Flourless Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins are made with better-for-you ingredients!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins
These muffins are amazing! They call for healthier ingredients and require very little sugar, compared with most muffins (like these Chocolate Muffins!). Plus, there is no wheat flour used. If you’re gluten intolerant, you’ll appreciate the absence of wheat flour!
One of my favorite things about these muffins is that there are no strange ingredients that you probably wouldn’t have on hand or know exactly where they are in your grocery store. Often, healthy muffin recipes call for specialty flours, oil, or sweeteners, and my goal is to use easily accessible mainstream ingredients. And — of course — at no sacrifice to flavor!
I mentioned that Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins are flourless; instead of using white flour, or even whole wheat flour, we use oats. The oats are blended into a powdery oat flour. No need to buy this from the store, since it literally takes seconds to make at home.
How to make oat “flour”
- Place old-fashioned or quick oats in a food processor or small blender jar.
- Pulse the oats until they are ground into a powder-like consistency that resembles flour (see photo above on the right).
- Stir the oats around to be sure that all the oats have been finely ground.
- Measure the oat flour for these muffins after it’s been turned to flour and not in the original whole oat form. Two tablespoons isn’t a lot, but contributes to the overall stability and flavor of these muffins.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffin ingredients
- Cocoa powder: Use natural cocoa powder, not a Dutch-process cocoa powder. I’ve tested these muffins with Dutch-process cocoa powder, and it does not work in these muffins!
- Oat flour. More on this in the section above.
- Baking soda, baking powder, salt. These baking agents help ensure a nice crumb and rise. Here’s how to make sure your baking soda and powder are fresh.
- Creamy peanut butter. Make sure to use creamy, not chunky, peanut butter in these muffins. If using natural peanut butter, be sure it is well mixed and incorporated (not separated or overly oily) before adding.
- Unsweetened applesauce. If using sweetened applesauce, you’ll want to reduce the amount of brown sugar.
- Vanilla Greek yogurt. Our favorite yogurt to use in these muffins is Honey Vanilla Greek yogurt (made by Greek Gods® — not sponsored). Whatever yogurt you choose to use, make sure you like it plain or you likely won’t love it in these muffins.
- Vanilla extract. Vanilla adds a nice flavor to the muffins. It’s not entirely necessary, so don’t worry if you don’t have any to add.
- Brown sugar. This recipe only uses 2 tablespoons, but if you aren’t used to healthier baked goods, you may want to increase the brown sugar to 4 tablespoons.
- Honey. This natural sweetener adds additional sweetness. The reason we use part honey and part brown sugar is because too much honey makes these muffins too moist.
- Egg. These muffins need one large egg; I have not personally tested using egg alternatives.
- Dark chocolate chips: To keep these Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins more on the nutritious side, we’re using dark chocolate. Dark chocolate has essential fats your body needs and is a powerful source of antioxidants. (Source.)
Quick Tip
If you are eating a gluten-free diet, these muffins are a great addition! While no gluten is added to this recipe, be careful to read the labels on the baking products you buy. Some contain gluten where you wouldn’t expect it, and others are made in a facility with gluten and may be exposed to cross-contamination with gluten products.
Tips
- Generously grease the muffin tin. I don’t recommend muffin liners in this recipe; the batter sticks to the liners. Make sure to really grease the cavities well. Of course, a good muffin tin also makes a world of difference. These tins are my absolute favorite, and I’ve never had a problem with these muffins not releasing nicely.
- Add a few dark chocolate chips on top. I like to add three or four extra chocolate chips on top of each muffin before putting them into the oven. Not only does this make the tops look nicer, it also ensures there is a chocolate chip in every bite!
More healthy baked goods
- Healthy Zucchini Bread with Greek yogurt
- Gluten-Free Apple Muffins with almond butter
- Healthy Pumpkin Muffins with dark chocolate chips
- Peanut Butter Granola with coconut
- Healthy Banana Muffins with Greek yogurt
Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins
Ingredients
- ยผ cup (25g) cocoa powder (use natural, NOT Dutch-process cocoa powder)
- 2 tablespoons (11g) oat flour (See Note 1)
- ยฝ teaspoon baking soda
- ยผ teaspoon baking powder
- ยผ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons (27g) brown sugar, lightly packed
- ยฝ cup (120g) creamy peanut butter
- ยผ cup (58g) unsweetened applesauce (See Note 2)
- ยผ cup (58g) vanilla Greek yogurt (we love Greek Gods Honey Vanilla yogurt)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons (42g) honey
- 1 large egg
- 5 tablespoons (63g) dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- PREP: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously spray 8 of the muffin tin cavities with nonstick cooking spray. Do not use muffin liners! The muffins will stick to the sides.
- DRY INGREDIENTS: In a large bowl, stir together the cocoa powder, oat flour (See Note 1), baking soda, baking powder, salt, and brown sugar.
- WET INGREDIENTS: In a separate bowl, combine the peanut butter (do not warm up), applesauce, Greek yogurt, vanilla, honey and egg, Mix until completely combined.
- FINISH BATTER: Add dry ingredients on top of wet and chocolate chips on top of that. Stir until just combined. Transfer the batter into the prepared muffin tin. If desired, top each muffin with a few more chocolate chips.
- BAKE: Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove and let cool in the muffin tin for 2-4 minutes and then gently coax out onto a cooling rack to finish cooling.
Video
Recipe Notes
- Place the oats (old-fashioned or quick oats) in a food processor or small blender jar.
- Pulse the oats until they are ground into a powder-like consistency that resembles flour.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I just made these to take to a friend who had surgery and happens to be diabetic. She told me dessert would need to be low sugar. I am not comfortable using sugar substitutes so this looked like a reasonable choice. I did eat one and they are delicious and I hope she will enjoy them (one a day). I am going to freeze them and hope that works okay. I cooled them and then placed them in cupcake papers for transporting. You directions are excellent ….. well written! I plan to make these for grandchildren next ……… sure to be a hit.
Thank you so much Simone! What a kind friend you are ๐ Hope your grandchildren love them too!
new to this site
Welcome! ๐
I’ve made these muffins several times. They are easy to mix and oh so tasty. You can use muffing tin liners, you just have to spray the insides of the liners with cooking spray.
So glad to hear you’ve enjoyed these; thank you Jessie! ๐
These look delicious! Can I sub spelt flour for the oat flour?
I haven’t personally tested that, you might need a little more though (oat flour absorbs a lot of liquid)
Made these as directed and they ARE AMAZING!!! The best skinny muffins Iโve had!
Yay! So glad to hear that! Thanks Sara!
My son and I love these. I’ve made them at least a dozen times. My son wants them for breakfast every day and I don’t mind giving them to him since they’re pretty healthy.
I am so happy you guys loves these muffins so much! Thanks so much for your comment! ๐
Here in 2020 – just wanted to say these are SOOOO delicious – so moist and not too chocolatey. I’m not a baker, but these were easy instructions to follow.
I am so happy to hear this! Thanks for your comment Rachel! ๐
I’ve made these several times using liners. No issues. I like them best in mini size
Awesome, thanks Dana!
Second time making this recipe. My neighbors are asking for more.
Sorry this deserves โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
I’m so happy to hear this! So awesome you’re sharing with your neighbors! Hope you continue to enjoy. Thanks for your comment! ๐
These muffins are SO good!!!! Iโm going to double the recipe next time. They were devoured by my husband, son, and myself in one day ???? AMAZINGGGGGG
Yay!! So happy these were a hit ๐ Thanks Michelle!