The snow just keeps coming, doesn’t it!? 8 inches here, 14 inches there…. make me want to stay inside and bake This morning I took to the Internet in search of a healthier version of one of my favorites: banana chocolate chip muffins. Monique from Ambitious Kitchen posted this recipe and her muffins looked delicious so I decided to give it a shot.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 ripe bananas
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened almond milk
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (alternate options: blueberries, nuts)
There are two substitutions in this recipe that make it super awesome:
1) Honey for Sugar: Honey is actually sweeter than granulated sugar so you don’t need to use as much of it – in general, you can cut the sugar measurement in 1/2 to get your honey measurement! It also adds moisture to your baked goods.
Added bonus: I buy local honey, which many people swear by to treat seasonal allergies, soooo eating these muffins is like taking an allergy pill, right??
2) Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt for Butter: Substituting with Greek yogurt is a simple way to reduce the fat in your baking. The yogurt adds a tangy flavor while maintaining the moisture in breads, cookies, and more.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Spray 12 cup muffin tin with olive oil or other non-stick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl mix together the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, salt.
- In a stand mixer combine the wet ingredients (bananas, yogurt, milk, egg, honey, vanilla, coconut oil) until smooth.
- Add dry ingredients to wet and mix until just combined. Add chocolate chips and mix until evenly dispersed.
- Divide batter evenly into muffin tin and bake for 20-25 minutes (use the “toothpick test” to measure doneness).
- Allow to cool for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack until fully cool.
According to Ambitious Kitchen, one muffin boasts only 170 calories, 4.4g of fat, 14.7g of sugar, and 4.9g of protein! Not too shabby for a muffin with this much flavor!
What are some of your favorite healthy substitutions?
Thanks for reading!