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Healthy chocolate chip muffins are the best thing to happen to breakfast at our house! More nutritious and has fewer calories than Costco’s popular muffins. And so easy to make!
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These healthy chocolate chip muffins are a lighter version of those delectable giant muffins you can buy at Costco. Sure, they’re delicious but they’re basically like eating cake for breakfast, loaded with sugar and calories. Make your own healthy version of these chocolate chip muffins and you will be surprised at the flavor and how moist every bite is! Totally worth mixing and baking at home!
These moist, chocolaty muffins have some terrific healthy substitutions that offer more nutrients, more sustaining power, and fewer calories without sacrificing flavor. Now, these muffins aren’t exactly like eating a head of cabbage, but they’re a much healthier alternative for your family. Terrific for breakfast or an after-school snack, I’m so excited to share this recipe with you!
Ingredients for a Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe
This is an easy healthy chocolate chip muffin recipe! It is light and tasty with all the healthy flavors! You will not even know that there are bananas, applesauce, and rolled oats in the batter. It is that good and good for you!
- Bananas – Yes, ripe bananas! These will moisten the muffins and give the muffins a softer inside when baked.
- Applesauce – Make it healthier by using applesauce instead of oil or butter for the recipe. Applesauce is a perfect alternative to heavy vegetable oil in most baking recipes because it cuts down on fat and calories but keeps the muffins light and airy.
- Eggs – This is the binder for the chocolate chip muffins. All the ingredients hold together and bake firm for
- Sugar – A little bit of sugar for some sweetness!
- Cocoa – A strong and main ingredient for these chocolate muffins.
- Baking soda and powder – This helps puff up and give a good muffin top when baked.
- Rolled oats – This adds a healthy texture and gives thickness to the structure of the muffin. Adding some rolled oats gives more texture to the muffins and sustains power. Oats are such a good option for keeping your little ones fuller and longer.
- Flour – The main texture is the all-purpose flour. This will thicken the batter and adds structure to the muffins.
- Chocolate chips – Semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips can be used depending on your favorite type of chocolate. You can even use both for a sweet and savory taste!
How to Make Easy Chocolate Chip Muffins
Blend the wet ingredients together then mix the dry ingredients and combine together for easy-to-make healthy chocolate muffins. Once combined, scoop in the muffins tin and bake! It is that simple and kids love these muffins!
- Combine – Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl combine the bananas, applesauce, eggs, and sugar with a hand mixer until the bananas are blended in well.
- Mix – Mix in the cocoa, baking powder, and baking soda.
- Blend – Measure the oats into a blender or food processor and pulse a few times until the oats become finer pieces.
- Combine – Add the blended oats and flour to the mix and blend until everything is thoroughly mixed. Then stir in the chocolate chips (I like to reserve about ½ cup to sprinkle on the top of each muffin just before baking).
- Scoop – Use a ¼ cup measuring cup and measure it (slightly heaping) into a regular-size muffin pan that has been lined with cooking spray or baking liners. This makes 2 dozen muffins.
- Bake – Cook for 20 to 25 minutes, they are ready when a toothpick in the center comes out without batter.
- Let rest – Cool for 5 to 10 minutes before removing from the baking tin, then cool completely on the counter or a cooling rack. They can be refrigerated or frozen to last longer.
Suggestions for Lower Calorie Muffins
Make this healthy chocolate muffin, even healthier! The banana and applesauce are the best options for a healthy muffin. Now there are a few more ideas to help cut back and make it more low-calorie by using whole wheat flour or honey instead of sugar. These are all great possibilities and options for a healthy muffin!
- Use super-ripe bananas! They give your batter a creamy texture and extra bulk. The mild banana flavor really complements the cocoa flavor. They’re so good in this recipe!
- Unsweetened- Make sure you use unsweetened applesauce to help with the sugar intake.
- Honey – You can substitute part of the sugar for half a cup of honey if you want to cut down on sugar even more.
- Substitute flour – Use whole wheat or whole grain flour instead of white flour for even more nutrients.
“Love how easy this recipe is. It’s perfect for our family!”
-Shadi H.
Frequently Asked Questions
Muffins can be healthy depending on what ingredients are within the recipe as well as unhealthy. Muffins do tend to have very high calories, fat, and sugar but also can be on the healthy side like these whole grain bran muffins.
Cocoa is actually a health benefit in some ways. The flavonoids in cocoa and dark chocolate have a few health benefits in moderation.
Depending on the muffin as well as the cookie type and ingredients would depend on which is healthier. Some muffins will be healthier compared to cookies but a double chocolate, chocolate chip muffin may be healthier than an oatmeal cookie. Everything in moderation is best!
Cupcakes have a fluffy batter that gives cupcakes their soft, spongy texture whereas muffins are moist and dense. Cupcakes usually have more sugar and are sweeter compared to muffins.
READ NEXT: 33+ Super Easy Breakfast Ideas
More Low-Calorie Sweet Treats
There’s nothing better than indulging in a sweet treat every now and then. But if you’re looking to keep things lighter, try some of our lighter-side recipes that satisfy your sweet tooth without derailing your diet.
Healthier Double Chocolate Chip Muffins
Ingredients
- 5 bananas (very ripe)
- 1 cup applesauce
- 2 eggs
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/4 cups rolled oats
- 2 cups flour
- 12 ounces semi sweet or dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl combine the bananas, applesauce, eggs, and sugar with a hand mixer until the bananas are blended in well.
- Mix in the cocoa, baking powder, and baking soda.
- Measure the oats into a blender or food processor and pulse a few times until the oats become finer pieces.
- Add the blended oats and flour to the mix and blend until everything is thoroughly mixed. Then stir in the chocolate chips (I like to reserve about ½ cup to sprinkle on the top of each muffin just before baking).
- Use a ¼ up measuring cup and measure it (slightly heaping) into regular-size muffin tins that have been lined with cooking spray or baking liners. This makes 2 dozen muffins.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, they are ready when a toothpick in the center comes out without batter.
- Cool for 5 to 10 minutes before removing from the baking tin, then cool completely on the counter or a cooling rack. They can be refrigerated or frozen to last longer.
Can I put this in a 13 x 9 pan or could I use a loaf pan instead of making muffins?
I think it would be alright in a loaf pan!
Love how easy this recipe is. It’s perfect for our family!
Yesss I am so glad this calls for a bunch of super ripe bananas because I have oodles on my counter right now that need to go! Thanks for the recipe – I cannot wait to dive in!
Love the recipe but HATE bananas. Is there a substitution you can recommend?
Typically, I tell people to substitute applesauce for bananas, but since this recipe already has applesauce in it, I would suggest pumpkin puree. Make sure its puree NOT pumpkin pie filling. Let us know how it turns out if you try it!
these are great as you’ve discovered; I add some chia seed gel for protein, omega 3’s and fiber too – the gel also adds a bit of a crunch.
Do you happen to have the nutritional info on these. Always happy to see healthier versions! Thanks!!!!
I’ll have to plug the recipe in to a nutrition calculator. I’ll let you know when I figure it out. 🙂