Chocolate Protein Muffins
These muffins satisfy any sweet craving, can be enjoyed any time of day, and are kid-friendly! I love having these easy muffins as a light breakfast with my morning coffee on the weekends or as a snack in between meals. No refined sugar added, high in antioxidants and polyphenols from cacoa powder, and simple ingredients, try out these chocolate protein muffins!
Ingredients
2 eggs
1 cup grated zucchini (squeeze out excess moisture)
¼ cup maple syrup
½ cup almond butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 servings unflavored protein powder (I use Designs for Health Pure Paleo)
½ cup cacao powder
½ cup almond flour or oat flour
2 tbsp ground flaxseed
½ tsp salt
½ tsp baking soda
⅓ cup dark chocolate chips (or stevia-sweetened like Lily’s)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°F and line a muffin tin with parchment liners or grease lightly.
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, maple syrup, vanilla, and zucchini.
Stir in protein powder, cacao powder, almond/oat flour, flaxseed, salt, and baking soda until well combined.
Fold in chocolate chips.
Divide batter evenly into 12 muffin cups.
Bake for 16–20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with just a few moist crumbs.
Let cool in the pan 5–10 minutes, then transfer to a rack to finish cooling.
Cocoa Vs. Cacao
Both cocoa and cacao come from the same tree: Theobroma cacao. However, from flavor to benefits to how they’re processed, cocoa and cacao differ from one another.
To make cacao, the beans are fermented and roasted at a low temperature and broken down into tiny pieces or ground into a powder. On the other hand, cocoa is fermented and roasted at a high temperature and the cocoa pieces are ground into a thick paste called cocoa liquor and then turned into cocoa powder.
Here are quick comparisons:
Cacao is minimally processed so its beneficial nutrients remain intact
Cacao is higher polyphenols and antioxidants
Cacao is the most phytochemically complex food on the planet with 1200 active compounds that support many systems in the body.
Cacao is higher in magnesium, a mineral known to promote relaxation
Cacao has a stronger, more bitter taste due it being richer in nutrients and minerals