Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins!

Happy Thanksgiving BEAUTIFUL people :) Personally, my favorite holiday treats have those awesome holiday spices like pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, and more! I thought you would all enjoy this fun recipe for the holidays.  They are healthy, low-fat, and great for an on the go balanced snack! I modified a recipe I found to make it a healthy and tasty holiday treat.  Here is the recipe for scrumptious Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins:

INGREDIENTS:

• 3/4 cups white sugar
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/4 cup water
• 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Use paper liners in your muffin pan.
2. Mix sugar, applesauce, and eggs.  Add pumpkin and water.  In separate bowl mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices, and salt.  Add wet mixture and stir in chocolate chips.
3. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full with batter.  Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes.  Check to see if ready with a toothpick, if not, cook for 2-5 more minutes depending on your oven.
4. Yields 12 muffins.

NOTES:

If chocolate chips aren't your thing, you can bake them without or you can add a cream cheesing frosting on top instead.  The original recipe called for oil but I used applesauce instead to reduce fat.  I also substituted half the amount of flour with whole wheat flour too add more fiber.  If you double the recipe, use a whole 15 oz. can of pumpkin and if you're like me and love that pumpkin flavor you can add a 1/4 teaspoon of pumpkin spice as well!

Happy Thanksgiving!...Enjoy ;)

L  

References for original recipe: www.allrecipes.com