Healthy Pumpkin Muffins

Remember 3 days ago, when I said that I was sneaking in ONE more pumpkin recipe into October?  Well, that wasn't exactly true. 😬 I'm officially sneaking in one MORE pumpkin recipe.  This will officially be the last pumpkin recipe of the month --- probably.  😅

We can all agree that there are health-ier things that you can eat than a muffin.   But some days - I just wake up craving a muffin.  🤷🏻‍♀️ There's nothing like a warm muffin and a nice hot cup of tea to start my day but I also don't want to consume all my calories for the day before 8 am.  😬I considered going to the new bakery in town to pick up a muffin for myself but even though their oversized creations are scrumptious, they're also loaded with saturated fats and sugars.  I decided that making a healthier, fat-free, homemade version was a better option for me.  After all - it IS Halloween and I am pretty sure that I will be consuming plenty of sugary snacks today.  🍭

I buy a lot of pumpkin puree this time of year and I don't have any recipes that use the entire can.  Does anyone else wonder why they don't sell pumpkin in 1 cup portions?  I am constantly trying to figure out how to use up the leftover pumpkin in my refrigerator.  Sometimes I get creative and I add it to my pancakes, cookies or granola.  🥞

Yesterday, my leftover pumpkin became the inspiration for a new healthy muffin recipe.  Well, a bit of leftover pumpkin, a single overripe banana on my counter and a tiny bit of applesauce left in the bottom of the jar - the recipe almost writes itself. 😅These muffins really should have been named "leftover muffins" but that sounds way less appealing.  It's the jambalaya of breakfast foods and as an added bonus - my frig also got a good clean out.  😂

Healthy Pumpkin Muffins
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup banana
1/4 cup applesauce
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk
2/3 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon 
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves
​1 cup dark chocolate chips

Whisk together pumpkin, banana, applesauce, milk, eggs, vanilla and sugar.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.

Gently fold dry ingredients into wet.  

Stir in chocolate chips. 

Scoop into muffin cups.  

Bake 20 minutes at 375.  

Before you judge me, yes, dark chocolate chips are an absolute must - even in the healthiest of muffin recipes.  I guess I could have swapped them out with nuts but when I crave something sweet - nothing is better than chocolate.  🍫  Feel free to make your own substitutions.  

Ciao!