How to Make Easy, Fruit-Sweetened Chocolate Muffins (Diabetic Friendly, No Artificial Sweeteners, No Butter, Air Fryer or Oven)

These simple to make muffins are really good and are lightly sweetened with fruit, not refined sugar or artificial sweeteners. The muffins are moist and full of chocolate flavor, and they are rich in protein, fiber, and other nutrients. If you're on a diabetic diet or want to "eat healthy," the muffins are a great choice. You can add dark chocolate chips to the batter if you'd like (keep in mind that chocolate chips do contain refined sugar, so opt for the dark chips that are 60 percent or more cocoa solids, which means the chips are less sweet). I like to add the chips, especially when I'm having the muffins as a dessert treat. The muffins cook in the air fryer in 15-20 minutes, or you can bake them in a conventional oven. The muffins make great breakfast treats, snacks, desserts, and after-school snacks. Enjoy!

How to Make Easy, Fruit-Sweetened Chocolate Muffins (Diabetic Friendly, No Artificial Sweeteners, No Butter, Air Fryer or Oven)

Fruit-Sweetened Chocolate Muffins (Diabetic Friendly) -- Makes 10-12

1/3 cup of canola oil

1 large egg

3/4 cup of milk

1/2 cup of date puree (barely cover 1/2 cup of chopped, pitted dates with boiling water,

let cool, and mash with a fork to a puree)

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla

1/2 teaspoon of chocolate extract, optional but good

3 tablespoons of cocoa powder

1/2 cup of white whole-wheat flour

1/2 cup of almond flour

1/4 teaspoon of espresso powder

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon of baking soda

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1/3 cup of dark chocolate chips, optional but good

1/4 cup of chopped almonds for tops, optional but good

Spritz 10-12 muffin cups (depending on whether the cups are large or medium in size) with non-stick cooking spray and set them aside. In a large bowl whisk together well the oil, egg, milk, date puree, vanilla, chocolate extract, and cocoa powder. Add to the bowl the flours, espresso powder, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, and stir them in until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Divide the batter among the muffin cups and sprinkle the top of the batter in each cup with some of the chopped nuts.

Air Fryer: Air fry the muffins at 320 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until set and a pick inserted in a muffin comes out with no wet batter attached.

Oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the muffins for 20-25 minutes or until set and a pick inserted in a muffin comes out with no wet batter attached.

Let the muffins cool in their cups for a few minutes before removing them to cool completely.

How to Make Easy, Fruit-Sweetened Chocolate Muffins (Diabetic Friendly, No Artificial Sweeteners, No Butter, Air Fryer or Oven)

How to Make Easy, Fruit-Sweetened Chocolate Muffins (Diabetic Friendly, No Artificial Sweeteners, No Butter, Air Fryer or Oven)