Blender Chocolate Muffins

Blender Chocolate Muffins

  • Serves: 8
  • Prep Time: 00:05
  • Cooking Time: 00:13
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No-fuss chocolate muffins made in minutes. A perfect nut-free snack to pack into school lunch boxes (use 1/4 cup of raw cacao for children, more for an extra chocolaty flavour). All the ingredients go into a blender and in seconds your muffins are in the oven, the kind of recipe a busy mum needs.

Ingredients

* Please click on the green icon next to the ingredients listed below for extra details and helpful information.

  • 3 lge egg(s)
  • 1/2 cup ghee, or coconut oil melted to room temp
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup (100%)
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract (organic)
  • 1/2 cup arrowroot flour, or tapioca
  • 1/3 cup (35g) coconut flour
  • 1/4 - 1/3 cup cacao raw powder, (I use 1/4 cup for children)
  • 2 1/2 tsp baking powder (gluten free)
  • 1/4 tsp fine sea salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 170c (fan-forced). Place 8 paper muffin liners into a large muffin tray.

Add all the above ingredients in order to a blender. Blend for 10 seconds on high-speed to mix well, then scrape down the sides of the jug using a spatula and stir.

Spoon the batter evenly between the 8 muffin cups (approx. 2/3 full) or use smaller muffin cups which will increase the number.

Bake for 12 - 13 minutes or until the muffins have risen and the tops are just firm (the centres should still be a little moist). Leave the muffins to cool in the tray for 5 - 10 minutes then transfer the muffins to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days, suitable to freeze.

(This recipe can also be made into a slice - Pour the mixture into a lined 22cm square cake tin and bake for 15 minutes. You might like to add 1/2 cup of chopped nuts into the mixture before baking for an adult treat. Once cooled, cut into squares and top with a dollop of dairy-free cream).

egg(s)

I have used large free range or organic eggs from a 700g carton in my recipes. Eggs are one of the few foods considered to be a complete protein because they contain all 9 essential amino acids, also studies have shown that lutein (yellow colour) in egg yolks protects against the progress of early heart disease.

ghee

Ghee is a lactose-free ancient superfood. It is made by slow cooking and clarifying butter to remove the milk solids and lactose, it's pure butter fat. You can get the flavour of butter in your cooking without the dairy (please don't consume if you have an allergy to ghee). My favourite brands are Organic Valley Purity Farms or Puresoul grass-fed. It is also very easy to make yourself. Ghee has a high smoke point 485F/250C.

maple syrup (100%)

Maple syrup is an earthy, sweet tasting amber liquid that is produced by boiling down the sap of maple trees. Use organic 100% maple syrup which is a natural food sweetener, not a flavoured maple syrup. Pure maple syrup contains a decent amount of some minerals, especially manganese and zinc, some traces of potassium and calcium but it does contain a whole bunch of sugar. I try to reduced the amount of sweetness in each recipe to the lowest possible without compromising taste. Feel free to adjust to your liking. I use maple syrup in place of raw honey when I don't want the strong honey flavour coming through in a recipe. I have paleo cookies and desserts in my cookbook made from whole food ingredients with natural sugars but please don’t overindulge. Use as a treat only for special occasions.

vanilla extract (organic)

Use an organic vanilla extract (not an essence) or vanilla powder. Vanilla makes a big difference to the flavour of a recipe, I recommend keeping to the quantities I have stated in a recipe. I prefer Madagascar pure vanilla extract manufactured by ‘Simply Organic’ and for powder, Vanillamax 100% pure, finely ground Madagascar vanilla beans produced by Bulletproof.

arrowroot flour

Arrowroot is a herb, the roots are cultivated for its starch properties. It is used in my recipes as a thickener and I also like combining it with almond meal to produce a much lighter texture, more like a gluten flour. I find the starch helps to bind the ingredients together. You can substitute tapioca flour, which is made from the dried roots of the cassava plant. Tapioca can be used in baking, it has a slightly sweet flavour. However, I do not recommend thickening with tapioca, as it has a stretchy, gummy texture. Supermarkets only sell in very small containers, which is not cost effective. Purchase from baking specialty stores, health food stores or online. ( When substituting for cornflour in recipes, 2 teaspoons arrowroot = 1 tablespoon cornflour/starch).

coconut flour

Coconut flour is made by drying and grinding the meat of a coconut to a fine texture. Coconut flour is a low-carb flour that's an excellent source of dietary fibre and protein. It's a good grain-free and nut-free alternative but does require a larger amount of liquid than normal when used for baked goods. When replacing in a recipe that calls for wheat flour (or almond meal), use this guide; 1 cup of regular flour = 1/3 cup coconut flour, add an extra egg and an extra 1/3 cup of liquid. It can be used in soups, gravies and stews as a thickener and adds a boost of nutrition. Coconut flour may promote stable blood sugar levels and a healthy heart. In addition, it may have antibacterial properties and aid digestion and weight loss. There are now quite a few brands of coconut flour available and they all seem to perform differently depending on how coarse the texture is. In my recipes, I used Organic Coconut Flour from 'Let's Do Organic' and 'Red Tractor Foods' I like their finer texture.

cacao raw powder

Raw cacao powder and cocoa are made from the same source but are so different. Cacao powder is raw, unsweetened and in it's natural state, it has a stronger flavour and you would use less than cocoa powder. It is so good for you; high in dietary fibre, iron and is a good source of magnesium and antioxidants. Cocoa has been heated and processed, the high heat when processing kills all the minerals and vitamins.

baking powder (gluten free)

Baking Powder is a rising agent for baked goods. If substituting for baking soda you will need 4 times the quantity. Ensure you purchase a gluten free, no aluminum brand. Alternatively, you can make your own baking powder; 1 teaspoon of baking powder is equal to 1⁄4 teaspoon of baking soda and 1⁄2 teaspoon of cream of tartar. Note, that they should only be combined when preparing your recipe.

sea salt

Organic unbleached, unrefined organic Celtic sea salt or pink Himalayan salt is my salt of choice as these contain healthy minerals and trace elements that our body needs. Regular table salt has been bleached, refined and processed leaving minimal health benefits. If you choose to use regular table salt in my recipes you will need to reduce the quantity or the end result will be to salty.