The other night I discovered a new food blog, Pinch My Salt. It’s filled with lovely photographs and beautiful looking recipes. And when I spotted the recipe for Chocolate Zucchini Muffins, I knew it would be the perfect recipe to start off the long Labour Day weekend. These muffins use applesauce instead of a lot of oil and I definitely liked the sound of a low-fat treat. I had a little bit of applesauce in the fridge, but I quickly made some more out of 2 very large and truthfully, rather unappealing Granny Smith apples. Here’s my very simple recipe for applesauce.
applesauce
2 large apples, diced or sliced thinly
1/4 c of water or more
1 t cinnamon1. Combine all three ingredients into a medium sized pot. Turn heat to medium and cover. Stir occassionally, adding more water if needed. About 20 minutes later, you should have applesauce! You can blend it or mash it with a fork to acheive a fine purreed consistency. Or enjoy it a bit chunky. Makes about 3 cups.
Print This RecipeCornelius is pretty much enamoured with these muffins…the only thing he would have changed to improve them slightly is to add mashed bananas instead of the applesauce. I’d have to agree.
chocolate zucchini muffins
(adapted from Pinch My Salt)
1/4 c sugar
3 T vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 c applesauce or mushed bananas
2 c all-purpose flour
2 T unsweetened cocoa
1 1/4 t baking soda
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/4 t salt
1 1/2 c finely shredded zucchini
1/2 c semisweet chocolate chips
cooking spray1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, oil and eggs until pale and creamy. Add in the fruit puree and mix well.
3. In another bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Add in the zucchini and chocolate chips and mix well.
4. Drop batter into muffins tins sprayed with oil. Fill about 3/4 full. Bake for about 20 minutes or until done. Makes about 18 muffins.
Very cool! I’ve been toying with the idea of a chocolate zucchini cake for a while now. These muffins look great!
Just wanted to say “hi!” Using banana instead of applesauce is a good idea. I haven’t actually made these myself yet…I got them from a friend and enjoyed eating them! I have been making lots of muffins lately…both banana ones and applesauce spice muffins! I like to make my own applesauce too. Love your blog!
Gorgeous muffins … now I have a use for all that zucchini from the garden.
We are overrun by zucchini!
If you’re looking for more zucchini baking ideas, look no further than: http://jumboempanadas.blogspot.com/2006/09/how-to-get-rid-of-zucchinis-that-are.html
My garden was recently overrun with zucchini so I was baking up a storm trying to use them all.
oh yummy another way to use zucchini! Kickpleat, send me your email and I’ll send you some more baking with zucchini!!! hugs
jenn
I’ve got these in the oven right now. I used half mashed banana/half apple butter. Hopefully that combo will work out!
Thanks so much for all the great recipes – love your blog!
I could have sworn I commented about how I love zucchini in things, not on its own…but it seems to have disappeared. Also, I tagged you.
http://kayaksoup.blogspot.com/2006/09/five-foods.html
rachel, these would be a great cake. not too sweet and with the added bonus that it’s not too bad for you!
hi nicole! thanks 🙂
ivonne, i’m not such a zucchini fan, but i’m trying! i can’t wait to see what kind of recipe you come up with!
wow, brilynn, you’ve made a ton of yummy looking zucchini treats!!
thanks jenn, like i said to ivonne, i’m not a huge zucchini fan, but i’m definitely interested in more ways to learn to like them!
oh mary, i hope they turn out for you! my husband can’t get enough of these and the banana idea was definitely his!
weird linda about your comments…i swear i never got them. ooh, that darn blogger! yup, i’ve filled in my 5! thanks for choosing me 🙂