Flourless Brownie Muffins

 I used to dislike chocolate very much. Sweets in general were not the way to my heart... until that fateful day when i got pregnant - i haven't been able to put them down since and that was 4 years ago!! So, frankly - i will not have chocolate of any kind in my house with the exception of my beloved chocolate Shakeology due to my lack of self control.

Awhile ago, i was perusing the Beachbody blog and was searching through sweet recipes to cure me. These CHOCOLATE MUFFINS caught my eye. Upon reading the ingredients, i realized i had all but one ingredient on hand - you guessed it - the chocolate. I had to go to the store and buy the dark chocolate chips. You don't even wanna know what happened next - BUT - i have to confess, every night i would go in the bag of chocolate chips and eat a handful of them. It's ridiculous, i know. Over time, the entire bag was gone and i still hadn't made any muffins. So - back to the store and this time - i used self control, made the muffins and haven't touched the chips since. (insert round of applause here). These dark chocolate muffins are delicious and surprisingly healthy.  XO

FLOURLESS BROWNIE MUFFINS

Total Time: 22 min.
Prep Time: 20 min.
Cooking Time: 12 min.
Yield:12 servings, 1 cupcake each
Ingredients:
1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained, rinsed
3 large eggs
½ cup pure maple syrup
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
3 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup dark chocolate chips

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Prepare 12 muffin cups by lining with muffin papers or coating with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
3. Place chickpeas, eggs, maple syrup, cocoa powder, baking soda, coconut oil, and extract in blender or food processor; cover. Blend until smooth.
4. Divide batter among 12 prepared muffin cups.
5. Top each muffin with about four chocolate chips; push into batter.
6. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
7. Cool completely and enjoy!

Pinterest Project ONE of MANY

I am sure many of you have seen this on Pinterest and if you are a Peanut Butter LOVER like me, you were probably thinking like me... this was a "MUST TRY". I conquered this one on last year on Christmas Eve. We were going to my "grandparent-in-laws" house and i wanted to take something to show off my newly acquired domestication skills:)

I give credit where credit is due and this is the recipe i followed -  the-girl-who-ate-everything. She has great pictures of step by step instructions. Instead of using milk chocolate chips, i used white chocolate chips....MMMM (great substitution)

Peanut Butter "Cheese Ball"

Ingredients:

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, at room temperature

1 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (not all-natural)
3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips or White Chocolate Chips:)
3/4 cup peanut butter chips
Graham cracker sticks, teddy grahams, and/or apple slices for dipping

Instructions:
Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until blended.

Spoon onto a large piece of plastic wrap; bring up all four corners and twist tightly forming into a ball shape.

Freeze for 1 hour 30 minutes or until firm enough to keep its shape. Place peanut butter and chocolate chips in flat dish (I used a cookite sheet). Remove plastic wrap from ball and roll ball into morsels to completely cover, pressing morsels into the ball if necessary.

Place ball on serving dish; cover and freeze for 2 hours or until almost firm. (Can be made ahead. If frozen overnight, thaw at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before serving.) Serve with graham cracker sticks, teddy grahams, or apple slices for dipping or spreading.

I found the serving dish and spreader for $1 at Walgreeens! What's GREAT about that is you can leave it where you brought it:) ENJOY!!