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You are here: Home / Breakfast / Healthy Chocolate Muffins (with butternut squash)

Healthy Chocolate Muffins (with butternut squash)

August 30, 2018 By Taesha Butler 61 Comments

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These healthy chocolate muffins are naturally sweetened, have added butternut squash for an extra healthy punch of goodness, are gluten free, dairy-free and are so delicious! Plus, they super easy to make and kid-approved!

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A good muffin recipe is young daughter’s love language. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, the middle of the night…..my girl loves her muffins and I love how much goodness I can shove into her favorite food. 

With school back in season, I have been dreaming up all the easy nut-free options that I can throw into her lunch box that are not only delicious and sure to be gobbled up, but that are also nutrient dense….which means veggies, protein and healthy fats.

Many of you know and love my nut butter based baked goods like…..

  • Peanut Butter Pumpkin Bread
  • Sweet Potato Peanut Butter Muffins
  • Almond Butter Blueberry Zucchini Muffins
  • Flourless Chocolate Protein Donuts (with hidden veggies!)

…but many of you have also said that you desperately need easy peasy nut-free options to feed to your kiddos! Which is why Healthy Chocolate Muffins (with butternut squash) happen to be nut-free

Fun Fact: Did you know that when you combine sunflower seed butter (the base for this recipe) with baking soda, it turns GREEN when baked.

This is because sunflower seeds contain chlorophyll (or chlorogenic acid). This acid reacts with the baking powder/soda in a recipe when heated. And everything might look all fine and dandy straight from the oven, but once the baked good cools, it also turns green! 

A fun little thing to do for St. Patrick’s Day, but it often weirds people out to have an unexpectedly green baked good! Hence why I added cacao/cocoa powder to this recipe. It hides the strange green color and chocolate makes everything more appealing…for kids and adults.

And because I view every food offering as an opportunity to eat a veggie, butternut squash also made it into the mix!

a process shot of how to make chocolate muffins

Healthy benefits of butternut squash

It is almost fall, after all, and those beautiful butternut squashes are popping up everywhere!

Butternut squash is not only lovely to look at, but they are loaded with vitamin C,  vitamin E, thiamin, niacin, vitamin B-6, manganese and more potassium than a banana. With all that goodness, why wouldn’t I throw it into a sweet little muffin recipe that I know my girl will be going for first at lunch time?

Chocolate muffins cooling in muffin tin

Suggested adaptations when making healthy chocolate muffins

  1. Not butternut squash? Pumpkin or sweet potato will work just fine too! I find butternut squash, sweet potato and pumpkin to be very interchangeable in many recipes!
  2. Green doesn’t scare you? Leave the cacao/cocoa powder out! I personally love chocolate, but also know it is not everyone’s jam. If the chemical reaction between the sunflower seed butter and the baking soda resulting in a green muffin (that tastes just fine) doesn’t bother you, feel free to leave the chocolate out of this recipe all together!
  3. Chocolate chips are totally optional! Chocolate chips are a great way to adjust the sweetness/sugar level of these muffins to your personal tastes and needs. These muffins were sweet enough on their own for my family, so I just topped them with a few chocolate chips for fun and to make them more visually appealing. Feel free to omit them entirely for a lower sugar option or add as many as you like for a special treat that also has a punch of veggies!

Other butternut squash recipes you are going to love…..

  • How to cook butternut squash (6 ways!)
  • Slow Cooker Chicken & Butternut Squash Stew
  • Slow Cooker + Instant Pot Butternut Squash Chicken Curry

This post contains affiliate links, though all opinions are my own. When you purchase anything using my links, it costs you absolutely nothing extra, but it does kicks The Natural Nurturer a little financial love to keep doing what we do. Thank you for your continued support, both with your dollars and your interest

Print Recipe
5 from 11 votes

Healthy Chocolate Muffins (with butternut squash)

These healthy chocolate muffins are naturally sweetened, have added butternut squash for an extra healthy punch of goodness, are gluten free, dairy-free and are so fluffy and delicious! Plus, they super easy to make and kid-approved!
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: gluten free muffins, healthy chocolate muffins, hidden veggies, veggie-loaded muffins
Servings: 12 muffins
Calories: 181kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/3 cup cacao powder or cocoa powder
  • 3/4 cup  no-sugar added sunflower seed butter if nut-free isn't important, you can sub natural smooth peanut butter or almond butter
  • 3/4 cup butternut squash puree
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips* or to taste and optional

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350F and line a 12-hole muffin tin.
  • Combine all ingredients (expect chocolate chips, if using) in a large bowl. Mix until all ingredients are incorporated.
  • Add chocolate chips (if using) and stir to mix them in.
  • Using a spoon or small measuring cup, portion out the batter between the 12 lined muffin tin holes.  Top with more chocolate chips, if desired
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the muffin comes out clean
  • Let cool for 20 minutes and enjoyLet cool for 20 minutes and enjoy
  • Let cool complete before storing in an air-tight container in your fridge or freezer

Notes

*chocolate chips often contain dairy, so if dairy-free is important to you, be sure to pick a dairy-free brand

Nutrition

Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 181kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 80mg | Potassium: 114mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1032IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional information is provided as an estimate only and may vary based on the product type, servings and other factors. If you are following a diet, please consult with a professional nutritionist or your doctor. Stay healthy!

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Filed Under: Breakfast, Muffins, Snacks, Vegetarian, Veggie-Loaded Tagged With: dairy-free muffin recipes, gluten free muffins, healthy chocolate muffins, healthy kid recipes, healthy lunch box recipes, healthy muffins, muffin recipe, nut free recipe, Nut-Free Paleo Chocolate Butternut Squash Muffins, nut-free paleo muffins, one bowl muffins, paleo muffins, protein muffins, veggie loaded muffins

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jessica Zahn

    August 31, 2018 at 12:06 am

    Could natural peanut butter be substituted for the sunflower butter if I’m not worried about being nut free? Nothing against sunflower butter, but if I can sub then I have all needed ingredients on hand! 🙂

    Reply
  2. Deanna

    August 31, 2018 at 3:39 am

    Never used butternut squash…so how do you make a puree?

    Reply
    • Taesha Butler

      September 7, 2018 at 10:15 pm

      You can buy it at the store or just roast a butternut squash and puree up the flesh in the blender!

      Reply
  3. Heather

    September 1, 2018 at 5:52 pm

    These are healthy and yummy! I didn’t have any buttenut squash but I had a cooked sweet potato and a half of a banana and I mashed them together. They came out really good!

    Reply
    • Taesha Butler

      September 7, 2018 at 10:12 pm

      Such a great sub! yum!

      Reply
    • Priya

      June 7, 2019 at 4:31 pm

      We have to avoid eggs. What would be a good substitute for the 3 eggs? Flax eggs?

      Reply
      • Taesha

        June 7, 2019 at 7:59 pm

        I’ve tried this kind of recipe with various egg replacements but I haven’t had success with any yet.

        Reply
  4. Jean

    September 3, 2018 at 9:26 pm

    Such a brilliant idea to use butternut squash in muffins! I love all the amazing ways you hide veggies in desserts.

    Reply
    • Taesha Butler

      September 7, 2018 at 10:10 pm

      The more veggies, the better in my book! 😉

      Reply
  5. Renee

    September 3, 2018 at 11:39 pm

    So fun! My girls have been asking for something with chocolate the last couple weeks – I’ll have to indulge them with these!

    Reply
    • Taesha Butler

      September 7, 2018 at 10:11 pm

      I hope they enjoy!

      Reply
  6. Emily @ Recipes to Nourish

    September 3, 2018 at 11:43 pm

    Such an awesome way to use butternut squash! I love the shiny crackly tops on these muffins – so yummy!

    Reply
    • Taesha Butler

      September 7, 2018 at 10:11 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  7. Katja

    September 4, 2018 at 5:37 pm

    I love butternut squash but have never used it in muffins. YUM! Your muffins are beautiful!!

    Reply
    • Taesha Butler

      September 7, 2018 at 10:10 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  8. tessa simpson

    September 4, 2018 at 6:55 pm

    I love when all the butternut comes out of my garden…and what a beautiful way to use some puree!! These looks so decadent!

    Reply
    • Taesha Butler

      September 7, 2018 at 10:09 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  9. ChihYu

    September 8, 2018 at 1:18 am

    Love how simple and delicious this recipe is. How wonderful!

    Reply
  10. Irena Macri

    September 9, 2018 at 11:09 pm

    I am such a sucker for a recipe with some hidden veggies in it. The texture in these looks outta this world. Totally trying these as soon as I can!

    Reply
  11. Donna

    September 10, 2018 at 7:04 am

    These look like gorgeous muffins, perfect for nut free schools! I have to say I’d love to dunk my finger in the raw batter as it looks amazing! xxD

    Reply
  12. Mandy

    September 30, 2018 at 6:39 pm

    Do you think these could be made with nut butter instead? I’d rather not have to buy sunflower butter since we don’t have to worry about being nut free! Can’t wait to try these.

    Reply
    • Taesha Butler

      October 8, 2018 at 9:20 pm

      Yes! I make it with creamy almond butter often! Peanut butter would also work. Whichever you prefer!

      Reply
    • Liz

      November 8, 2018 at 2:14 am

      I’ve made them with nut butter everytime works perfectly

      Reply
  13. Amber

    October 9, 2018 at 7:36 pm

    I followed the instructions and combined all of the ingredients in a large bowl but I ended up with a super duper lumpy batter. The lumps were actually the cacao powder that just wouldn’t breakdown with the hand mixer or with a spoon. What do you think went wrong?

    Reply
  14. Heather

    October 18, 2018 at 12:39 am

    I have these in the oven now and used some leftover pumpkin. Using duck eggs since chicken eggs and I don’t get along. Batter tastes fab! Can’t wait for them to be ready.

    Reply
  15. LIz

    November 8, 2018 at 2:13 am

    I have literally made these 10 times in the last month I love them and so does my fiancé!

    Reply
  16. Allison Gladney

    November 26, 2018 at 11:07 pm

    Love this!! I have a baby and 4 year old who doesn’t like chocolate (weird, I know) so I left out the cocoa and subbed blueberries. I made 8 of them that way and then added cocoa powder to four of them for myself!!! They smell AMAZING and the texture is super awesome from the looks of it. Thank you for another amazing recipe!!!!

    Reply
    • Taesha Butler

      November 30, 2018 at 6:41 pm

      Yay! I’m so glad it was a hit!

      Reply
  17. Megan

    December 7, 2018 at 1:02 am

    These are so yummy! My family was hooked on Eggo waffles in the morning (we all have to be out of the house by 7:20 AM every morning, so convenience is key!), but I was dissatisfied with the empty carbs they were eating daily. Now I make a batch of these on Sundays and I feel like everyone is getting a much healthier start to their day!

    Reply
    • Taesha Butler

      December 10, 2018 at 9:15 pm

      I LOVE this! So awesome!

      Reply
  18. Kara Goodrum

    March 20, 2019 at 1:05 am

    Could you use almond butter in this? Also, don’t muffins usually have flour? Does the cocoa powder substitute for that?

    Reply
  19. Erin

    June 7, 2019 at 1:26 am

    We need to be nut and seed free. Any non seed and nut butter substitutions you could suggest? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Taesha

      June 7, 2019 at 2:03 am

      Oh that is a tricky one. I honestly can’t think of one that would work with this recipe. However, you might be able to add cocoa powder to this recipe and sub the sweet potato for butternut squash. I haven’t tried it, but it might work.
      https://thenaturalnurturer.com/2016/11/17/grain-free-sweet-potato-muffins/

      Reply
      • Erin

        June 7, 2019 at 3:55 am

        I don’t think I was clear-sorry! We are good with all vegetables- just can’t use but or sunflower seed butters. Just wondering if there was a healthy substitute for the sunflower butter besides almond butter. Thank you for the great recipes!

        Reply
  20. Sarah

    June 8, 2019 at 4:12 pm

    Not only do these taste amazing, they look as pretty as they do in the pictures! Definitely not a muffin that kids would detect a veggie in! I used puréed pumpkin simply because I’m lazy 🤗. Will make again!

    Reply
    • Taesha

      June 9, 2019 at 3:11 pm

      Love it! I switch out the veggie in these as well!

      Reply
  21. Renee

    October 15, 2019 at 4:21 pm

    5 stars
    These are out-of-this world good! My daughter asked to have them for her birthday cupcakes

    Reply
  22. Alysha

    November 16, 2019 at 7:35 pm

    Would this recipe work without the maple syrup? Or does it need added sweetness?

    Thank you

    Reply
    • Taesha

      November 16, 2019 at 8:56 pm

      I know some people make it without and like it, but I think you have to be okay with it not really being sweet. If you are used to or prefer a sweet muffin, I would keep it in or use another sweetener.

      Reply
  23. Heather

    February 28, 2020 at 4:13 pm

    5 stars
    One of my kids’ (and husband’s) all time favorite recipes! And they are so easy to make!

    Reply
  24. Heidi

    March 6, 2020 at 4:43 am

    5 stars
    These are delicious! I’ve made this recipe probably 10 times now. I double it so I can freeze some to have on hand for my chocolate sweet tooth. I typically use pumpkin in place of butternut squash because I have canned pumpkin on hand.

    Reply
    • Taesha

      March 6, 2020 at 3:40 pm

      I LOVE freezing these!

      Reply
  25. Shaina

    March 13, 2020 at 6:12 pm

    5 stars
    I used peanut butter and added about 1 1/2 cups of grated carrots to the recipe. My food processor is broken so the way I grated the carrots made the texture a little funky, but otherwise I think it would work as a yummy addition to the recipe! Thanks for this delicious recipe!

    Reply
  26. Janet O

    April 2, 2020 at 4:18 am

    5 stars
    The batter without eggs are delicious. I was wondering if it would cook well without the eggs?
    I used pumpkin puree and flax eggs. They can out well. But the natural sweetness was gone when I added the flax eggs. Still, super yummy. My kids enjoy them as snacks.

    Reply
    • Taesha

      April 2, 2020 at 4:03 pm

      I haven’t had a lot of success making these or nut butter based baked goods without eggs or with flax eggs, but I am so glad you did! Did they hold together okay?

      Reply
  27. Anindita Dasgupta

    April 9, 2020 at 2:13 pm

    I have an acorn squash that I have been trying to use up. Do you think these would work with acorn squash puree instead of butternut squash? Thank you! So excited to try.

    Reply
    • Taesha

      April 9, 2020 at 2:40 pm

      I haven’t tried but I would think so! Just make sure to drain off any extra liquid, as homemade purees tend to be a bit wetter than canned!

      Reply
  28. Zahra

    April 20, 2020 at 8:07 pm

    Is it possible to try it with regular butter (can’t get the nut seed butter due to lockdown!). Can’t use any nut based butters either.

    Reply
    • Taesha

      April 20, 2020 at 8:34 pm

      Unfortunately no. Nut butter and dairy butter are very different. But this recipe might be a better fit for you
      https://thenaturalnurturer.com/egg-free-chocolate-butternut-squash-muffins/

      Reply
  29. Victoria V

    April 22, 2020 at 5:23 pm

    I don’t have ACV on hand. What would be a good substitute? Or could I just go without? I’m not sure what purpose it serves in the recipe or I’d try to think of a sub on my own!

    Reply
    • Taesha

      April 22, 2020 at 5:29 pm

      The ACV is the acid in the recipe that activates the baking soda. You can use lemon juice too or I often use this sub for baking soda in recipes

      1 teaspoon baking soda = 3 teaspoons baking powder + omit any added salt

      Reply
  30. kate

    May 6, 2020 at 9:00 am

    can i use stevia sugar

    Reply
    • Taesha

      May 6, 2020 at 3:21 pm

      I haven’t tried it but I bet it would work!

      Reply
  31. Krista

    May 24, 2020 at 12:17 pm

    Are the nutrition facts for all 12 or just 1?

    Reply
    • Taesha

      May 24, 2020 at 2:41 pm

      1 muffins

      Reply
  32. Ve.

    June 19, 2020 at 3:25 pm

    Any substitute for apple cider vinegar?

    Reply
    • Taesha

      June 19, 2020 at 11:28 pm

      Lemon juice would work!

      Reply
  33. ปั้มไลค์

    July 5, 2020 at 2:34 pm

    5 stars
    Like!! I blog frequently and I really thank you for your content. The article has truly peaked my interest.

    Reply
  34. Candy

    September 14, 2020 at 1:40 pm

    5 stars

    Reply
  35. Gina

    September 29, 2020 at 12:51 pm

    5 stars

    Reply
  36. Leonore

    October 16, 2020 at 1:31 am

    5 stars
    most excellent

    Reply

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Hi! I'm Taesha! I help busy people fall in love with healthy eating with my simple, family-friendly, veggie-loaded recipes. I believe that real food should taste amazing AND be easy to make!

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