Weekend is here!! Cheers to that! What better way to kick off your weekend than with some fresh baked muffins?! These muffins are the perfect weekend treat for you and your loved ones, so let’s get to it!
Ok, so my obsession with candied pecans continues. I don’t know what it is about them that makes me act like a stage five clinger, but I do know that they just make everything better. So why not throw them into my newest baked good?! I have been craving baked goods all week – to be honest, I’m not sure how that differs from any other week – I probably can’t even consider it to be a craving anymore, but more like a food group that must be consumed in my daily diet haha! These Chocolate Pecan Muffins hit all the right spots this week and now I just want more! I’ve enjoyed them for breakfast, a mid-morning snack, and even had them warmed up under a little vanilla ice cream! Who doesn’t love a chocolate style muffin with a little extra crunch?! I mean – best of both worlds – amiriiight?!
There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t want to eat some form of chocolate. Dark chocolate is actually proven to have many health benefits – so I consider my chocolate cravings to be more of a need than a want ;) (or at least that’s what I tell myself!) If you didn’t already know, dark chocolate is an anti-oxidant, it helps prevent against cardiovascular disease, can help prevent strokes, improves cholesterol and lower blood pressure, helps improve brain power, and my favorite health benefit is that it helps fight against depression! How?! Well clearly because chocolate just makes everyone a happier person - duh! Kidding kidding. But really, all jokes aside, there is actually a chemical in chocolate called anandamide, which is proven to help with mood boosts and energy levels. So see, you really should just be adding chocolate to everything!!
In addition to all the health benefits chocolate has, there’s also nothing it doesn’t pair well with either. I love this recipe so much because it reminds me a little bit of chocolate covered nuts, which is the perfect salty-sweet combo, but also the perfect snack to satisfy all your cravings. There’s nothing better than enjoying a breakfast or snack that tastes like a treat but is also giving your body a bunch of needed nutrients at the same time.
These paleo Chocolate Pecan Muffins are gluten-free, dairy-free, can be made vegan with the sub of a flax egg, and are completely guilt-free in my opinion. Made from oat flour, coconut flour, and cacao powder, these muffins are the perfect grab-n-go snack or the after dinner healthy treat you need to help satisfy that sweet tooth. So let’s getting baking foodies!! ENJOY!
What You’ll Need for Candied Pecans:
½ cup pecans, chopped
1 tbsp. pure maple syrup
1 tbsp. coconut oil, melted
½ tbsp. coconut sugar
dash cinnamon
What You’ll Need for Muffins:
1 1/3 cup oat flour
1/3 cup coconut flour
½ cup cacao powder
½ tsp. Himalayan pink salt
2/3 cup pure maple syrup
1/3 cup avocado oil
2/3 cup almond milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs
½ cup Hu Kitchen dark chocolate chunks + more for the top of each muffin (optional)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and line a cupcake tray with cupcake holders.
In a small bowl, mix together all ingredients for candied pecans. Place the candied pecans on your baking sheet and bake for about 20-25 minutes. Make sure you keep your eye on them so they don’t burn.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl whisk together maple syrup, avocado oil, almond milk, vanilla, and two eggs.
In a medium bowl, combine oat flour, coconut flour, cacao powder, and salt and mix well. Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until fully combined. Fold in about ½ - ¾ your candied pecans (you’ll want to save some to sprinkle on the top of each muffin) and you chocolate chunks.
Fill each cupcake holder about ¾ of the way full and then sprinkle the top of each with your remaining candied pecans. Bake for 18 minutes. Immediately after taking them out of the oven, place 1-2 Hu Kitchen chocolate chunks on top of each muffin and let it melt. (This step is optional). ENJOY!
Comments