enough to soak them . Once softened (around 20 minutes) just puree them. you can use ready made date paste too.
Shelf life
These do not last long at my place . But if you want to store them then they stay well in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze them individually in plastic wrap then foil for upto 3 months
Do drop in your valuable feedback and rate this recipe . And if you happen to make it do send me the pictures on my facebook page carveyourcraving as a message so that I can publish it in readers testimonial section.
