Vegan Dark Chocolate Chip Orange Muffins
If chocolate orange isn’t the tastiest flavour combo to enjoy during December, I don’t know what is! These delightful dark chocolate orange flavoured muffins are the perfect little treat to get you in the festive mood, guilt-free.
Adding the oat flour is a great addition to bring some fibre back into this muffin, which will help avoid the sugar rush and fill you up for longer. I also opted for coconut sugar which has a lovely richness and is one of the few sugars that has some trace nutrients left in it. Compared to granulated sugar, coconut sugar has higher levels of iron, zinc, and calcium, according to research from the Philippines government’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute. Also, coconut sugar contains trace amounts of phytonutrients and antioxidants, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanidin. Too much of any sugar isn’t great, but it’s okay to enjoy sweet snacks like this in moderation.
Makes 6
Ingredients:
1/2 cup plain flour
1/2 cup oat flour
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup coconut sugar or unrefined caster sugar
1 tbsp chia egg (1 tbsp ground chia seeds + 3 tbsp of water)
1/4 cup melted coconut oil
1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (half an orange)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup plant milk
Zest of half an orange
1/2 cup dairy free dark chocolate chips
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 220ºC. Grease muffin tin (6 cups) with coconut oil.
Mix together the flours, baking soda, baking powder, coconut sugar, salt, cinnamon and cloves.
In another bowl lightly whisk together the melted coconut oil, plant milk, orange juice, chia egg and vanilla extract.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, add in the orange zest and the chocolate chips and stir until well combined.
Evenly spoon the mixture into the 6 muffin cups.
Bake in oven for 10 mins on 220ºC to help with the rise and then turn it down to 180ºC for the next 15 mins or until brown.
Let cool slightly for 10 mins on a wire rack and then enjoy!
Cheryl Telfer is a multi-discipline creative, wellness advocate and currently is training to be a certified holistic nutritionist.
At the beginning of 2020, Cheryl left a career in the broadcast media and advertising industry to focus on sharing her knowledge and passion for holistic health and nutrition with the world. She has since hosted free nutrition talks and corporate workshops to share some invaluable insights into how the holistic approach to nutrition can benefit us all. She also creates wellness content and shares nutritious recipes on social media, as well as writing content for the Wellnotes newsletter.
Having experienced issues with her health due to a chronic genetic condition called Sickle Cell Anaemia, Cheryl decided to become more responsible for her health and wellbeing on a day-to-day basis. Public healthcare helped her survive, but it's self-care that has helped her thrive!
She is a proponent for the idea that food is medicine, as traditional practices like Ayurveda, Chinese medicine (TCM) and herbalism has benefited people, modern and indigenous, and the scientific research around this is growing. She also believes there is a place for western medicine in the equation. The holistic approach is about tuning into our bodies and finding balance. That might mean taking the necessary medication, as well as eating a nourishing diet right for your personal needs.