Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vinegar
• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature (1 stick)
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil (i use grapeseed oil for an added health bonus)
• 1 3/4 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups zucchini, peeled and finely grated (about 3 small zukes)
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional) or 1/4 cup walnuts (optional)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 325. line 2 standard muffin pans with muffin papers.
• 2 mix together the milk and vinegar and set aside.
• 3 in a large bowl, beat together the butter, oil and sugar until creamy. add eggs, vanilla extract and milk/vinegar mix. blend well.
• 4 in a separate bowl, mix together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. add to the butter mixture and stir by hand to combine.
• 5 add grated zucchini and half the chocolate chips and stir well.
• 6 spoon the batter evenly into the pans, filling each cup 2/3 full. sprinkle the other half of the chocolate chips and nuts (if using) on top and bake for about 20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or the muffins spring back when lightly touched.