I know the title of this recipe seems a little strange but trust me when I say that these muffins are gonna blow ya mind! I came up with them after wanting to make a better-for-you muffin that I could feel good about noshing on for a quick breakfast on the go, or better yet, for a lunch dessert (best dessert of the day!). They’re very similar to my chocolate banana bread, but with a more nutrient-dense twist.
These chocolate spinach muffins also make the perfect treat for kiddos — they’ll never know you packed them with fiber, protein, and tons of nutrients because they taste like a slice of chocolate cake. LOVE LOVE LOVE.
They’ve become such a staple in my house that I had to make a fun video HERE for my Good Mood Food YouTube series. Watch the whole video here or at the bottom of this post!
Everything you’ll need to make chocolate spinach muffins
These spinach chocolate muffins are packed with nutrients thanks to spinach, almond flour, hemp seeds, cacao powder and oatmeal; plus they’re sweetened with banana and just a touch of maple syrup and taste like a cross between a brownie and a slice of chocolate cake. They’re fudgy yet still fluffy. What more can I say? I LOVE THEM. I’ve been keeping them in my freezer and warming them up whenever I have a sweet tooth. Here’s what you need to make them:
- Bananas: using ripe bananas helps to naturally sweeten these chocolate spinach muffins and give them the right texture. Choose bananas with brown spots on them!
- Eggs: you’ll need 3 eggs in this muffin recipe. I haven’t tested them with any egg alternative so I’m not sure how they would turn out. Let me know if you give it a try!
- Sweetener: we’re using just a few tablespoons of pure maple syrup to sweeten these muffins with the banana. Honey is a great option too! You’ll also need some vanilla extract.
- Dry ingredients: you’ll need fine, blanched almond flour, unsweetened cacao powder and rolled oats (gluten free to keep these muffin gf).
- Mix-ins: we’re also adding a few tablespoons of hemp hearts for a boost of healthy fats, fiber and protein, and of course, fresh spinach! I like to make these double chocolate spinach muffins by adding dark chocolate chips as well.
- Baking staples: you’ll also need some baking soda and salt so that these muffins bake properly.
Wait… spinach in muffins?
Yes! These chocolate spinach muffins have 3 whole cups of fresh spinach baked right into them. Trust me, you won’t taste or see it at all. It’s just like adding spinach to your favorite smoothie and adds a wonderful boost of veggies. Next, I’m going to start blending spinach into my favorite banana oatmeal pancakes!
What makes these chocolate muffins healthy?
There are a few ingredients that really help to make these spinach chocolate muffins nutritious and healthy.
- Spinach: this recipe has 3 cups of spinach in there! Spinach is packed with iron, calcium, folic acid, plus vitamins A, C, and K1.
- Almond flour: this is one of my favorite flours to bake with because it’s so nutritious. Tons of protein, fiber, calcium, and healthy fats to help keep you full and satisfied.
- Hemp seeds: I use hemp seeds all the time with my son because they are a great source of protein, fiber, healthy fats, and iron.
- Cacao powder: a great source of iron and a healthier alternative to regular cocoa powder.
Optional ingredient swaps
If you’re missing some of the ingredients for these chocolate spinach muffins, here are some subs I can recommend:
- Feel free to use honey in place of the maple syrup
- If you don’t have cacao powder, you can use regular, unsweetened cocoa powder
- Instead of rolled oats, you can use 1/4 cup of oat flour
- Swap the hemp hearts for a tablespoon of chia seeds if you’d like
Can I use regular flour?
Unfortunately, I would not recommend using regular flour for these gluten-free chocolate spinach muffins. Try these muffins instead!
What do chocolate spinach muffins taste like?
If you love brownies, banana bread, and chocolate cake then you’re in luck. These healthy chocolate spinach muffins literally taste like a fudgy brownie and your favorite banana bread had a delicious baby. The texture of them is similar to a slice of chocolate cake. Trust me when I say kids will love them!
How to make healthy chocolate spinach muffins in the blender
- Prep your muffin tin. Add muffin liners to your muffin tin. Be sure to spray the inside of the liners with nonstick cooking spray.
- Blend the wet ingredients. Add your bananas, eggs, maple syrup, vanilla and spinach to your high powdered blender and blend until smooth.
- Blend in the dry. Next, add the almond flour, cacao powder, oats, hemp hearts, baking soda & salt and blend again until smooth.
- Chocolate party. Stir in those dark chocolate chips (do not blend). Feel free to use whatever chocolate chips you’d like.
- Pour & bake. Evenly pour the batter into your prepared muffin liners, top each with a few chocolate chips, and bake them. If the batter doesn’t pour well, you can simply scoop it into the muffin batter with a measuring cup.
- Top & enjoy. Add a sprinkle of fancy sea salt to the tops (if you’d like), let them cool, and enjoy as-is or with a dollop of nut butter!
Pro tips for making spinach chocolate muffins
- Pack your almond flour. When you measure the almond flour be sure to pack it just like you would with brown sugar.
- Use ripe bananas. Be sure to use bananas that have lots of brown spots to give the muffins the perfect sweetness.
- Do not use steel cut oats. Rolled oats have a much different consistency than steel cut, so be sure you’re using rolled oats or quick oats.
- Keep them dairy free. Remember to use dairy free chocolate chips if you need to keep the muffins dairy free!
- Vegan option. I haven’t tested these chocolate spinach muffins with flax eggs, but let me know if you do in the comments!
How to store & freeze muffins
- To store: place these gluten free chocolate spinach muffins on the counter in an airtight container for a day, then transfer to the fridge.
- To freeze: allow the muffins to cool completely then put in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Once ready to reheat, you can thaw at room temperature, or heat up in the microwave in 30 second intervals.
More muffin recipes you’ll love
Get all of my muffin recipes here!
Good Mood Food Episode 3
I hope you love these blender double chocolate spinach muffins! If you make them be sure to leave a comment & a rating so I know how you liked them. Enjoy, xo!
![cover of the ambitious kitchen cookbook](https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9780593581650-1-918x1138-1.png)
The
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Blender Double Chocolate Spinach Muffins
![gluten free chocolate spinach muffin drizzled with peanut butter](https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Grain-Free-Blender-Double-Chocolate-Spinach-Muffins-5-170x170.jpg)
Fluffy gluten free chocolate spinach muffins made with nourishing ingredients like almond flour, hemp hearts, and of course, fresh spinach! These easy chocolate spinach muffins are naturally sweetened, pack in protein & healthy fats and are made right in your blender. An easy and delicious breakfast or snack that’s great for kids!
Ingredients
- 3 VERY RIPE medium bananas
- 3 eggs
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup (or sub honey)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 cups organic spinach
- 2 cups (224g) packed fine blanched almond flour
- ½ cup (40g) unsweetened cacao powder (or sub unsweetened cocoa powder)
- ½ cup (48g) rolled oats, gluten free if desired (or sub 1/4 cup oat flour)
- 3 tablespoons hemp hearts (or sub chia seeds)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup (60g) dark chocolate chips, plus more for sprinkling on top
- Milk of choice, as needed for blending
- For topping:
- Fancy Maldon sea salt
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with muffin liners and spray the inside of the liners with nonstick cooking spray.
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Add the bananas, eggs, maple syrup, vanilla and spinach to a high powered blender and blend until completely smooth.
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Next add in the almond flour, cacao powder, oats, hemp hearts, baking soda and salt; blend until smooth. The batter may be thick, so you might have to use a spatula to push the ingredients down, and blend again. It is best to do this in a high powered blender. If the batter is looking too thick or not blending well, simply add milk a little bit at a time. Once the batter is smooth, stir in ⅓ cup chocolate chips (do not blend).
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Scoop or pour batter into prepared muffin liners. Top with a few chocolate chips on each muffin. Bake for 22-27 mins or until the tester comes out clean. When they come out of the oven, sprinkle with a little sea salt. Allow muffins to cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling. Enjoy! Makes 12 muffins. I love serving these warm with a dollop of nut butter on top.
Recipe Notes
To make vegan: I haven’t tested these chocolate spinach muffins with flax eggs, but let me know if you do in the comments!
See the full post for tips, tricks & ways to customize these muffins!
Nutrition
Serving: 1muffinCalories: 224calCarbohydrates: 19.7gProtein: 8.3gFat: 14.2gSaturated Fat: 2.7gFiber: 5.3gSugar: 7.5g
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on January 12th, 2021, and republished on April 27th, 2024.