These muffins have been cleaned up with healthy ingredients replacing the unhealthy ingredients. You will not find white sugar or flour products in this recipe! That’s great news, right parents? Black beans act as a binder here, and will give your muffins a great consistency.

Applesauce will keep them moist, and requires that less oil be used. Coconut oil is a wonderful healthy fat that, when used in moderation, can provide our bodies with many health benefits, both inside and out. Honey is the best choice in replacing white sugar in baking, because of its pure, un-refined state. Cacao chips that are 70 to 100% Cacao are a much healthier option in place of milk chocolate, and provide great antioxidants for our bodies without all of the sugar and fillers that milk chocolate has.

Enjoy this recipe, and remember to create it the way your family loves it! Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 cup applesauce
¼ cup mashed canned pre-cooked black beans (you read this correctly!)
2 Tablespoons coconut oil, softened in microwave for 10 seconds
1/2 cup raw honey
1 teaspoon good vanilla extract
3/4 cup whole wheat or coconut flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon finely ground sea salt, not chunky
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup Ghirardelli’s 80% Cacao dark chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place 8 paper liners in a muffin tin.
2. Combine applesauce and next 5 ingredients, mixing well to incorporate, but not “over-mixing.”
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the next 6 ingredients. Add dry mixture to the wet applesauce mixture and stir until blended.
4. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Spoon batter into muffin paper cup liners, filling them half way. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees. Muffins are done when tops are firm to the touch and toothpick inserted in middle of muffin comes out clean.

*I like to add shredded raw coconut to my batter as well as walnuts. Add what your family loves, or make separate batches with different ingredients or toppings! Experimenting is half of the fun of baking with your family.