I am so excited to be posting again as well as sharing such a delicious recipe. These flourless chocolate muffins from Slim Pickin’s Kitchen are delicious and make breakfast quick and easy. Amber even shares some of her super secret mom tips that keep her successful. Everything from paleo breakfast options that are egg free and even how to survive a Whole 30 / Paleo lifestyle. Enjoy the delicious photography and eating the batter while making these flour chocolate muffins.
Flourless Chocolate Muffins
Hi, y’all! My name is Amber, and I’m the culinary creator behind, Slim Pickin’s Kitchen, a food blog focused on creative recipes seasoned with a bit of my Southern sass. I am a winner of the TODAY Show’s home chef challenge, and my recipes have been featured in a variety of media outlets including CountryLiving.com, Our State Magazine, and Buzzfeed. I am also an active member of George’s Facebook group, and I encourage y’all to join if you haven’t already.
Although the majority of my recipes are not strictly paleo, I do create cuisine that fits a variety of healthy living lifestyles including clean eating, paleo, plant-based, dairy, gluten, grain, refined sugar, and soy-free, and I myself try to follow a clean eating lifestyle as best as I can.
I am irrevocably in love with chocolate, and I believe some days are meant to start off with a fudgy bite of rich chocolate decadence. That’s where my flourless Chocolate muffins come in. These blender muffins are completely flourless, can be free of added sugars and dairy, are naturally sweetened with dates, and are stocked with healthy fats and antioxidants so you can fulfill your chocolate cravings without feeling guilty about your choice.
There are two topics I’ve seen trending in the healthy living world lately:
- What’s the easiest way to survive/maintain a paleo &/or Whole30 lifestyle?
- What are some quick and easy, grab and go breakfast options that aren’t eggs?
How to Survive a Whole 30/Paleo Lifestyle
No matter what dietary guidelines you follow the answer to this question is really quite simple: meal planning and meal prepping/batch cooking are huge yet simple steps to success. Without these straightforward strategies we’re really setting ourselves up for unnecessary hardship. That’s why George’s meal plans are so amazing! He does half the work for us. Trust me; I understand saying it and actually doing it are two different things.
I am a stay-at-home mom to a 20-month-old cyclone of energy and my husband works odd hours as a real estate agent & auctioneer so I don’t always get around to prepping my meals for the week either. The weeks when meal prepping falls to the wayside are the same weeks when I tend to hit hiccups with my health.
I try to prep, freeze, and batch cook every free chance I get so if I do hit a snag or my son has a clingy day I will have as many healthy options available for my family as I can. Using a slow cooker is a great way to save time and cook a large portion of meat at once. George’s BBQ pulled pork and my Honey Pecan Chicken are two amazing and easy recipes to make, and you can use the meat for a variety of different dishes throughout the week.
Paleo Breakfast Options (NOT Eggs!!!)
As you all know, starting your day off with a healthy breakfast is essential to keeping your body and mind in top form. Most breakfast recipes include scrambled, fried, or poached eggs, but I’m just not a fan! I know, I know. It’s blasphemous, but I’ve never really liked eggs and, from what I can tell, there are others in the world like me and there are others who are getting sick of eating eggs for breakfast.
These flourless chocolate muffins solve both the meal prepping dilemma and the grab and go breakfast recipe requests all-in-one because they are quick to whip up and the recipe makes a full dozen. Every ingredient for these flourless chocolate muffins are paleo pantry staples, and I’d bet most of you have them in your possession at this very moment.
Throw all of the ingredients into your high powered blender or food processor and give it a good zsoosh until the batter is completely smooth. Then scoop them out, sprinkle them with some chocolate chips or cacao nibs, pop them in the oven and bake. In 15 minutes you’ll have flourless chocolate muffins that are so fudgy and rich you’ll be shocked they’re made without butter, oil, or sugar.
Although these muffins aren’t Whole30 compliant, they’re still a fantastic and good for you grab and go breakfast or sweet indulgence. They are also an excellent starter recipe to serve to your family or friends who may question your dietary choices or who scoff at the thought of combining chocolate, avocado, and dates into an edible dish. Watch closely as their eyes ignite with the first bite because you may just witness their realization that eating real, healthy, and quality food may be a lot easier than they thought.
Flourless Chocolate Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole pitted dates packed
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 medium avocado roughly 1 cup
- 1 cup almond or cashew butter I’ve only tested with homemade nut butters
- ½ cup full-fat canned coconut milk warm enough so it is pourable
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tbsp Enjoy life mini chocolate chips or cacao nibs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Pour water into a small, microwave safe bowl and microwave for 1.5 minutes. Carefully add dates to water then set aside and let soften for 10 minutes.
- Thoroughly drain the water and discard (there is no need to squeeze or pat the dates dry) then add dates and remaining ingredients, except for the chocolate chips/nibs, to a high powered blender or food processor.
- Blend for 30-45 seconds, scrape down the sides, then blend for another 30 seconds-1 minute or until the batter is completely smooth.
- Using a ¼ cup cookie or muffin scoop, divide the mixture between 12 muffin cups lined with silicone or paper liners.
- Sprinkle the tops of each muffin with a few chocolate chips/nibs then bake on the middle rack for 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool completely and store in an air tight container.
Weekly Meal Plan – 6/26/15
Absolutely delicious! A friend suggested this recipe to me to curb a sweet tooth in a healthier way. I’ll be making these once a week for sure! My first batch, I cut a few muffins in half while still warm and put a bit of peanut butter in between the halves. So yummy!
These are terrific in every way. I’ve made them often and I find that 15 minutes is just the right amount of time in the oven. I use 3/4 cup or so of dates cuz I don’t love things too sweet. And I use smoked salt to really give these a dense, deep flavour.
Finally someone who recognises that eggs are not the be all and end all of life for breakfast. I am fine with eggs in a cake or similar but cannot face them on their own.
Is there a substitute for the avocado?
These are amazing! Absolutely love them and so did my son.
I was wondering if you have the nutritional breakdown on them? I could eat like 4 in one sitting lol
Since trying to stay whole30 I find with kids it is difficult because they always want treats. Now I have my own if they will stop eating them on me lol
Kimberly, the nutritional breakdown is available in the caveman feast app. glad you enjoy them.
Made these twice now, both with cashew butter and a few drops of Stevia–delicious. Gobbled up by my picky 9 year-old. Needed 28 minutes to bake at 375. When I followed the original recipe, it took about the same time, but the tops got a little burned. Rating will only let me do two stars, although this was at least 4 stars.
Thanks for sharing your tips and I’m so glad that you enjoyed them!
These look great, except I’m not an avocado fan! Can you taste it?
Thanks :)
No, they just taste like delicious chocolate!
Question- I would love to try these do you have any suggestions something to substitute the almond / cashew butter ?? my son is allergic to tree nuts / seasame / soy – trying to think about him I know he would love something like this. Thanks
Oh that is tough, I honestly don’t know
Sunflower butter
you could try sunflower seed butter or pumpkin seed butter! I’ve successfully substituted these in other nut-butter recipes. Hope it helps. :)
I always use sunbutter for my daughter with nut sensitivity & never had a problem
Finally made these today after drooling over the recipe for a week. Had to wait a couple of days for my avocado to ripen that I had bought…it was killing me with anticipation. AND, it was all worth it. Yummers!! Thanks so much for sharing and your awesome website.
You are so welcome, thanks for commenting
These are fantastic!! Thank you so much for sharing! I never really liked regular store bought muffins because they always tasted fake to me and were so dry. This recipe not only fixes those problems but adds tons of awesome nutrition.
I subbed the cashew butter with store bought natural peanut butter, salted. To compensate, I omitted the 1/2 tsp salt. I also added 6 drops of liquid stevia for sweetness and to cover up the overripe avocado taste. (First avocado I’ve ever made anything with at home…I’m still learning!)
Going to share some with my mom and sister in a few weeks. They love regular muffins so maybe I can convert them to these! LOL
Should be 5 stars but having the same problem others are with your site.
I don’t get the stars issue, maybe I should just replace it with a heart like instagram?
I’ve been looking for a flourless muffin recipe! I tried these this past weeekend and they were amazing!
I even shared them with the neighbors and got huge compliments. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome :)
It cooked right but wasn’t sweet enough ?
Just made these & impatiently waiting for them to cool, but if they’re as good as the batter, I’ve found a new brekkie addiction. No blender or processor so used a fine masher and muscle power. Batter wasn’t the smoothest but mixed well. Had to sub some mashed yam since my avocado was a bit too ripe in places! Also added unsweetened coconut flakes as its one of my favorite flavors. Thanks for another healthy, quick recipe :-) BTW, I rate this FIVE stars, but site only allowed 4.
wow… delicious recipe
I made these. Even my children (who eat sugar, and hate mom’s hippy meals) loved them. The cacao nibs were gross on top though. Today I plan to take this recipe and tweak it a little. I’m going to take out the chocolate, add cinnamon, nutmeg, and fresh harvested elderberry instead. I hope they turn out as delicious as the chocolate ones.
Cacao nibs are definitely an acquired taste. Thanks for commenting and enjoy them again :)
I made these this morning and they are fantastic. I mistakenly added 1 cup of coconut milk instead of 1/2, so I put in an extra egg and doubled the cocoa. It made about 18 and I did have to keep them in the oven an extra 10 minutes. I’ll be making these often. Thanks
Yay! So happy you liked them! I think maybe next time I’ll accidentally add in all those extras so I can make 18 too ;)
Is there a substitute for the nut butters? (Aside from seed butters)
I haven’t tested any
I haven’t tested any substitutes either, and I’m not sure if there would really be a substitute that would work.
I wonder about unsweetened applesauce.Back in the fat free diet days,I used to swap out fat in recipes with applesauce and they were moist and good. In not sure though? Good luck?
Wow! These are crazy good! I have already made two batches and will be making another one today. I’m pregnant and breastfeeding my toddler so they give me extra calories (and super yum) since I’m eating for 3! Thank you! My toddler loves them, too. My computer is being weird and won’t let me rate it, but 5 stars!
That’s so awesome, thank you Kristin
Yay! So happy y’all love them <3 Thank you so much, and congrats on your new addition!
My two year old loved these! She called them cupcakes! I loved them as well. Thank you!
That makes me happy :)
Yay! This makes my day! Thanks so much, Tracy. I’m going to be making them as cupcakes for my son’s 2nd birthday party coming up :)
My goodness; these look AMAZING! I’m so hungry now. :)
Go make them Suzanne
I’ve never used dates before. Are they dried or fresh?
Fresh
I think I found my new breakfast favorite!
By the way, why did you add 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar to the ingredients?
That is a great question, Amber?
Hi, Sarah! I added the apple cider vinegar b/c I found they helped the muffins keep their shape better. Without it, they tended to deflate a little bit after baking. The vinegar helps keep them fluffy.
I love the taste of these. Made em tonight. 15 minutes in the oven didnt cut it though, i kept adding 10 mins every time. They were still raw and gooey. :/ followed recipe exactly the same.
Hmm I will ask Amber
Hi, Sarah! I added the apple cider vinegar b/c I found they helped the muffins keep their shape better. Without it, they tended to deflate a little bit after baking. The vinegar helps keep them fluffy.
Hmmm…I’m not sure why that happened, Nessa. I tested this recipe at least 5x and they were always cooked in exactly 15 minutes. Where are you located? Maybe the difference of elevation or even problems with humidity could be an issue? I live on the coast of North Carolina.
Wow, these muffins look incredible. I never would have guessed that they’re made with avocado!
I want to try these but cant eat dates. Any thoughts on Xylitol or Coconut sugar as a sweetner substitute?
Hi, Nelly! I think using xylitol or coconut sugar would be fine as a substitute. If the batter seems to thick or dry though, I’d try adding in a bit more coconut milk to thin it out before cooking. Let me know if you run into any issues.
I didn’t have dates but subbed raisins, worked beautifully! This is an amazing recipe, thanks!
great tip thank you
As someone who is allergic to eggs I was very excited to read this post, thinking finally there was a paleo friendly muffin that didn’t contain eggs – then I got to the ingredients and saw the egg.
Do you think the recipe would work without it? I was thinking of substituting gelatin – tsp gelatin mixed in 3 Tbs water. I would love to hear if anyone has tried this recipe without the egg because it sounds and looks amazing! Thanks!
You could make this with an egg substitute for sure. It’s only one egg
I had a friend try the recipe today using a flax egg and she said it worked great, it just needed to cook a little longer. I think a gelatin egg or any other egg substitute you choose should be fine!
What’s in these muffins that’s not Whole30 approved? Anyways, they look so good! :D I could eat them all!
Technically with whole30, no baked goods or anything. Just real foods
Can I use sunflower seed butter instead of the nut butter?
You sure can
This looks delicious! Any suggestions for how long to heat the water if you don’t have a microwave?
You want to be just under boiling, really anything hot that you don’t want to touch is good. It just speeds up the process with the dates
I needed something to make this morning for breakfast and these are perfect. I used 1/3 the amount of dates (because that’s all I had) they’re still sweet enough for me :) now I’ve just got to try and not eat all 12..
Oh that is awesome, thank you for sharing :) I would just eat all 12
Yay! So happy you liked them!
so if you only used 1/3 cup of dates, was that also the amount of water used? I like things less sweet as well and almost fell over when I saw 1 cup dates, lol! Also need to keep sugars wayyyy down.