Soft & fluffy zucchini muffins stuffed with dark chocolate chips. Grain-free, refined sugar-free, vegan & paleo!
Did I ever tell you about the time I ate 3 zucchinis in one sitting because I wanted a snack and was trying to be healthy? I called up one of my best friends and said “I think I just over ate zucchinis. Is that even a thing?” I love them. Sauteed, roasted, grilled, BAKED!
Okay, these muffins taste nothing like zucchinis. Just like carrot cake doesn’t actually taste like carrots. But the zucchinis add some extra veggie goodness, and also produce some of the softest, (insert gross word) and tender muffins I have ever tasted.
As soon as I decided I wanted to make zucchini almond meal muffins, I hit up my girl Gina’s blog for some inspiration. She has the best paleo recipes, and although I don’t eat paleo, I love baking with nut flours, and her blog is always a great place to start. She made some ridiculously good looking zucchini bread that I used as a guideline, but ended up with muffins with chocolate chips inside. Shocking, right?
The muffins tasted EXACTLY like I wanted–lightly sweet, hearty and filling without being heavy. They didn’t last long, and whether you normally use grain-free flours or not, you will absolutely love them!
Soft & fluffy zucchini muffins stuffed with dark chocolate chips. Grain-free, refined sugar-free, vegan & paleo!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 cups almond meal
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- dash salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 ripe banana, mashed
- 3 tbsp natural liquid sweetener of choice (honey, agave, maple syrup, etc.)
- 1 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup finely grated zucchini, squeezed dry
- heaping 1/2 cup mini dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Line muffin tins with paper liners. Set aside.
- Measure milk in your measuring cup. Add apple cider vinegar and whisk lightly. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together almond meal, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add almond milk mixture, banana, sweetener, coconut oil, and vanilla. Mix until just combined. Fold in zucchini and chocolate chips.
- Evenly divide batter between between 12 prepared muffin molds.
- Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20-25 minutes.
Notes
Adapted from Running to the Kitchen
LOL- love that comment about 3 zucchinis and trying to be healthy. Once I brought red peppers to the beach. You should really read Tina Fey’s book Bossypants…she has a chapter called “Once when I was skinny” and another called “Once when I was fat” (or something along those lines…) Laugh out loud hilarious. I love that you used zucchini and choc chip instead of total chocolate. I bet these muffins have a slight savoury tone to them while still being nice and sweet breakfast muffins. Love it. Longest comment ever? Maybe!!!!
Hahahaha I just love you. And your long comment. And now I TOTALLY want to read the book!!
SOOO CLOSE to being GiGi approved!! 😀 So healthy.
I knoooowwww, I’m sorry! I really wish you could eat nuts!
Perfect timing – zucchini season is approaching fast! I’ll have it growing out of my ears and need new ways to use it. I love it!
I know, I love summer produce, and I’m always grilling up my zucchini this time of year, but I wanted a new way to enjoy it.:)
They look delicious!!!!
Thanks Toni! 🙂
i’ve never used almond meal before.. which is weird because i love almond anything. maybe this will be my first time!
Oh girl, it is GREAT! I’ve tried cooking with gluten-free flours, and to be honest, I have had some recipes turn out good, but for the most part I am disappointed in the texture. However, I absolutely LOVE the texture of almond meal and because of the natural fat in the almonds, you hardly need to add any to the mix!
Those look amazing!
Thanks Kristen! 🙂
Yummmm! I’d add one scoop of Protein Powder for that extra protein goodness!
I’m not always a big protein powder fan, but these babies could handle it I think without it taking over the taste 🙂
Yummers!! I want to make these soon!
Please tell me the “gross word” starts with an “M” and ends with an “oist.” I HATE that word….it make me feel icky!
Yesssss. It doesn’t actually bug me as much anymore, and sometimes I will still say it because when you’re talking about food, it really is the most fitting sometimes, but I have a harrrrd time haha.
Ok, this is like the 5th time I’ve seen some kind of zucchini baked good with chocolate in it in the past 24 hours….now I’m craving it! These look delish! Thanks for the shout out 🙂
Thank YOU for the awesome inspiration! 🙂
These look delish! I love the (insert gross word here)! Hahaha
Haha thanks Sylvia! 🙂
YUM is all I have to say. I have some almond meal with this recipe written all over it 🙂
Yeahhhh girl! Dooo it! 🙂
Those look amazing my friend!!
Thanks friend!!
Love baking with almond meal – these look really good, Zukes and chocolate. Yummers.
It’s definitely one of my favorite ingredients! Thanks Elle!
These look so fantastic! I’ve been experimenting without gluten lately and almond meal is one of my favorite replacements. I want to make these with my 3yo soon!!
I actually have been too–my husband started having a really bad reaction to it, so I figured in support I’d at least test it out, but I made these way before then because I just love almond meal. 🙂 Thanks Laura!
This is one healthy muffin! I would love to have them for breakfast!
That’s what I love about them is you could totally eat them for breakfast and not feel like you just ate a frosting-less cupcake!
I need to start baking with all the zucchini I have, Ari! I usually just cook with it. But zucchini breads and muffins like this… so good. totally digging the chocolate chips here, too 🙂
I love how versatile zucchini is, and I bet you could make a bommmmb zucchini bread! Thanks girl!
Three words. Huckleberry. Zucchini. Bread. (Two more. Breakfast. Club.)
So I’ll be making these muffins ASAP.
I forgot about that!! Must recreate.
Hi, Ari! What a fantastic, beautiful site you have! These muffins look scrumptious and healthy too! I wanted to thank you for stopping by my blog. I really appreciate it and I hope you find many recipes to help keep you happy and healthy. Keep up the good work 🙂 Cheers!
Thanks Katie!
Oooh, these look great! I’m excited for zucchini season 😀
I know–summer time is so great so produce!
Yum! I am so hungry right now and your muffins are calling my name!
Muffins: Chrrrriiiiisssttttiiinnnn. BAKE ME!!!!!
In case you wanted to see what muffins calling your name would look like. 😉 Thanks girl!