A healthier whole-wheat muffin recipe, these Dark Chocolate Muffins are bursting with chocolate chips and topped with crunchy almonds.
I have a serious thing for muffins, strawberry muffins, banana muffins, zucchini muffins, pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. What’s not to love? Muffins work for breakfast, a snack, or even a healthier dessert in the case of these healthy chocolate muffins. They are incredibly quick and easy to make, often requiring no more than two bowls and a spoon. And they are freezer-friendly, making them a perfect grab-and-go breakfast.
One of my favorite things about muffins is that it’s easy to make them healthier… yet these muffins completely taste like an indulgence. If I’m going to eat a muffin for breakfast or snack, I want to be sure it has some nutrition to it so I’m not just eating a cupcake disguised as a breakfast food. (But it’s completely ok with me that I still feel like I’m eating a cupcake!)
This healthy muffin recipe is made with whole-wheat flour and flaxseed. A full cup of applesauce keeps them moist, and honey acts as a natural sweetener to keep the muffins free of refined sugars. The dark chocolate chips and cocoa powder not only make these breakfast muffins deliciously chocolatey, but also provide healthy antioxidants. (Yes, I totally qualify chocolate as a health food. You too?)
You can have one of these Chocolate Muffins ready for snacking in no time. Simply mix up the dry and wet ingredients separately in two bowls, gently combine, and scoop the batter into a muffin tin. Top with a few chocolate chips and chopped almonds, and bake. Then it’s time to sit down, relax, and enjoy a few minutes to yourself! You deserve it.
Skinny Dark Chocolate Muffins
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup white whole-wheat flour
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup ground flaxseed
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- ½ tsp. salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tbsp. brown sugar
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- ¼ cup 4 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips, or chopped dark chocolate, divided
- ½ cup chopped almonds, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray or line with paper liners.
- In a large bowl, whisk together both flours, flaxseed, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, applesauce, milk, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla until well combined. Whisk in melted butter.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until almost combined. You should still see some streaks of dry ingredients throughout. Gently stir in ¾ cup of the chocolate chips.
- Scoop batter into the prepared muffin tin, dividing it evenly between the wells. Top with the remaining ¼ cup chocolate chips and chopped almonds, pressing them down gently onto the muffins.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, until a tester inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
I also have a serious thing for muffins. What’s not to love? Seriously I adore them especially when they are skinny and still delish like these.
It sounds like we are on the same page when it comes to muffins! You’d never know these chocolate muffins are skinny by the taste of them!
I am always on the lookout for a healthier muffin. These look delicious and so pretty, too! I love the crunch the almonds must deliver.
Thank you, Kimberly! The almond crunch was a last-minute addition that ended up being one of my favorite parts of these muffins!
Chocolate is totally a health food! Dark chocolate anyway, *wink*. These muffins sound delicious! And I love how healthy they are. Hurray for refined sugar free!
Of course chocolate is a health food! 😉 I’m trying to avoid refined sugars whenever I can these days. You don’t miss them at all in these muffins!
I love everything about these muffins and being “skinny” makes me love them even more. They would make a perfect breakfast or snack.
Thank you, Joanie! Don’t you love it when you can justify chocolate for breakfast? 😉
Chocolate and almonds – my faves!! Pinned!
Mine too! Thanks so much for pinning, Lauren!
I can’t believe these are healthy! LOVE chocolate and almonds!
I’ve been snacking on my freezer stash of these, and I say the same thing to myself whenever I eat one. I can’t believe they’re healthy, either! 🙂
These muffins look fantastic, Kristine! I love that they’re skinny and full of dark chocolate. I have yet to try flax seed in anything, it sounds like a great ingredient to sneak in! I could definitely a eat a few of these with my morning cup of tea!
Thank you, Gayle! I love sneaking flaxseed into things – muffins, smoothies, even pancakes! It’s like a hidden boost of nutrition that you don’t even notice!
Tea and almonds are two of my favorite foods! (I’m sipping a cup right now) I agree most store bought muffins today are more like a piece of cake. These look wonderful!!
Thanks, Sherri! These muffins turned out even better than I expected. I can’t stop snacking on my freezer stash of these!
Yum! Love how healthy these are and also love the crunch of the almonds on top 🙂
Thanks, Medha! The almond crunch is one of my favorite things about these muffins. And all of the chocolate, of course!
Kristine, these look absolutely delicious! Can’t wait to give them a try as dark chocolate is my favorite. Pinned!
If you try these, I hope you love them! They are my new favorite muffin, as I love dark chocolate too!
These are SO cute and perfect for a on-the-go breakfast! Pinned 🙂
I love keeping on-the-go options in my freezer. Thanks for pinning!
Kristine I can use a big batch of chocolate chunk muffins this week. You know when you have the craving for something and you wish you had a stash, well thats how I feel about these.
Wish I could send you a batch of these, Kathy! I know I’ll be making more right away when my stash is gone.
Muffins + Tea equal the perfect breakfast! Pinned.
Yes! Thanks for pinning!
These look so good! I have such a thing for muffins too–seriously, what’s not to love! Pinned!
Muffins are the best! Thanks, Michelle!
Ooh, double chocolate muffins are my favorite! These look really delicious!
Thank you, Kelly! I was thinking the other day as I ate one of these, that they almost taste like chocolate cake. Without the guilt. 🙂
These muffins look delicious! Love the fact they’re SKINNY – so good, means I can eat more than one, right?! 😀
Thanks, Jess! Yep, that’s totally what it means! 😉
I love that you made a muffin that looks and sounds delicious, but actually has some health benefits!
Thank you, Janet! Healthy muffins are one of my favorite things to bake!
I’m loving that these are “skinny”, that means I can eat more, right?! Haha, but seriously, one wouldn’t be enough of those delicious looking muffins!! Pinned 🙂
Of course it means you can eat more! 😉
These muffins look absolutely perfect, Kristine! I love my chocolate, and being able to enjoy it with less guilt is always welcome. I see these in my very near future! Pinned. 🙂
Thanks, Marcie! I hope you try these – I know you’ll love them!
Yup… definitely love when “skinny” and “chocolate” go together in a recipe!! 🙂 These muffins look delish and perfect for bfast or a snack!
Thanks, Jess! It sounds like we are on the same page when it comes to chocolate. 🙂
Wow Kristine! These look amazing! Healthy, dark-chocolate-y and amazing. I’m saying that’s a great muffin!
Thanks, Kristi! I love anything with dark chocolate!