3.12.2013

Skinny Chocolate Biscoff Muffins

We finally had a sunny, warm weekend in D.C., and I couldn't have been happier. I was finding any and every excuse to be outside and soak up some sunshine. Naturally, frozen yogurt was on that list of excuses; so was walking to Trader Joe's, strolling through Clarendon to window shop, and meeting friends at our standard spot to enjoy a few drinks on the patio. To say that I was ready to throw on my bathing suit and welcome spring with open arms is an understatement. Anddd here we are, two days later, experiencing dark, rainy, dreary weather. Guess I'll keep my bathing suit in my closet and beg the weather gods a little more this weekend.


While I might have a fight to pick with the current weather conditions, I can't say that I'm completely upset that bikini season is still a month or so away. With all of the fun March festivities occurring, I have not been consuming the most healthy amount of calories. After all, how can one resist St. Patrick's Day drink and food specials? It only happens once a year!


Luckily, I had these Skinny Chocolate Biscoff Muffins to help get my eating back on track. With less than 200 calories per serving, these muffins-which actually taste more like a cupcake sans frosting-are a decadent treat that will help keep your sweet cravings at bay and your waistline bikini ready. Also keep in mind that these muffins don't require a mixer are mixed and ready to be devoured in half an hour. The perfect recipe? I think so. The hardest part is making sure you have bananas that look so brown that you might be scared to use them. If they look disgusting, then they're perfect; trust me. I had to wait a long five days to get my bananas a wonderfully disturbing, rotten color brown. Thanks to those rotten tubes of mush, I was able to make some delicious skinny treats. Here's to hoping that these muffins last long enough to help keep me away from more tempting March celebrations this weekend!

Skinny Chocolate Biscoff Muffins (adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction)
(12 muffins)

2 large, ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup mashed)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup Chobani Nonfat Vanilla Greek Yogurt (or your favorite nonfat vanilla yogurt)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips
1/4 cup Biscoff Spread (Cookie Butter), melted

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a regular muffin tin with baking cups.

In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas with a fork. Make sure there are no large lumps. Add the granulated sugar, egg, yogurt, and vanilla extract. Mix until ingredients are combined.

Add both flours, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, and baking soda to wet ingredients. (Be sure to sift the cocoa powder before adding so that you don't get any large lumps in your batter.) Mix until ingredients are combined, careful not to over mix. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Evenly distribute batter into baking cups. Melt the Biscoff Spread in a microwave safe container. (It only took about 30-40 seconds for mine to become mostly melted.) Spoon a teaspoon amount of Biscoff Spread over the top of each muffin. Swirl with a toothpick.

Bake muffins for 18-20 minutes, or until set and toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the muffins in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Print this recipe!

Nutritional Info
Servings Per Recipe: 12
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 174.1
Total Fat: 5.2 g
Cholesterol: 15.5 mg
Sodium: 75.3 mg
Total Carbs: 30.6 g
Fiber: 2.9 g
Sugars: 17.6 g
Protein: 4.9 g

Pros:
-Easy to prepare
-Made in about 30 minutes
-Minimal clean up- only one bowl and no mixer required
-A delicious low cal, low fat snack or dessert
-Versatile-use peanut butter or Nutella instead of Biscoff Spread, add different flavor chocolate chips or candies

Cons:
-Requires very ripe bananas, so you'll need to plan in advance and allow bananas to ripen

Elaine

19 comments:

  1. Holy Muffin these look good! I bet they would be amazing with Nutella too!

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    1. I think I might try this recipe next with Nutella. Triple chocolate skinny muffins!

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  2. "if they look disgusting then they're perfect" = yes! Exactly what the bananas should look like. I'm so glad you used my recipe! These sound amazing. I love biscoff spread!

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    1. Thanks for sharing your recipe! I wanted to switch it up a bit from peanut butter, so Biscoff was the first thing that came to mind. I also think Nutella would be ammmazing!

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  3. Oh man Elaine, these sound amazing!!! I love Biscoff, so I'm pretty sure I could devour these!!

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    1. Biscoff is a weakness of mine. I always buy two jars-one for baking and one for eating. :) You would definitely love these!

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  4. Cupcakes for breakfast! I'm sold. I think it's so hard to find healthy AND tasty recipes so I'm constantly searching. This recipe is definitely going to my "must try" list.

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    1. Ah! I just realized that I had recently pinned (on Pinterest) this recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction! We think alike. :)

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    2. Haha yes, Sally has so many wonderful recipes! This recipe is definitely thanks to her. You should give them a try very soon!

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  5. Biscoff/cookie butter + chocolate + banana = yes! I have a bar recipe that uses these flavors. I bet in the muffins it's awesome and can't believe how healthy these are! Never would have guessed b/c they look decadent, rich, and sinfully good :)

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    1. That was my goal! I don't like depriving myself, but I also don't want to weigh 500 lbs. So I love making sinfully delicious but also *healthier* sweets. This recipe is definitely a new favorite!

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  6. These sound beyond amazing!! I have been looking for an excuse to buy cookie butter!! ;)

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  7. Oh Biscoff, I love thee! And I LOVE that they're skinny Biscoff muffins.

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    1. Biscoff and I have a love/hate relationship. It's sooo good, but sooo bad for you. Thank God for this recipe! I can get a dose of biscoff and not feel so guilty. :)

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  8. I don't think it ever occurred to me to combine chocolate and biscoff. I'm loving it!

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    1. It's a sinfully delicious combo! I'm going to try it in cookies next :)

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  9. Hi! These look great and I love that they're actually skinny. I think I'm in the minority when it comes to biscoff - I've never tried it! Hearing so much about it so I need to change that asap! : )

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    1. Monica, how have you managed to avoid Biscoff for this long?! It's so addicting, so consider yourself warned. :)

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