Fudging the Definition of “Dessert”

Because of Mom’s unwritten rule, “No dessert for breakfast,” we only found healthy cereals in our childhood pantry. Forget about Frosted Flakes or Cinnamon Toast Crunch; we ate Raisin Bran, Grape Nuts, Cheerios, and the occasional Life or Fruity Pebbles (a real treat!). We enjoyed our small sweets after dinner, or sometimes with lunch, but never in the morning.

 

Although my inner chocoholic hated admitting Mom was right, I was nearly ready to wave the little white flag on this battle—until I stumbled across this recipe. Go ahead, scroll down. With those ingredients, no health nut could ever describe this breakfast as an indulgent splurge! But the taste proves otherwise…  

 

Moist and filling, these muffins started off my morning with a smile and kept me going straight through lunch. And after dinner, with no one watching, I snuck another one as “dessert”—without a single twinge of guilt!

 

 

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

from SparkRecipe’s Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

makes 12 muffins

Do NOT flip the muffin tins over to get the muffins out! The chocolate chips will still be slightly melty and get all over your hands. (You’ll have to lick off the chocolate, oh well…)

2 c. shredded zucchini (about 2 medium)

1½ c. whole-wheat flour

¾ c. sugar

½ c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1¼ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

½ c. fat-free yogurt

4 egg whites

1 tsp vanilla

¼ c. mini chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 350° and lightly coat 12 muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and next 5 ingredients (through cinnamon). In a medium bowl, stir together the yogurt, eggs, and vanilla. Mix the wet into the dry, stirring just until moist. Stir in the zucchini. Evenly divide the batter between the prepared muffin cups, and sprinkle with the mini chocolate chips. Bake at 350° for 15-20 min or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 min before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.