Chocolate Orange Zucchini Muffins

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Add these paleo, gluten free Chocolate Orange Zucchini Muffins to your breakfast menu for a sweet, healthy treat.
 

I took the day off yesterday for a “staycation” to work on a few house items that have been on my to-do list for months. At the top of my list is painting the trim in our enclosed front porch. It’s currently a vibrant orange-gold color, which is not my style. We have been updating the porch for the past year, and painting the trim is one of the last details. I can’t wait to share the finished product!

Before I started painting, I tested a new recipe for breakfast by making these Chocolate Orange Zucchini Muffins. A few weeks ago I posted No Bake Chocolate Orange Cookies, and this recipe uses the same delicious flavor combination – orange extract and Ghirardelli unsweetened cocoa powder. I can’t get enough of chocolate + orange!

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been following the paleo diet this month for a variety of reasons. One thing that’s keeping me going is baking with coconut flour, which is paleo. My muffin recipe is adapted from Paleo Grubs’ Amazing Paleo Banana Nut Muffins. This is a perfect base recipe to try a variety of flavor combinations!

These muffins are dense, chocolate-y, and contain healthy fat from coconut oil. This recipe doesn’t include refined sugar, as the muffins are sweetened with just a bit of honey.

Chocolate Orange Zucchini Muffins
Yields: 12 muffins

Ingredients~
2 ripe bananas {mashed}
2 eggs
1 small zucchini {shredded}
2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup coconut flour
1 Tablespoon coconut oil
2 Tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons orange extract
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt  

How to~
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
*Mix bananas, eggs, coconut oil, and honey. Add shredded zucchini.
*Add coconut flour, cocoa powder, orange extract, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix until combined.
*Bake for ~22 minutes.
*Keep refrigerated or frozen. These muffins will stay fresh for one week, chilled.

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 22 minutes
Total time: 32 minutes

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