Double Chocolate Muffins with Sneaky Squash

A couple weeks ago I posted about using Jessica Seinfeld's freeze and puree method for fruits and veggies in recipes.

My maiden voyage began with squash and spinach. They turned out beautifully! Over the last two weeks I have actually used the squash and spinach cubes in everything from pasta sauce to dessert, including this recipe for Double Chocolate Muffins!

If you haven't yet tried this sneaky method of putting veggies in dessert, please check out my post or read Jessica Seinfeld's Deceptively Delicious! It's amazing!


If you, like me most days, need some instant gratification and don't have frozen veggie cubes on hand, you can simply omit it. The squash isn't necessary to the consistency or taste of these muffins. :)

Here goes!

Double Chocolate Muffins with Sneaky Squash
Makes 1 dozen

Ingredients:

1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/3 c. unsweetened baking cocoa
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips (I also used mini-chocolate chips!)
2 large eggs
1 c. milk
6 Tbsp. butter or margarine
6 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 frozen cubes of squash puree (you could also use pumpkin or sweet potato!)


Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Combine all dry ingredients (flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda) with a whisk.

Microwave the butter with the squash cubes for about 1 minute, or until the squash is nearly melted. Remove from microwave and stir until the squash cubes are completely melted and incorporated into the butter.

At this point, if you're oven is preheated, reduce the heat to 325. This helps the muffins get nice and fluffy on top.

Add the butter/squash mixture, eggs, milk, and brown sugar. Using a hand mixer or standing mixer, beat on medium-high until all ingredients are just blended. No need to overmix.

Finally, fold in the chocolate chips.

Pour into greased or muffin-cup-lined muffin tins.

Bake for 20-22 minutes.

Love those fluffy muffins tops!

Waiting....

Allow to cool (at least enough so that chocolate chips don't burn your  tongue!) and then enjoy!


We only have a family of three. I am slightly ashamed to say these were gone in two days.

Bundle loved them. And not even my culinary-advanced hubby noticed there was squash in them! Three cheers for sneakiness.

Enjoy with life.  <3