This recipe is one of the oldest on the blog, and it was in dire need of an update, especially when it came to the pictures. If you have never had courgette in muffins (or cake), they are super delicious, moist, and tend to be a little bit healthier than traditional muffins. These Chocolate Courgette Mini Muffins are not only super delicious but also make a great addition to your afternoon snack, lunchbox, or I have had them for breakfast before!
What You Will Find In This Post
- Tips and variations for these chocolate courgette mini muffins
- Why is this recipe good for me?
- Easy swaps and questions
- How to adjust this recipe to your individual dietary requirements
- Similar sweet recipes on the blog
Tips and Variation for These Chocolate Courgette Mini Muffins
Funnily enough, courgette and chocolate are a match made in heaven. Courgette makes the moist whilst also acting as a binding agent. These chocolate courgette mini muffins are also virtually crumb-free (because they are binding so well). There are some great variations on these mini muffins that you could make. For example, an espresso shot intensifies the chocolate flavor. The addition of nuts and seeds can also add crunch. Last but not least, these muffins freeze well and are reheated in the microwave in just a few seconds, so feel free to batch cook these.
Why are these Chocolate Courgette Mini Muffins good for you?
Let’s shine a light on cocoa powder. Cocoa powder is mainly used in conventional chocolate, but the unprocessed version contains a range of health benefits! It is made by crushing cocoa beans and then extracting the fat or cocoa butter from them. The powder is also high in an antioxidant called “polyphenol”, which is linked to reducing inflammation, increasing blood flow, as well as lowering both blood pressure and blood sugar levels. The flavanols in chocolate can aid in improving nitric oxide (= a molecule that is naturally produced by your body) levels in your blood. This enhances the function of your blood vessels and therefore, may aid in reducing blood pressure. In addition to these amazing health benefits, cocoa may help to improve your mood and symptoms of depression.
Easy Swaps and Questions
Can you really not taste the courgette? Absolutely not! The courgette is so fine and light in taste that the other ingredients “swallow” the taste. But the courgette adds a great amount of moisture, and keeps the muffins moist, whilst adding some additional nutrients.
Should I peel the courgette first? No, there is no need to peel the courgette as it grates very thinly, including the skin. Just be sure to wash the courgette first. There is also no need to press out the moisture, a lot of recipes call for this, but I have calculated this in as part of this recipe.
How sweet are these chocolate courgette mini muffins? These muffins are not overtly sweet. If you would like to make them sweeter, you could add about 2 – 4 tablespoons additionally on the xylitol content. You might just need to add a further tablespoon of apple sauce for moisture. The less cocoa content you use in the chopped chocolate, the sweeter it will also become. We usually use 85% but I appreciate that is quite rich for some people. I have also made them with a 70% version and they were lovely.
How to adjust this recipe to your individual dietary requirements
This recipe is gluten-free, and vegetarian. If you want to make this recipe vegan, you can swap the egg for a chia seed egg. Simply mix 1 tbsp ground chia mixed with 3 tbsp warm water and let sit on the counter for 5 – 10 minutes. I did find that they needed a much longer baking time – ca. 40 minutes and they stayed quite soft in the middle – the taste was not altered though. If you want to make this recipe nut-free, swap the almond butter for sunflower butter.
Similar Sweet Recipes on the Blog
If you enjoy this recipe, be sure to check out the following sweet treats options:
- Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble
- Gluten-free Warm, Fudgy Mug Brownie
- Five Minute Mini Cheesecakes
- Gluten-free Baked Apple Tiramisu
- Coconut Milk Rice with Mango
And there you have it for this week! I hope you enjoy these delicious Chocolate Courgette Mini Muffins as much as we do over here!! As always, please leave a message, comment, or rating if you are making this recipe. They help others to find those recipes on the site that are most loved as well. Thank you and happy baking!
Chocolate Courgette Mini Muffins
24
servings15
minutes25
minutesThese Chocolate Courgette Mini Muffins are delicious, moist, tender, and sweet. They also burst with chocolate flavor! Enjoy!
Ingredients
A bit of oil or water to grease mini muffin form
- Wet ingredients
1/4 cup (60 gr.) apple sauce
1/4 cup (60 gr.) almond butter
1 egg see notes*
4 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla, liquid
3/4 cup (ca. 170 gr.) grated courgette – see notes*
- Dry ingredients
1 cup (120 gr.) oats
3 tbsp cocoa powder
4 tbsp xylitol
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tbsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
2 ounces (50 – 60 gr.) dark chocolate (70% upwards)
How to
- Pre-heat oven to 180 degree Celsius (350 Fahrenheit) and spray a mini muffin and grease a mini muffin form with a bit of oil
- In a bowl, mix together the wet ingredients. In a small blender or coffee grinder, grind the oats into a flour. Mix together the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Finely chop the chocolate into small chunks and add to the batter
- Pour the batter into the prepared mini muffin form and bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Enjoy this delicious chocolatey treat!! These make ca. 24 mini muffins and store super well in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- You can make these mini muffins vegan by using a chia egg. Simply mix 1 tbsp ground chia mixed with 3 tbsp warm water and let sit on the counter for 5 – 10 minutes. I did find that they needed a much longer baking time – ca. 40 minutes and they stayed quite soft in the middle – the taste was not altered though.
- You can use up to 1 cup, however it might increase the baking time a tad
