I love baking and my kids love to eat what ever comes out of the oven. So once in a while, when we are trying to be careful about what we eat, I try to sneak in a healthy treat. I will admit this is not always a successful venture. Their taste buds can sense the lack of sugar in a nano second and they quickly spit out the baked sugarless creation and disappear from sight. Leaving me with a countertop of healthy baked goods now declared “no man’s land.” A desolate space no one will touch until all signs of the recent sugar free intruder have disappeared. Once the word has spread, certain sugar free baked goods could sit there for days and no one would be tempted to try one again. I’m pretty sure this is how they protest my efforts to guide us towards a healthier way of eating.

When I found a recipe for a healthier version of a double chocolate muffins with chocolate chips, I was a little leery of how it would be received. To my surprise this double chocolate muffin was quickly gobbled down by the entire clan. My little boys were even calling them cupcakes. They even asked me to make them again! So I thought I pass this recipe along to you.

Ingredients:
1 3/4 c oats
 3 egg whites
 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (or regular plain low fat yogurt)
1/2 tsp cream of tartar (or 1-1/2 Tbsp. vinegar)
1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup hot water
1 cup sugar substitute (like Splenda granular) OR 1/4 cup + 2 tbs stevia
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or switch it up with any kind of chip you’d like.)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Line a muffin pan with foil or paper liners.
In a blender combined all the ingredients until oats are smooth.
Place the mixture in a bowl and gently fold in half of the chocolate chips.
Divide into prepared muffin tins. (batter will be loose)
Place muffins in the oven for 10 mins and then pull them out of the oven.
Top with remaining chocolate chips and place back in the oven for another 10 minutes.
Test with a toothpick and remove when the toothpick comes out clean.