These easy chocolate muffins are healthy enough to feel good eating for breakfast before 8 a.m. (same with Chocolate Oatmeal!), yet taste indulgent enough to satisfy your sweet tooth at 8 p.m. I’ve been sneaking bites while I warm up my lunch (does that make them an appetizer too?), followed by more bites with my afternoon coffee (clearly, they are snack worthy as well). Even Ben who (and this is one of the great mysteries of our time) usually passes on muffins with chocolate chips has been snitching these healthy muffins. These chocolate muffins’ appeal is not limited to adults; they can be readily considered healthy chocolate muffins for toddlers too. My friend brought her to two-and four year old girls over for a visit, and they gobbled theirs up before I’d even poured the milk. When it comes to wholesome recipes, toddler approval is the highest approval of them all. This recipe came about on a day when I was low on produce and had a hankering for a healthy chocolate breakfast treat. We were out of ripe bananas, so both Chocolate Banana Muffins and Healthy Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins weren’t an option. Chocolate Zucchini Muffins were out for similar reasons (no zucchini on hand). Plus, I wasn’t quite in the mood for my rich and decadent Chocolate Muffins. What I needed was an easy, no fuss, end-of-days healthy chocolate muffin recipe that I could whip up on demand. I think you know where this story leads… To the consummate, best-ever, healthy chocolate muffin recipe! You can bake these easy muffins anytime a craving strikes. Let me tell you from experience—once you taste these moist chocolate muffins, the craving strikes all the time.
How to Make the Best Healthy Chocolate Muffins
If you bake healthy muffins regularly, my hunch is you have all of the ingredients you need to bake these chocolate muffins in your pantry right now. Here are the highlights.
The Ingredients
White Whole Wheat Flour. My absolute favorite for healthy baking recipes. While whole wheat flour is 100% whole wheat, meaning these muffins are richer in fiber and nutrients than they would be with white, all-purpose flour, and it has a mild flavor, meaning you (and any picky eaters to whom you serve them) won’t notice the swap. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder. For a rich chocolate flavor reminiscent of your favorite brownie. Greek Yogurt. My trick to making these muffins moist, without the need for extra fat. Greek yogurt also adds protein. Chocolate Chips. Because why have a regular chocolate muffin when you can have a DOUBLE chocolate muffin with chocolate chips added? Honey (or Pure Maple Syrup). These muffins are 100% naturally sweetened and made without sugar (the white, more refined kind). Because honey is a liquid sweetener, it adds moisture to the muffins also. Pure Vanilla Extract. A must have in any muffin. Instant Espresso Powder. I add this ingredient almost anytime I’m making a recipe with chocolate. It doesn’t make the muffins taste like coffee; rather, it enhances the intensity of the chocolate flavor (try it sometime; you’ll be amazed!). Instant espresso powder is available at most grocery stores and online here. If you prefer, you can leave it out. Cinnamon. A pinch gives the muffins a subtle warmth.
The Directions
Recipe Substitutions and Dietary Swaps
Gluten Free Healthy Chocolate Muffins. Swap the white whole wheat flour for the same amount of a GF 1:1 baking flour like this one. Vegan Healthy Chocolate Muffins. Not yet tested, but I think the following would work. If you try it, please report back. Replace the eggs with flax eggs, use a coconut milk-based yogurt for the Greek yogurt, use maple syrup for the sweetener, and a non-dairy milk for the milk. Be sure your chocolate chips are dairy free also. Healthy Chocolate Muffins with Applesauce. If you prefer, you could try replacing the Greek yogurt with the same amount of unsweetened applesauce or pumpkin puree. (I haven’t tried but imagine this will work; again, please report back if you do!) Healthy Oatmeal Chocolate Muffins. Swap one-fourth of the amount of white whole wheat flour with the same amount of oat flour.
Serving Healthy Chocolate Muffins
While these muffins are delicious straight from the oven, here are a couple ideas for how to serve them:
Toppings. A dollop of nut butter or Greek yogurt is scrumptious and extra filling. Fruit. A side of fresh fruit with these muffins makes a sunny, well-rounded breakfast. Eggs. If you’re creating a brunch spread, serve these muffins with a scrumptious egg recipe like this Crockpot Egg Casserole, Ham Sweet Potato Frittata, or Healthy Breakfast Egg Muffins.
How to Store and Reheat Healthy Chocolate Muffins
To Store. Let the muffins cool completely before placing them in a storage container. Next, line the bottom of an airtight storage container with a paper towel and place the muffins in a single layer on the paper towel. Then, top your muffins with another paper towel to absorb the excess moisture, and store at room temperature for up to 4 days. To Freeze. Individually wrap the muffins in plastic, then place them in a ziptop bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Let thaw at room temperature or rewarm gently in the microwave. For even more storage tips, check out my post on How to Store Muffins and Other Quick Breads.
More Healthy Muffin Recipe Favorites
Healthy Zucchini Muffins with Chocolate Chips Chocolate Chunk Coffee Muffins Peanut Butter Muffins with Chocolate Chips Gluten Free Muffins Healthy Banana Muffins
Recommended Tools to Make Healthy Chocolate Muffins
Standard muffin pan (I also like this option if you don’t need the lid) Batter scoop (my secret to big, puffy muffin tops)
These most perfect healthy chocolate muffins set the standard of dessert for breakfast and the standard of breakfast for dessert! If you try the recipe, please let me know how it turns out for you in the comments below. I love to hear from you!
