Healthy Eats: Chocolate Banana Oat Muffins

I don’t know about you but I love a good muffin but the normal ones you find in coffee shops and supermarkets are packed with can sugar, white flour, chemicals and lots of saturated fat. They generally come in at about 400-500 calories per muffin which is just ridiculous because that’s the general calorie count of an evening meal for me now! These healthy muffins are packed with wholegrain goodness, heart-healthy ingredients and sweetened with ripe bananas and just a little honey. They are the perfect solution if you have found yourself craving pastries or muffins mid-morning because they come in at just 210 calories each. These muffins are really filling and you’ll find that you won’t even miss those sugary versions you once craved!

• 1¼ cups rolled oats
• ½ cup plain yogurt – low fat
• ½ cup semi-skimmed milk
• 1 cup wholewheat/brown rice flour
  
• 1 large tablespoon organic honey
• ¼ cup raw cacao powder
• ¼ cup ground flax seed
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ tablespoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 ripe bananas – mashed
• ⅓ cup raw coconut oil
• 1 egg
• ½ cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup organic dark chocolate chips

1. Pre-heat oven to 205oC and line a muffin tin with 12 muffin cases (I doubled up to ensure they didn’t spread).
2. In a large bowl, mix together oats, yogurt and milk. Set it aside to soak for 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, blend together remaining dry ingredients in a small bowl: flour through ground cloves.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together mashed bananas with the coconut oil, honey and egg. Add to the soaking oat mixture and stir to combine.
5. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir in walnuts and chocolate chips.
6. Using the ¼ cup measuring cup, pour batter evenly into the 12 lined muffin tins. Bake until toothpick comes out clean, about 18 minutes.
7. Let cool in pan 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.